Page 46 of Rescued Faith

“Someone broke into my place. They took letters from my biological father. I was wondering if you still ran with that crew from when we were together. If you heard anything.”

She shook her head and looked worried. “I had to cut ties with all of them. You were right. They weren’t great friends. I left that scene not long after we broke up.”

“So you don’t know what they’re up to?”

“I mean, I still hear things, but it’s ridiculous stuff.”

“Like what?”

“Like Sasha saying Diego Ruiz Sosa is back from the dead.” She rolled her eyes.

Bryce bristled at that name. “No way. I watched him get shot. Right after he had my sister kidnapped and she almost drowned.”

Maria narrowed her eyes. “Who are you again?”

“Izan’s friend.” He took a step closer. “Who is saying Sosa is still alive?”

“My friend has a cousin who works at the Riviera Club. She said there’s talk. That’s all it is, right? I mean, you saw him die. So why should it matter?”

Because most of the time, rumors had a seed of truth in them. Bryce wasn’t going to let any potential threat to his family go unheeded. He knew what happened when people ignored the warning signs.

“What d’ya say, Collins? Wanna go check out the Riviera Club?” Bryce asked.

“Sure thing.”

Maria stepped forward and tugged at Izan’s arm. “Be careful. I know Sosa is dead and all and I haven’t seen you in a couple years, but…”

“Don’t worry. We’ll be careful. And you’ll let me know if you hear anything else? Especially about Sosa or my letters?”

She nodded. He scribbled out his number on a slip of paper by her books. “This is my cell. If you need anything, you call. All right?”

She kissed him on the cheek and they left.

“What do you think that was all about? Sosa back from the dead?” Bryce asked as soon as they were back in the car.

“Dunno, but I’m sure as heck gonna go find out. That club is where Maria’s old crew used to hang. It makes sense that if anyone knows anything, we might find out there.”

They drove in Bryce’s truck to the club. Dancing lights lured them in from the dark parking lot, promising fun and a goodtime. The loud bass thrummed through their bodies as they approached the door.

Once inside, Bryce had to practically yell in Izan’s ear to be heard. “I didn’t even know this place existed.”

“Not surprised. This is what you callrealmusic. Not that country twang you play.” Izan bopped to the Latin beat of the music as they walked farther in.

They gave drink orders to the guy behind the bar. Izan’s feet couldn’t stay still. The man had rhythm—even if the music wasn’t something Bryce would ever voluntarily play. Bryce focused on scanning the room. The dance floor strobe lights made it difficult to see faces clearly. They were going to have to do a lap around or something to get a good look at people.

“Recognize anyone?” Bryce asked as he took a long drink.

Izan shook his head. “Not yet.”

They leaned against a tall table off to the side of the room. “But you better loosen up or you’re gonna scare everyone away.”

“What?”

“Loosen up. What’s the deal? I thought this was your kind of scene. Drinks. Ladies. Dancing.” Izan put his drink down and started swinging his hips to the music. A trio of girls in skintight clothing, long elaborate fingernails and their own drinks in hand, surrounded Izan and drew him out to the dance floor.

If one could call that dancing. Give Bryce a honky-tonk any day. He was pretty sure his body did not bend and flex enough for the moves Izan was putting on. Obviously his Mexican heritage was coming through despite having been raised by the Collinses, who’d adopted him at the age of four.

Besides, kinda hard to loosen up with this stupid rumor of Sosa bringing all his senses to alert. Just when his father had gotten used to a new nurse after his other one had been murdered, Andi and Jude were settling down, and now this?

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