Page 12 of Tango
“Sure thing, what?”
“Hold off on putting out an APB on Alice Sterling if you can. Give me a twenty-four-hour head start.”
Alaric hesitates for just a moment then nods. “I can give you that.”
“Great, thanks.”
“Just let me know when you find her, okay? Keep me in the loop, and I’ll do the same.”
I hold out my hand to shake his. “Agreed.”
My cell rings, so I withdraw it from my pocket and answer when I see Bradyn’s name on the caller ID. “News travels fast even across state lines, I take it?”
“Elijah called. Said he tried you but you didn’t answer.”
“I was briefing Alaric.”
“What happened?”
“Two bruisers were working over Alice Sterling’s parents when I got to her house. I managed to put a stop to it.”
“Any sign of Alice?” he questions.
I hold up a finger to Alaric then step out of earshot. “She was here when I got here. Bruised, scared—I’m not entirely sure what’s going on, but whatever it is—it’s big.”
“Where is she now?”
“In the wind—for now.”
“She got away?”
“I let her go.”
Bradyn is silent for a moment. “Any particular reason why?”
“She was adamant that Web Safe is behind this. That she’ll be arrested and tossed in a cell, where they’ll send someone after her just like they did her parents.”
“Do you believe her?”
“She believes it,” I tell him. “I’ll find her again, and then I’ll decide what to believe.” I take a moment, trying to decide how best to word this next part. “There’s more.”
“What is it?”
I hesitate, hating what I’m about to say. “I believe that Ramiro Caine is dead.”
Chapter 5
Tucker
“You just let her go?” Frank demands as he paces my living room. He’s frustrated and rightfully so. He wants answers, and the only one who can give them to us ran off into the night, leaving us with even more questions.
Frank packed up his sister and brought her to Dallas so she wouldn’t be alone. Then he flew back a few hours after I returned to the ranch with Alice’s parents in tow. He’s been here for the last ten minutes while I briefed him on everything that took place back in California.
Alice’s parents are currently settling down in one of our ranch hand cabins where they’ll be safe while we figure this out. Meanwhile, I’ve got to try and track down their daughter…again.
I haven’t told him about my suspicions about his nephew just yet because I’d really like to know the truth before I break his heart. It’s the same kindness I wish had been given to my family back when the government told me that my twin brother was dead.
“I’ll find her again,” I tell him as I withdraw a bottle of water from the fridge. My cell rings, so I reach into my pocket and withdraw it, noting Alaric Simmons’ name on the screen.
