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Leo shook his head. “No, don’t even think it. We’re going to find her.”
I couldn’t answer him, my mind too full of the horrors Joy could be enduring right at this moment. Nova Santiago was a thug through and through, an acting lieutenant for the Santiago cartel for a long time. I’d had a run in with him in the past, which hadn’t ended well for him, and I knew Joy was as good as dead if he knew who she was to me. The only consolation I had was he’d need to get permission from his higher ups before taking her out. Killing the fiancée of a Cordova would bring death raining down on them and they knew it, but those crazy fuckers would do it anyway.
My mother was waiting for us in the main control room of security floor, her back stiff as she stared at a map of Phoenix on the wall with a series of blinking red dots. Despite being perfectly dressed in a no doubt designer gown, there was a feeling of unraveling coming from her that plucked at my nerves.
She didn’t even notice we’d arrived until Leo said, “Judith, have we learned anything?”
When my mom turned around and looked at me, her eyes were red and swollen from crying. “Nothing. Tino found Joy’s satchel in the parking lot. Her purse was tossed on the side of the road about two blocks away. It looks like they were trying to get rid of any electronics that we could use to track her, but they haven’t taken away the ones in her rings or earrings yet.”
I’d initially felt guilt knowing practically everything I gave Joy had a minute tracker in it somewhere, but now I was glad. “Where is Joy?”
“I think here.” She pointed to a dot heading west, out of the city. “We have men on their way to intercept, but they’re about ten minutes away.”
I shrugged Mark and Leo off. “What the fuck happened?”
Leo spoke up, his deep voice gruff. “One of Joy’s students called Mark. It seems he had Mark’s number because Joy asked him to watch out for the kid, Devonlin. He said she freaked out about something and ran out of the school. Devonlin was following her into the parking lot where he saw Nova Santiago grab her and stuff her in a car then take off.”
I crouched down, nausea filling me, making my mouth water and my stomach cramp. “They’re going to kill her.”
“She’s a strong, smart girl. She’ll be okay until we can get to her.”
“She has fucking panic attacks! They’re going to kill her and all she can do is suffer! My woman could be dying out there right fucking now, and I can’t do anything to help her!”
My mother moved over to me then grabbed my face between her hands, forcing me to look at her. “We will find her, Ramón, I promise. She will be okay.”
I closed my eyes, fighting back the tears of grief, rage, and frustration as I whispered, “Somewhere, out there, right now Joy is terrified, praying for me to rescue her, and I can’t do a thing to help her.”
“Listen to me, Ramón. She will be okay. Joy is very smart, and she’s been training with Leo on how to defend herself.”
“Defend herself?” I barked out. “How the fuck is she going to defend herself against someone like Nova Santiago?”
My mother released my face and looked away, fiddling with her ring. “Have faith, Ramón. Joy will do whatever is necessary to save her own life, I’m certain of it.”
Something about what my mother said caught my attention. Before I could question her further, Mark interrupted us. “Come on, we’re going to take the helicopter. They’ve found Joy.”
“Thank the Blessed Mother. Is she okay?”
“She’s alive, but she’s been in a car accident. I don’t have the details, but I know they’re flying her to the hospital right now.”
Six hours later, I sat at Joy’s bedside, waiting for her to open her eyes. She had a broken leg, sprained wrist, and a mild concussion, along with cuts, scrapes, and bruises. Laying in the middle of her big hospital bed in her private suite, she looked so tiny and frail, but from what we learned at the scene of the accident Joy was anything but. We still weren’t totally sure what happened. Joy was the only one who survived the crash, but we’re pretty sure Joy somehow managed to stab Nova in both of his eye sockets with some sticks from her hair, then she literally tore the driver’s eyes out.
I had no fucking clue what to make of that.
Looking down at her, I was proud as hell that she’d fought them off, that she’d managed to basically rescue herself, but I was also really worried about the aftermath. Joy was so kind-hearted, so sweet, that I wondered if she’d feel guilt for killing those bastards. Holding her limp but warm hand in my own, I continued my constant vigil at her side while people filtered in and out of the room.
