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“My uncle is a remorseless killer, Mia, who smuggles weapons and has a massive, deadly cartel under him.” I reach out and grab her hand, holding it tight in my grip and reassuring myself that she’s alive and the threat is gone.Is it gone though, or are we about to put her in even more danger?“You know this, Mia. You threw it in my face not too long ago.”
“Yes, in Columbia Mateo, we don’t have time for people to arrive from there. We need to go after Carter and Theonowbefore it’s too late.“ Mia’s eyes blaze with fear and anxiety, her voice shaking, and her breath stuttering. She returns my tight grip on her; eyes entirely focused on me.
“He’s here in Casbury with my cousin Diego and probably some of his men. He never travels without a full group of mercenaries ready to protect him.” Swallowing down my fear that somehow giving Mia this information may come back to bite me on the ass. “He would help. I know he would… if we made it worth his while.”
“Miss Stratford, I have to advise against this. We don’t know these people and if they’re criminals, we don’t want to involve them.” Tom shakes his head, the whites of his eyes looking large and stark against his dark complexion.
Lines of strain bracket his eyes and mouth; he seems to have aged since we got on this plane an hour ago. Dealing with my reina appears to have that effect on all those around her. There is no controlling her, no making her cower or fear for her own safety, it seems. That makes her incredibly attractive to me but also causes me to lose my shit more than I want to.
Mia presses her hand to her throat, her eyes downcast and body lost in thought. I can almost see the wheels turning inside her head; she’s weighing all the available options—the pros and cons of doing business with someone like my uncle. I don’t want to put her in his path, he can be dangerous, but I’m not seeing another option on how we can save Theo and Carter.
“You’re certain he would help? That he has available men and weapons with him in Casbury?” She raises her eyebrow at me, jaw clenched.
“Yes.” Fear and resentment make their way through me. Just the thought of what tio Manuel will ask in return for his help makes me want to withdraw this option immediately. To do so though, would most likely ensure the death of two of my brothers and as much as I fear tio Manuel, I fear losing Carter and Theo more. “I’m certain of it, but there will be a price to pay, Mia. He won’t do it out of the goodness of his black heart.”
“Can you get a hold of him now?” She closes her eyes tight and releases a shaky breath. Her shoulders rise and fall with pent-up energy and rage at this situation. I know she never wanted to leave Theo in the first place; she only relented at our urging.
Nodding my head, I shake off the cold fear rising up my spine and reach out my hand for the forgotten phone that Tom still has in one hand. At first, I don’t think he’ll hand it over to me, his posture and shoulders stiff, mouth in a deep scowl. Then he releases a deep breath and holds out the phone.
“If your uncle does anything to hurt Mia, I will hunt him down to the ends of the earth and remove his miserable head from his shoulders. Do you understand what I’m telling you, Mateo?” His grip around the phone tightens. At my nod, he releases the phone, and I grip it, staring at the screen like it’s poison that I hold in my hand. Tom doesn’t have to worry; if tio Manuel does anything to hurt Mia, I will be the first in line to end his life.
My gaze turns in Finn’s direction; he’s been silent since I made the suggestion. Worry for Theo, Carter, and Mia, making his ochre skin look ashen. His shoulders slump at my questioning look, and he nods his head.
Taking a deep fortifying breath, I dial the number my mom made sure I memorized years ago in case something ever happened to her or my father. A way to reach my uncle if I was in trouble. My mom’s not the most outstanding parent, but at least she made sure I always had this as a backup. Despite not wanting him in our lives, she always knew that he would be my only salvation if I were in trouble.
I dial the number, putting it on speakerphone. The tone has my heart racing painfully in my chest. It feels like a boulder is making its way to sit at the bottom of my stomach. My hands are clammy, and I release my hold on Mia, taking a step back. The line rings twice, and then it’s answered. “Si?”
“I need to speak with my tio; it’s Mateo Cabano.”
“Espere,” the gruff, deep voice issues the command from the other side, and I hear the echoing of steps on a stone floor and cumbia music in the background.
“Matty, what has happened, chino?” Tio Manuel’s deep, authoritative voice trails through the phone, causing shivers and goosebumps to rise all over my body.
“Perdóname tio, I’m in trouble; I need your help.” I bite down hard on the inside of my cheek until the taste of copper floods my mouth. I never thought there would come a day when I would have to use this number and ask for my uncle’s assistance.
“Dime qué ha pasado.” The loud echo of a door slamming echoes in the background, and the sound of music disappears.
“Tio, we’re all in danger. Theo and Carter are gone, fucking kidnapped. Finn, Mia, and I are being hunted. I need your help and manpower to go after them.”
“The Saint-Lambert and Pemberton boys? Who has them, Matty? Who is threatening you?” My uncle’s voice, filled with frustration, comes through the line. I can picture him in my mind’s eye, that large body coiled to do damage to anyone who threatens his family.
“Vincent Saint-Lambert has them and is torturing them. He’s after all of us and Mia Stratford. He wants to hurt her, tio. He’s going to kill Theo, and Carter’s sick dad will probably end up beating him to death if he gets his hands on him.
“Matty, I know what you boys did, hiding Carter at the Stratford residence. Chino, did you think it was wise to angerel demonio?”
“We had no choice; Mack Pemberton would have killed Carter. He’s a fucking abusive monster. We couldn’t leave him in that hospital.” I rake my hands through my long hair. This whole conversation is agitating me further. I know he needs answers, but I’m afraid he won’t take the threat seriously.
“The threat to the Stratford girl, why is her grandmother not dealing with that? I have heard that Stella Stratford is a dragon who fears no one, Matty. Why are you coming to me for help?” My uncle’s cautious and suspicious voice inquires.
“We’re currently on a plane heading to Manhattan, to the Stratford compound, to ensure Mia’s safety. We just realized that Carter, the reckless idiot, had snuck away before we took off. Theo has already been taken by Vincent and is most likely being tortured as we speak. Mia has the plane turning around now; we are heading back to Casbury to try to rescue the two of them. Stella Stratford does not currently have the men or weapons on the ground in Casbury necessary to rescue them. I don’t want them to die. Tio, please, we need your help.”
“I don’t know, Matty, getting in the path of Vincent Saint-Lambert doesn’t sound very intelligent or good for business. I’m sure he’s not going to murder his only son. I have heard the man is a bit deranged, but the boy is his only child.”
“Mr. Cabano, this is Mia Stratford.” Rage glitters off Mia’s eyes, her posture rigid, her hands clenched and jaw tight. “Vincent Saint-Lambert is a sick sadistic psychopathic monster who, without any hesitation, will end his son’s life. Name your price Mr. Cabano, for your assistance in saving Theo and Carter.”
“Ah, the Stratford princess. What makes you think you have something I want,your highness?”
A smirk crosses Mia’s face, and her eyes light up. Oh shit, I know that look; she’s about to hit us with something that is bound to knock me on my ass. “Mr. Cabano, let’s not play games, shall we? We both know that the Stratfords have resources and assets you would love to get your hands on. For instance, I know you have been trying to buy large amounts of the power grid in Columbia with a subsidiary but have been met with some...resistance. I can ensure that resistance disappears, so that perhaps your son, Diego, can be the head of that legitimized subsidiary without bloodshed.”
