She shrugged. “Still.” The phone ringing in her hand startled a gasp from Kat and she laughed. “Yeah?”
Jasper’s voice came through the phone loud and clear even before she put it on speakerphone. “Good news is that Emmett didn’t go down without a fight. Whoever did this will have evidence of a professional beating all over his face.”
“Good, then I’ll know the piece of shit the minute I see him.” And my face would be the last thing the fucker ever saw.
Jasper chuckled. “Yeah, get in line man. Any news on the girl?”
Kat opened her mouth to speak, but I beat her to it, briefly updating him on the past few hours. “We’re heading to a motel near the border now.”
“Shit,” Jasper growled, knowing exactly what fate awaited her if we didn’t get there in time. “Stay safe and check in later. Emmett is sleeping, but when he’s awake I’ll call you back.”
I nodded, relieved to have all my brothers at my side right now.
“Thanks, Jas.”
“No problem, brother.” The call ended but that one word and the ease that he said it was another subtle reminder of why Kat was completely off limits.
Chapter Fifteen
Kat
Pacific Palms wasn’t too far from Searchlight and less than a mile from the freeway. My stomach lurched as we pulled into the cracked pavement of the parking lot, which perfectly matched the old and dilapidated structure that was held together with duct tape and glue.
“Exactly the shit hole I expected,” I told Terry and opened the door. The first rays of dawn threw a harsh light on the rundown building and parking lot.
“Perfect place to keep people out of your business,” Terry said quietly.
His words were terse, and I knew his thoughts were back in Glitz with Emmett.
“Luckily, I have a knack for getting people to tell me things they shouldn’t.”
His lips pulled into a semi-amused grin that I wanted to kiss because I knew he was here for me instead of back in Glitz.
“I have no problem believing that. I’ll take a q1uick look around and come back. Stay here, Kat.”
“I will,” I promised with a mischievous grin and slid out of the car.
“Kat,” he warned.
“I swear. Scout’s honor.”
Terry barked out an amused laugh. “You were never a Scout.”
“Details. The point is I’ll be right here. Waiting for you,” and carefully closed the car door. It felt like I’d been waiting for years for Terry to see me as a woman and not just Jasper’s annoying little sister.
“Good. Go on inside and work your magic, Kitty Kat,” he said through the window.
I flipped him off as I went inside, the sound of his laughter washing over me and my body tightening up in places it shouldn’t as he eased the car toward the end of the building.
The lobby was cleaner than I expected with bright white fluorescent lights that highlighted the decades old, yellowing floor tiles.
The sofa across from the reception area had seen better days, but when the clerk looked up, finally, I flashed my best Ashby smile. The one that got me just about any damn thing I wanted when I put my mind to it, like getting my MBA when Ma said it was stupid and unnecessary. Or learning Jiu Jitsu when Virgil thought it was impractical in the age of high-powered weapons.
“Welcome to Pacific Palms,” the young kid deadpanned. “How may I help you this morning?”
“Hi. I’m looking for my kid sister, and I’m wondering if you’ve seen her traveling through here?” The kid had to be about twenty so I knew exactly how to work him.
“Nope,” he said without thinking and turned his attention back to his phone, giving me a perfect glimpse of the top of his greasy head.
“Thanks,” I said a little too brightly. “When I tell the police officer I stopped here in search of a kidnapped minor, I’ll be sure to let them know how helpful,” I scanned his shirt for his nametag, “uhm…Brian was.”
He looked up with wide, bloodshot brown eyes that were suddenly filled with worry. “Ain’t no minors here.”
Bullshit.
“Then you won’t mind if I look around a little bit?” I didn’t wait for an answer, not now that I had his full attention. “Get a lot of bookings last night?”
“Yep,” he shot back quickly even though I hadn’t seen one damn car in the parking lot, just his raggedy scooter.
“Okay,” I said easily and slid a hundred dollar bill through the security window. “How many people are with the girl?”
Brian opened his mouth to lie to me again and I raised a palm to him.
“Before you even think about lying to me, Brian, I want you to think about it long and hard.”
“About what?”
His sneer pissed me off even though it was something I was used to, being underestimated.
“About how painful your recovery will be.” With one hand still on the money, I reached around for my piece.
“I won’t kill you, I promise,” I told him with a sickly-sweet smile that had him rethinking his snarky tone. “Now, how many are with the girl?”
Brian nodded and looked down at the money, up at me, and then my gun before his brown eyes landed on his motivation. The money.
“Three. A driver. Can’t tell you what he looks like, but he had a pistol in his hand. And an older man and a middle-ish age woman, bang-able but too uptight to be a MILF. Kinda like you.”
“Thanks,” I told him and slid another hundred dollar bill under my hand while I thought. The driver likely doubled as security, probably armed. “Room number?”
“121.”
“Thank you, Brian. I was never here,” I told him and released the cash.
He shrugged and took the money hungrily. “No one is ever here, lady.”
Exactly what I wanted to hear. “Nice doin’ business with you.”
“Whatever,” he muttered and went back to whatever was so interesting on his phone.
Terry waited out front just out of view of Brian. I slid into the passenger seat with
