Page 53 of Rectify

“Dios mío. Thank you.”

He walked away, talking quietly into his phone. Would this work? Could they actually do this?

Tanner grabbed his own phone. “Once we hear their instructions, we’ll need to move quickly.” Tanner turned to her. “Get together whatever you might need.”

Natalya just nodded. She was ready. She was going to get her son.

“How isthis going to work without Diego?” Natalya paced across the tiny motel room. It was a scummy room in an awful part of town, but for a small bribe, the person at reception would forget you’d ever been there, and Stanton wanted them to be circumspect.

It was twenty-four hours after Diego had contacted the kidnappers. They’d told him to make his way to Nuevo Laredo with the ten million and wait there for more instructions. They were going to call him on the burner phone they’d included with the ransom note. Diego would then contact them to relay the instructions.

She wished to hell that Diego was here. If the kidnappers got any hint that they weren’t dealing with him, they might take Mateo and leave.

Or worse.

But apparently, this was as much as he could do.Hijo de puta.Son of a bitch. If they didn’t need his help, she could happily murder the bastard.

Someone knocked on the door and she jolted. Tanner stood and waved his hand at Aedan, who grabbed her, pulling her into the bathroom with him. He’d gone into protective mode since they’d left San Antonio. Rogan and his men were also in the city, but as an added caution, they were situated across town. She relaxed as she heard Stanton’s gruff voice.

“You can come out,” Tanner called out.

Aedan pushed open the bathroom door, keeping her behind him as he first checked the room. A rush of happiness swampedher. Aedan didn’t run when the going got tough. He would never leave others to rescue his son or put his own interests before his child’s.

Reaching back, Aedan took hold of her hand, sending her a reassuring smile. Natalya walked into the main room, which had two double beds, a small table, two chairs, as well as an ancient-looking television with a wide back that looked like it weighed more than she did.

Stanton nodded when he saw them, then he gestured to the men standing next to him. “Meet Crowe, Eion, and Miguel. You know Levi, of course. I’ve set Samantha up in another room. She’ll stay there and keep in contact with everyone. I think we’re as prepared as we can be. At least we know the kid’s alive.”

Diego had insisted on proof of life and had spoken to Mateo on the phone. She’d have given anything to have talked to her baby. Even if just for a minute, just to make sure he was okay.

Natalya took a seat on one of the beds. Four large duffel bags sat on the other bed. Inside each bag was two and a half million dollars. It was difficult for her to even fathom. She had no idea how Aedan had managed to get his hands on that much cash so quickly.

“MacGuire’s here?” Stanton asked.

“He arrived a few hours ago,” Aedan replied. “He’s just waiting for Diego to contact him.”

Diego had contacted Rogan before they’d left for Nuevo Laredo to discuss the plan. While the ELO were distracted with the drop, Rogan and his men were going to go in and grab Mateo.

IfDiego could discover where their son was being held.

God, please let him find Mateo.

Stanton nodded. “So now we wait for Diego to call us with their instructions.”

Natalya licked her lips. “What if they want to meet face-to-face with Diego?”

Without Diego there to make the drop, things could totally unravel.

Stanton shook his head. “It’s going to be dark. Miguel is the same build and he’ll be wearing a cap. I’ll be with Miguel acting as his bodyguard. Eion, Crowe, and Levi will be close by, keeping watch. There is a tracker in each of the bags of cash. Samantha will track the bags remotely.”

Aedan sat beside her, squeezing her tightly. “We just have to have faith this will work. Everyone is determined that it will.”

She nodded.

Please let this work.

Her phone rang, and she picked it up. After checking the caller ID, she said, “It’s Diego.”

“Put him on speaker,” Tanner instructed as Stanton unhurriedly put his shoes back on.

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