“He tried to kidnap him from us. That’s good enough for me.” She swept her bra and blouse from the floor and stuck her arms through the straps.
Still naked, Nash pulled Emily’s skirt down around her legs and smoothed the material against her thighs. “Where are you going?”
“We’re going to get Wyatt.” She grabbed his briefs from the floor and tossed them into the air for him.
Nash caught his underwear and shook them at Emily. “Hold on.”
“No, no, no.” Emily whipped her head back and forth. “You’re not going to tell me that we’re turning this information over to the police, are you? Do you think they’re going to rush over there immediately and grab Wyatt? They’ll need a search warrant at the very least. If they come rolling in with lights and sirens, they’ll spook Brett and the other residents.”
“Brett Fillmore is a person of interest in a murder and kidnapping. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department will do this the right way.” His words faltered at the end as he caught sight of Emily’s face, her liquid eyes and thin lips conveying both sadness and determination at the same time.
“Please, Nash. We did it the right way when we turned Wyatt over to DCS and look what happened.” She grabbed his hands. “Of course, we’ll go through proper channels if we find Brett, but let’s try it my way this time.”
“Your way got you fired from your job.” But those shimmering green eyes were already weakening his resolve—and Emily knew it.
“Okay, we’ll slow down. I need a shower—” she dangled her lacy panties from her fingertips “—and a change of underwear, and then we’re going out there to rescue Wyatt.”
They both showered—separately—and changed into dark clothing. If he hadn’t made love with Emily, would he be so quick to chuck all his good sense out the window and rush into the desert to confront Brett? He loaded his weapon and clicked the chamber shut. Guess you’ll never know, Dillon.
Emily strapped her purse across her body, her hand resting against the gun pocket. “How far is this place?”
“Now you ask?” He hitched a backpack containing all kinds of gadgets over one shoulder. “It’s about an hour. We head south and then we veer east toward New Mexico. Let me warn you. The kind of people who inhabit these desert compounds are not big fans of law enforcement. They’re not fans of outsiders at all. Brett must be known there to feel comfortable, and the inhabitants wouldn’t blink an eye if he showed up with a baby.”
“Even more reason for us to contact him on our own without the law.”
He cocked his head. “Do you think Brett’s going to give up Wyatt without a fight?”
“No.” She licked her lips. “But from what I saw of him, he doesn’t pose much of a threat.”
“Really? If he did take Wyatt, he murdered a DCS worker and kidnapped a baby in broad daylight. Dude may be stupid, but he’s got guts and that’s a lethal combination for anyone who gets in his way.”
Emily widened her stance and crossed her arms. “He has Wyatt, and we’re gonna get him back.”
He stalked toward her and planted a kiss on her forehead. “I know you mean that, but if I sense you’re in any danger, we’re pulling out.”
“I hear you.” She dropped her head to adjust her purse strap, and Nash’s gut tightened.
He knew he’d have to physically remove her from rescuing Wyatt in the face of danger, and he wouldn’t have it any other way—but he’d be ready.
Nash locked the sliding door to the patio in position with just enough space for Denali to squeeze through it. He set up some dry kibble and water in the kitchen. Scratching the dog behind the ear, he said, “Sorry, boy. Clay is never going to let me dog sit you again when he hears about this.”
“But Denali is going to be so happy to have Wyatt back home again.” She hugged Denali, burying her face in his fur.
Nash didn’t want to ruin the moment by pointing out that even if Brett did have Wyatt and even if they got Wyatt back, they’d still have to turn him over to DCS. Nash was already going out on a limb here. He didn’t need to add a charge of kidnapping to the list.
Once he secured the house, he and Emily climbed into the truck. He didn’t need the GPS to find the border. He knew every inch of it, and this particular desert outpost wouldn’t register, anyway.
He cranked on the engine and said, “We’re going to have to hike in. We can’t drive a truck up to this site, even after midnight, or especially after midnight.”
“I’m ready.” She wedged a sneaker on the dashboard. “It’s a good thing we still have Wyatt’s car seat in the truck—not that I’d let a little thing like a car seat stop me from taking him home.”
Nash bit the inside of his cheek as he swung around the crescent of his driveway and through the front gate. Home. Emily kept using that word. Even if he decided to go through with the custody arrangement, Wyatt couldn’t come here right away.
They drove into the night, the silent desert sucking them in after just a few miles, outside of the Paradiso town limit.
Nash flicked on his brights. “Remember, we check for Wyatt’s presence first. If he’s not there and Brett is, we call off the mission and contact law enforcement.”
“And if he is—” Emily placed her hands on her bouncing knees “—we break in silently.”
“If he’s sleeping, we slip inside the trailer, I’ll hold Brett at gunpoint and you’ll get Wyatt.” He scratched his chin. “I suppose we can’t expect Wyatt to be quiet, which means he’ll wake up Brett. If this all goes according to plan, you take Wyatt away and call Espinoza. I’ll
