Page 24 of Rectify

Hours later, Natalya stared around the living room. She was numb. It all felt like it was all happening to someone else, as if it couldn’t possibly be her life.

But it was. Her worst nightmare had come to life, and somehow, she had to be strong. Breaking down wasn’t an option.

She was tougher than that. She’d lived through a lot. Her father’s death, sneaking over the border into the States only to be abandoned and left to die, having to leave the man she’d loved more than anything to save someone who had never bothered to even say a thank you.

“So, you ready to talk now?” Stanton asked.

She peered over as Stanton sat on the sofa next to her. “I need information.”

“Your people seem thorough,” she said.

He scanned the room. “They’re the best.”

Two men and one woman had arrived a few hours prior and taken over one of Rogan’s living rooms. Not the one they’d been in last night. This one was larger and brighter. They’d quickly rearranged the room to suit them. The woman, who had her pale blond hair pulled up into two pigtails and was wearing a brightpink pantsuit, had set up two computer screens on one of the coffee tables. One man seemed to permanently be on the phone. He had dark brown hair and was so muscular that she wondered how he got clothes to fit. Finally, the last man was poring over a map he’d laid out on a table they’d carried in from God knew where.

Their movements were unhurried, and yet Natalya got the feeling they didn’t waste a second of time.

“Levi is in charge of communications,” Stanton told her, nodding to the man on the phone. “He’s liaising with everyone. Tanner is my partner. He’s the one poring over the map. Samantha is our hacker. I have three men out on the field, one in Hondo and two who should nearly be in Matamoros.”

Natalya rubbed her head. “No one will talk to them. Even those who hate the cartel are too afraid of them to talk.”

“You’d be surprised by what my people can do,” Stanton said mysteriously. “Right now, I need to know everything you do.”

“All right.”

“Tanner!” he yelled, and she winced. The other man was only a few feet away.

“Jeez, Carson. You bellowed?” Tanner strode over and held out his hand. She shook it. He had a nice firm handshake. He was probably considered a good-looking guy with his dirty-blond hair that was cut short and pale blue eyes. He wasn’t as muscular as Levi, but she doubted few people were, however he was clearly fit. “We’ll find your son, Natalya.”

“I just don’t know how. Diego could have taken him anywhere.”

Aedan sat in the chair opposite her.

“If it is your ex who took him,” Stanton said bluntly. “Could be someone else.”

“It has to be him. My cousin saw him a few days before Mateo was taken. It had to be Diego.”

“You trust your cousin?” Stanton asked.

“Of course. We’re family. Why wouldn’t I trust her?”

Stanton snorted. “Anyone can be bought. Does she know Diego is Mateo’s father?”

“Yes. And I don’t believe that everyone can be bought.”

“Why don’t you start from the beginning,” Tanner interjected smoothly. “Tell us about how you got involved with Diego.”

Natalya snuck a glimpse at Aedan. “What has that got to do with anything?”

“Could be nothing, could be everything,” Stanton replied. “You want to take the risk that whatever you leave out could be the one thing we need to find your son?”

Of course she didn’t, but this wasn’t the way she’d thought to tell Aedan everything.

Stanton glanced over at Aedan. “Want me to make him leave?”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Aedan said stubbornly.

Stanton shrugged. “You’re not exactly helping. You’re no use here, and if you stop her from being completely honest, then you’re a hindrance. I don’t like hindrances.”

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