Page 28 of Lyon

“One of her team.”

“And where is that team member?”

Jackson’s voice darkened, “We found her with a note stabbed into her head that read, ‘Yes, it was me.’”

“Fuck. I’ll find her. Have you called her mother?” I asked urgently.

“Yes,” Jackson confirmed. “Raeann and her friends from the FBI Special Agents are on their way. They won’t come here—they’ll start working on finding her immediately.”

“Do you have his address?”

“No.”

“Do you have any address at all?”

“No.”

I exchanged a determined glance with Raven. “We’ll find her. Let me know if you hear from anyone.”

Joseph hesitated, “I don’t think it’s wise for you to start looking right now. With so many people involved—I never thought Niki’s mother would call in reinforcements—I’m telling you this because I know you’ll keep reaching out, and I’ll keep you informed on everything.”

Ignoring his caution, I left the office. I immediately began dialing every informant I knew, promising them anything they wanted if they could reveal where the cartel was holding Niki. I knew Raven was doing the same.

Later, we headed to the location where Niki had been undercover. As we combed the area, I noticed a young woman who appeared to be suffering from a drug overdose. I raced back to my car, grabbed my Narcan, and quickly administered it. Within moments, her eyes fluttered open, and I called for an ambulance.

While we waited, the girl fixed her gaze on me. I realized she was barely out of her teens and could tell she needed to speak. “You can talk to me,” I urged gently.

In a trembling voice, she said, “They shot me up with drugs because I talked to Candy, at his house. They’ve locked her in a room—and beaten her. I heard them say she killed one of Luke’s men, and now he’s furious. You have to call the police.”

“That’s the group we’re after. Do you know where they are?” I asked.

She hesitated, “No. I’ll try my hardest to remember something, but they’re always watching me.”

Before I could ask any more questions, she was loaded into the ambulance and whisked away.

I looked at Raven and said, “Someone here knows that address. If I have to beat it out of them, I will. Who do you thinkis keeping watch over these prostitutes to make sure they don’t cheat the boss?”

Raven replied, “How about we split up and do some scoping on our own? Whoever’s in charge here is bound to have a bunch of drugged-up men kissing his feet for more drugs because he’s in with the cartel.”

I crossed the street and spotted a dark-haired woman arguing with a man. Although she was dressed like a prostitute, the way she carried herself—her immaculate hair and the gentle way she clung to him—revealed she wasn’t one of the streetwalkers.

I approached them. “Hello,” I said, “you don’t look like a typical hooker. You must be here to help Raeann.”

“Who are you?” the man demanded.

“Lyon Spenser. I’m with The Golden Team and looking for my friend.”

“We’re after the same person,” the woman interjected. “Why do you think I don’t look like your average hooker?”

“You’re too clean,” I replied. “Look around—can you name a single clean prostitute?”

“My name’s Sage Brooks,” she said. “I told my husband I needed to get dirty, but he wouldn’t let me. He watches over me like I’m his damn queen.”

“You are my queen, sweetheart,” Wyatt said, pulling her close and kissing her.

Sage rolled her eyes. “You two will never catch the cartel if you’re busy making out. I’m here to locate the guy who’s supposed to be watching over the women. If we can get him to give us the address, we can rescue Niki—she’s being held at Luke’s house.”

“How do you know she’s there?” Sage asked.

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