Page 58 of Ethan's Command

Could she be behind this? “Leilani is mean and scary?”

“Yes. Even his Uncle Rick thinks so. Keoni says she bullies him all the time.”

“It’s true. He told me that too,” Liam added.

Ethan wasn’t sure what to make of it but at least it was a lead. “Thanks for telling me, Ren. Nothing else stands out to you?”

“Nope.”

“Okay. Here’s Liam.” Liam took the phone, and the two boys started discussing video games. Ethan nodded toward the door and Nova and Cooper followed him out. He turned to Nova. “What do you think?”

“It’s a lead. It would explain how Liam ended up with the USB. He said he just found it in his bag and thought Brooklyn had put it in there for him as a surprise but?—'

“Brooklyn hadn’t seen it before,” Ethan interjected. “She mentioned that when she picked it up off the science fair project.”

Nova made a call. “What’s this Leilani’s last name?” she asked after opening a line with someone in her office.

“Kobayashi,” Ethan supplied.

Nova relayed the info to the person on the line and then went back to waiting. She cocked her head. “There’s been a rumor that a shot caller for the Yakuza lived in Hawai’i, but no one had any clue who it was. Whoever it is has been playing it close to the vest for years, but a suburban housewife? That’s a hell of a cover.”

“Makes a certain sense though,” Cooper added. “She would have all kinds of time to do what she wanted, and no one would look twice at her.”

Nova was about to say something, but she pulled the phone back in place. “Tell him to call me ASAP.” Then she hung up. “Someone at the office says the name Kobayashi rings a bell and they’re going to start digging.”

Ethan’s cell rang and he answered the video call. Bellamy and Rusty’s faces appeared on screen. “I sent you a clip of the video. It shows Brooklyn walking across the parking lot with some woman.”

Ethan quickly checked the clip. “Leilani,” he confirmed. “Fuck. Find her.”

“We thought you’d say; that so we already tracked her. She’s driving a Merc, so we called Mercedes and reported it stolen. They tracked it for us.” She’s at a warehouse in Waikoloa.

Nova frowned. “They won’t do that without someone from law enforcement on hand.”

Cooper gave a small shrug. “I might’ve used your badge number and said Nova was a family name. The guy felt bad for me.”

Nova was pissed. Ethan could see it in her face but he didn’t have time for that shit now. “Send me a pin and then meet me there.”

He ended the call and took off down the hallway, mojo at his heels.Hang in there, baby, I’m coming.

CHAPTER 26

Brooklyn struggledagainst the men restraining her as one of them reached into her pocket. She twisted violently, aiming a sharp kick at his knee, but he shifted just in time, dodging her strike. In retaliation, he backhanded her across the face, sending an explosion of white-hot pain through her skull. Stars burst in her vision, and she bit back a cry.

“You really shouldn’t make this so hard on yourself,” Leilani said coolly as a young Asian man approached with a laptop. Her voice was calm and detached, as if she were discussing the weather. “Seriously, you’re wasting your time. Die with dignity.”

Brooklyn spat blood onto the floor, her breath ragged. “No way in hell am I going to make this easier on you.”

Leilani shrugged, unfazed. “Suit yourself.”

The man yanked the small car-shaped USB from Brooklyn’s pocket and handed it to Leilani. She turned away, setting the laptop on a nearby wooden pallet. The glow of the screen cast eerie shadows across the dimly lit warehouse.

Panic clawed through Brooklyn’s chest, but she forced herself to think. She needed to buy time. Get Leilani talking. Gone was the friendly, smiling neighbor she once knew. In her place stood a ruthless businesswoman, calculating and unyielding.

And what did all-powerful businesspeople have in common? Ego.

Brooklyn latched onto the only weapon she had—Leilani’s pride. “What’s on the drive?” She forced curiosity into her tone. “What is so damn important? And how did you let your own nephew get his hands on it? Seems like someone fell down on the job there.”

Leilani’s fingers stilled on the keyboard and her gaze flicked toward Brooklyn, irritation flashing across her face. The emotion was subtle, but Brooklyn caught it.

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