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“Lomas, there’s someone that would like to see you,” said Brooke, holding up the phone. “Morgan? This is your father. Lomas Rivera.”
“I-I look like you,” she whispered, staring into the screen.
“Mi dío,” he said breathlessly. “You are a vision. Like your mother.”
“I’m not sure what to say. I just found out from Brooke. I mean, I’m glad that Sutton isn’t my father, but you’re in the same business. I don’t know how to feel about this.”
“I know,” he said, nodding his head. “Just seeing you is a gift I don’t deserve. I just want you to be safe. Had I been able to find you when you were with Ramos, I would have come for you.”
“I wish you had. I wish that someone had,” she said, smiling at him. “I’m alright now. I’m safe, and I’m in love.” She moved to the side, showing the stoic face of Kegger.
“He looks efficient,” chuckled Rivera. “And skilled. I can see it in his eyes. You are safe.”
“Will I see you again?” asked Morgan.
“I’m not sure. If we can find a way, I will reach out to our friend Brooke, and see if we can meet up again.”
“I’d like that,” smiled Morgan. She handed the phone to Kegger, walking away. They heard a door shut, and he looked into the phone.
“She stepped out onto the porch. I think she needs a moment. I know what you do for a living, Mr. Rivera, but I won’t judge you for that. I’m in love with Morgan, and I will marry her when she’s ready. If you can find a way to clean up your life, there’s nothing she’d want more than to have her father, her real father, beside her.”
Lomas choked back a sob, nodding his head. He was wringing his weathered hands. He wasn’t old, but he was older, and his body was starting to show the signs of his age.
“I will do my best to be the father she needs.” When the call ended, he slid Brooke’s phone back to her, nodding. “Thank you. You’ve given me a great gift.”
“Now, we have to stop Sutton,” said East. Rivera nodded, standing from the table.
“First, get the children out. Then we can end Sutton.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
East held Brooke tightly to his chest in the bed. They were fully clothed, the others sprawled between the three rooms. Sniff and the dogs were on the sofa. All of them. Tanner was on the floor.
The children were frightened, and some were sick, according to little Alex. They didn’t have much time. They had to get them out of there and fast. The more they questioned Alex and the young girl, Marilisa, they learned that the kids ranged in age from eight to twenty-three. They had been taken from different parts of the country, forced to enter the Einstein school, then, only a few months later, they were kidnapped.
It was a well-executed plan by Sutton and one of his many female companions. One of the teachers. She’d recruited her friends to help, making the four women a part of the ruse and responsible for what was happening.
“I can hear your heartbeat,” she whispered.
“I’m nervous. I want you to be safe,” he whispered back. He pulled her tighter, kissing her forehead.
“I’ll stay with Sniff and Tanner to get the kids out,” she said, leaning on one elbow. East looked up at her, surprised by her willingness to acquiesce. “Don’t look so shocked. You and Dad are both concerned for me, and I appreciate that. Hearing Morgan and Lomas connect last night was eye-opening for me. All these years that they’ve missed out on knowing one another, spending time together. I would hate if that happened to me.”
“Nothing will happen to you or to your father. I’ll make sure of it,” he said.
“I wish Lomas had gone after her. Morgan’s mother. Don’t people deserve to be happy?”
“They do,” nodded East, “but sometimes folks can’t see the forest for the trees. It’s so murky and cloudy, they can’t figure out a way to get to where they want to be. Where they need to be. It’s sad really.”
“I agree,” she nodded. East felt the vibration of his phone against his pocket and immediately sat up in the bed. Sniff and Tanner did the same, the noises in the other rooms telling him the others were awake from their naps as well.
“It’s three. I want to get there to scope out what’s happening at Sutton’s before I arrive. I’ve found a two-story house a few blocks away that’s empty. I can climb the roof, get a good shot of the property, and make sure he’s not pulling anything stupid.”
“That seems a given,” said Tanner, smiling at him. They watched as he packed his weapons in his backpack, hiding several on his body beneath the stealth armor. As he reached the doorknob, he turned back and kissed Brooke. Looking at the others, he grinned.
“Remember, don’t shoot this face,” he said, pointing at himself.
Sutton paced back and forth on his front porch. He’d forced his paid whores to come out of the tunnel and clean his house the night before. They whined about it, but when they were given a little extra blow and a little extra green, they were fine with it.
