Page 33 of Emerald

“Brooks and Sophie also confirmed your story about searching for your friend.” She raises her brows at me. “I told them that it wouldn’t be any use searching for your friend.”

“Why?” she asks defensively.

“There’s no way she’s survived being there,” I tell her honestly. I think she needs to brace herself. I’m not sugarcoating anything for her, unlike Brooks and Sophie. She needs to know what she’s up against so she can turn around and head back to where she came from.

“You have a great bedside manner.” She smirks.

“This isn’t a fucking game, kitty. These people will not hesitate to kill you.”

“So, you’re not going to help me because it’s too dangerous?” she says in a mocking tone as she rolls her eyes.

I rub the back of my neck as anger bubbles through me, this girl is going to get herself killed with that kind of attitude. “I’ll help you because I owe Brooks a favor.” Her left brow arches high. “But the Dominguez family isn’t a family you mess with. You can’t Nancy Drew your way around here,” I explain to her.

“I’ve done tough assignments before,” she snips.

I look her up and down. “They will eat you alive, kitty.” I grin, watching her eye twitch as I use her nickname.

“I can handle myself,” she argues.

“Highly doubt that.” This woman looks like she should be walking a runway not chasing bad guys.

“You have no idea what I can do.” Those blue eyes narrow on me, chilling me to the bone, and for a split second, I believe her.

“I’m not going to treat you with kid gloves, but I’m also going to make sure you don’t get yourself killed,” I tell her.

She huffs again, annoyed by the assumption. “All I need is an in and then I can do the rest.”

I shake my head. “No can do, kitty. It doesn’t work like that here.”

“Or it doesn’t work like that for you. Have Brooks and Sophie overestimated your reach here? They assured me you knew what you were doing.”

This woman.

“You do know your mouth is going to get you into trouble,” I warn her.

“You’re not the first to tell me that.” She smirks.

My fingers grip the edge of the pool. “These people are ruthless psychopaths. Do not think for one moment theywouldn’t hesitate to rape and torture you.” She doesn’t even flinch at my words.

“That doesn’t scare me. I need to find my friend, and no one is going to stop me.” Her words are full of steel and delusion.

“Come on, now is not the time to be stubborn. I promised Sophie that you’d be home in one piece. If I send you inside, they will sniff you out, and I won’t be able to protect you,” I try to explain to her.

She looks like she’s about to fight me again but holds her tongue. “Fine. I’ll follow your lead then.” She groans, rolling her eyes at me.

I hesitate, she gave up easily and it feels like a win, but I’m not so sure.

“Thank you,” I say, and I genuinely mean it.

“What is your plan?” she questions me.

“Tonight, I’ll talk to some people at the bar, and I’ll let you know.”

“You’re going to talk to some people. That’s your plan?”

My fingers tighten around the edge of the pool again, this woman is insufferable. “Yes.”

She shakes her head. “Not good enough. I’ll have to go with my own plan then.”

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