Page 51 of Auctioned Surrender

Trent texts me to let me know Matt just arrived and is on his way up and that he’ll keep a watch out. We need to get someone to get this mess cleaned up because this is the last thing I want either her or Bryanna to see if they haven’t already, but right now, my first concern is finding Layla.

I glance up from the destruction just as Matt walks into the apartment. “Damn, what the hell?” he says, taking in the destruction.

“Layla’s not here, but her boss just left. I’m pretty sure he’s to blame for the destruction. I don’t think he suspects anything other than her stepping out, but you never can tell. Let’s get the cleanup team to go through the apartment top to bottom. If anything here can prove he did it, I’m going to nail his ass to the wall. In the meantime, Murph is monitoring all the city cams for Layla. We’ve looked everywhere, but we need the extra eyes. I need to know where she is, Matt.”

His eyebrows raise, but he doesn’t question my call to bring intel into the mix.

“She wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for us. That asshole boss of hers followed her to the park. I’m not sure how he knew she was meeting someone, but we need to find out. Damian sentme Layla’s picture and some highlights after you asked me to meet with her, but do you guys have an intel report or at least something that would give me a little more information about her?”

He shakes his head. “Damian sent a request through to Murph, but we haven’t gotten anything back yet. Sorry you got dragged into this mess, but you know how important it is to the big boss, and Damian was up all night watching the girls’ apartment. We needed the extra pair of hands,” Matt says.

“You don’t have to explain that to me. I’d do anything to help Brian Carrington. He’s more than earned my respect after the way he and Chase financially backed and allowed us free rein to put together our security team. We’ll get it figured out, but right now I need to find Layla. She knows more than she’s told me, and we’re responsible for the situation she’s in,” I say, heading out of the apartment and down the rickety steps to the awaiting car with Matt right on my heels.

“Roger that. I’ll fill you in on the progress the guys are making into the Bryanna case a little later,” Matt says, as I jump into the passenger seat of the running black sedan.

Trent rolls down the driver's side window and extends his hand in greeting. “Good to see you again, Trent. Glad to hear you and Liam are Stateside for a while. We could sure use the help.”

“Likewise. I just got back and heard Dereck needed someone to ride shotgun. I’m happy to be back and busy. Liam told me he’d run backup in case we need help too. It sounds like the regular crew has their hands full right now.”

“We’re glad you’re both back, especially right now. I have to get back, but the cleanup crew is on the way. I’ll be on the wires, so call if you need anything,” Matt says, heading back to his car.

Trent pulls out of the parking lot. “Where to?”

“Back to the club. Maybe we just missed her.” I pull up the information Damian sent over and skim it for something Imight have missed. Layla Contreras, a dancer at an out of the way bar who’s supposed to have information about Damian’s assignment, Bryanna Foster.

“I hope they’ve got enough men on the job to find Bryanna. It’s not every day one of the two men we owe for getting our business started needs help to find someone. This assignment is personal to every one on the security team. No one messes with the big bosses or their families. Word has it that Brian Carrington plans to marry Jenny Torzial, and Bryanna is her niece,” Trent says.

“It’s true, and I think the entire team feels the same way. Brian will do whatever it takes to get her back for Jenny. Layla seems to be the only friend Bryanna has, at least since she went missing. I was hoping we could give Brian something more after meeting with Layla, but I’m still hopeful she’ll tell me more once we find her.”

I admire the picture attached to the note, focusing on the dark-haired beauty staring back at me from my cell screen. “Where are you, Layla Contreras?”

My phone rings, and I answer. “Tell me what you found, Murph?”

“We just caught Layla’s Camaro on cam going through the toll. Looks like she’s heading to the airport, my friend.”

I can’t say that I blame her if she knows the fucker’s temper. “Keep an eye on her. We’re on our way, but it’ll be awhile.”

“Roger that. Looks like she’s pulling off the exit for the Park and Ride.”

“Can you get a history on her for me any faster? I’m still running on little or nothing here.”

“I’ve got it in the queue, but we’re running interference for Matt and Damian right now too, and those in-depth reports take time to prepare. What I can do, though, is cross-reference hername with the airport listing and see where our mystery lady is going.”

“Thanks, Murph.” I disconnect as we make our way across the city.

We’re just nearing the Park and Ride when Murph calls back. “Doesn’t look like a Layla Contreras is registered for any outgoing flights in the next day or two. A little bit of good news, before the bad. Layla texted Bryanna with her cell, so we have her phone number, and she just used her credit card for a cab, so we should be able to track her card from now on.”

“And the bad?”

“She just got out of a taxi, entered the hotel you guys use at the airport, and her boss's sporty little Porsche just went through the toll about ten minutes ago, heading the same way. She may be meeting him at the hotel, or perhaps he has a tap on the lovely Miss Contreras.”

“Thanks for the heads-up. I’m not far from the hotel. Do you think I’m about twenty minutes ahead of the guy, Murph?”

“Yep, maybe a little bit more. There’s a backup on the other side of the toll that Layla’s boss will need to get through.”

“Can you get me the room number for the mystery lady before I arrive?”

“I’ll text it to you shortly.”

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