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Chapter 9
When Cam, Jake, and Tank strode into the ICU several hours later, Maria was still keeping watch outside Teag’s room. The three men made an impression, turning the heads of the entire medical staff. Tall, fit, and with an unmistakable military bearing, they commanded attention. Even Jake, who rocked the surfer look, had a deadly edge to him when he was in operator mode, and today, they were all in operator mode.
Maria stood to greet them, and relief spread through her. Suddenly, she wasn’t alone. The comfort of having a team around her felt like a warm blanket on a frigid day. Jake squeezed her arm before peeking around the curtain to get eyes on his wife. A pale, exhausted Fiona appeared and practically fell into Jake’s arms.
“We’re leaving. I’ve got her,” Jake announced, gently ushering Fiona toward the door. Cam nodded.
Fiona stopped to hug Maria, and then the two headed out.
“You’re going back to the hotel now too,” Cam said, turning to Maria. “Tank’s on watch. I want you to sleep for at least four hours before I see you again.”
Cam had always been no-nonsense, blunt, and to the point. Touchy, feely emotional conversations weren’t his style. Although marrying Lissa and becoming a father had softened him somewhat, the leopard wasn’t changing his spots any time soon. This actually comforted Maria. She knew Cam’s gruff order was his way of taking care of her. As much as she wanted to argue and stay by Teag’s side, or insert herself into the investigation somehow, she knew she was in no state to do either thing. Wearily, she agreed.
“I’m going to speak to Ms. Tate, and then I’ll take you back to the hotel.”
Cam disappeared behind the privacy curtain, and Maria heard his low voice speaking gently to Sandy Tate. Tank caught her eye.
“No sign of trouble with the rest of the band. Get some rest. I’ve got this,” Tank said.
When Cam emerged, Maria followed him out. Fatigue made her sluggish. The heat of the sweltering Miami day didn’t help. In the car, Cam blasted the air conditioning, and Maria sighed with relief, her body recognizing that it was safe to rest.
“Later this morning, I’m talking with the detective assigned to the case. I don’t want to see you again until you’ve slept, showered, and had a real meal, but after that I promise to loop you in,” Cam said.
Maria swallowed and gave him a quick nod, not trusting her voice. She needed to see this thing through. In fact, it would be impossible for her to let it go.
When she finally returned to her hotel room and climbed beneath the cool, crisp sheets, she stared at the ceiling. In the space of twenty-four hours, her world had turned upside down, but damn if she wasn’t going to do everything in her power to straighten it back out again.
**
Six hours later, she’d followed orders and slept, showered, and wolfed down a burger from the room service menu. Cam texted her with his room number and told her the team would be meeting there.
As she rode the elevator to Cam’s floor, Maria’s mind, now functional again thanks to a few solid hours of sleep, ran through details from the scene. By the time she tapped on Cam’s door, she already had a series of questions and theories on the tip of her tongue.
In the large suite, Cam sat at a conference table surrounded by most of the security team as well as Jake, who tapped away on a laptop. Diego and Julian were in the living room area, sprawled on the sofas, awake but with dark circles under their eyes.
“Where’s Fiona?” Maria asked.
“Sleeping,” Jake said, gesturing toward the closed door on the other side of the room.
“I wanted everyone together and the band secure,” Cam added.
No doubt, everyone in the room was armed.
Maria found a full pot of coffee on the credenza, poured herself a cup, and took the empty seat at the table.
“Catch me up,” she said.
“I met with Detective Lane. Obviously, they’re in the early stages of the investigation, but he did share two interesting facts. First, Cristina del Fuego, one of the victims, is the youngest daughter of the late patriarch of the del Fuego cartel, Alonso del Fuego. Renata, the other young woman, was a cousin.”
“Holy shit,” Maria said.
“Alonzo’s oldest son Esteban recently took over the family business after his father’s death.”
Cam fell silent and let his words sink in.
Maria’s thoughts raced. The information fit with her theory that one of the girls was the target, not Teag. “Was this a hit? A warning to the new area crime boss?”
Cam shrugged. “Detective Lane wasn’t willing to speculate, but that was my first thought too.”
