Page 12 of His To Protect

“Honey?” Her eyes shot back to his at his gentle tone. This time he didn’t care that he’d said it. His heart was breaking for her and she needed to know he could be trusted and… that he cared.

She sighed forcefully and looked away again. “I know how it seems.”

Jack moved from his chair and sat on the coffee table in front of her and then took her chin in his hand, turning her to face him. “Look at me, little girl.” His tone was as equally persuasive as his hand so her eyes came to his. “Why would you come all this way when your gut was telling you it was just about the money?”

“Because…” She took her chin forcibly back and looked down. “Because I’ve got no one, nothing to lose.”

His heart hurt for her, but when he reached out to draw her into a hug, she stood swiftly and went back to the bedroom. He stared at the door for a long time, trying to decide whether or not to push her, but eventually decided she needed time. But God, he wanted to push her—push himself.

He called Pete instead.

“Did you get any info?” Jack asked instead of a greeting.

“Hello to you, too.”

Pete’s mouth was full, Jack waited until he swallowed and repeated his question.

“Okay, fine, no small talk.” Pete released a breath. “You’re going to have to forgive me eventually, Jack. The guy was legit, and I’d been friends with him since grade school. I never expected him to commit fraud and drag us down with him.”

Jack’s teeth clenched. He didn’t need to be hashing this out with Pete right now. “Long distance, Pete,” he said, impatiently.

“Right.” There was the tapping of fingers on a keyboard and then silence—more chewing. “So, I looked into Lilianna some more… She was married to her high school sweetheart for five years before they got divorced—Litster, Justin. Lilianna married again fairly quickly.” He paused for another mouthful of whatever, chewed and swallowed. “I’m waiting on confirmation for that though. My info is unofficial. Now, as far as Los Sánchez Hermanos goes…” Pete took another muffled bite.

Jack rolled his eyes impatiently, watching the bedroom door. Soft, sweet, Alexis, in need of his comfort was hiding in that bedroom. It felt so wrong to spank her without giving her after care, but she’d been a brat. He ground his teeth. He shouldn’t have let her—he should have spanked her harder. Maybe then she wouldn’t be so… stubborn.

Pete continued, “If it’s a gang or cartel, it isn’t big enough to be on anyone’s radar. Not the Policía Nacional de Colombia, the RCMP or the FBI. None of my contacts have heard of them. I smell bullshit, Jack.”

Jack nodded while Pete spoke even though his partner couldn’t see him. It was force of habit and helped him think. The whole situation was getting more suspicious.

“And the address and bank account?” Jack asked, tapping his pencil against the piece of paper Alexis had given him.

“Now those are real,” Pete said. “Both the offshore account in the Caymans and the apartment are registered to Samuél and Nicolás Sánchez. Los Sánchez Hermanos.”

“The Sánchez brothers.”

“Right. But…There’s another name on the account too.”

“What name? And do we know anything about them?”

“Oh, Jack, you ask all the right questions,” Pete said in a high-pitched girlie voice and laughed while tapping at the keyboard again. “Okay, so these two are brothers and both have records—theft, assaults, regular and sexual, and there are some charges pending for drugs and fraud. Bad dudes, Jack, but not murderers, kidnappers, or high-level criminals. But…” Pete paused, probably for effect because he loved being dramatic. “Nicolas, during a short stint in jail last month, had a confrontation with a cartel member. My source at the jail says he owes the guy some money. That could be why they all of a sudden need some cash.”

I’d learned not to question Pete’s sources, he had them everywhere, and they’d never failed us before. Over the phone, online, the guy could charm information out of anyone. Hell, the queen would probably tell him the colour of her panties if Pete asked.

“And the other name on the account?”

“Lilliana Sanchez.”

Jack’s brow furrowed. “Could that be…”

“Indeed, my friend, it could be. I haven’t found the name of the man she married yet, but I’d bet my big screen, she married Samuel Sanchez. I’m doing a search for marriage records now, but no hits yet. My gut is screaming she’s the mother though.”

“God dammit, Pete. Mom’s not dead.” Jack rubbed his chin. Something niggled in his gut, but he couldn’t quite bring it to the forefront of his mind yet.

“I’m still not signing it in ink, Jack, but I’m betting she was just dead to her parents and not actually dead. Going through death records now.”

“Jesus! So you’re thinking what I’m thinking?” Jack asked, wanting someone else to confirm his thoughts. “Alexis is being played by her own parents?” The qualm in his gut struck again. It was something about her parents that was bugging him.

“Uh huh,” Pete mumbled once again chewing. “Po’bly thinks they’re owed.” Swallowing, he continued. “Alexis likely prompted this set-up when she sent the letter. Do you know what it said?”

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