Page 42 of Temptation and Treachery
Rio pulled back on the pedal, his gut instinct telling him something was wrong. “Where is he now?”
The response took seconds, but it still seemed like a freaking eternity. “Too close to the Flamenco, man.”
Why else would the unsub head to the hotel where they had Celeste? With no one outside the team knowing their plan, someone on the inside had to have given up her location. Holiday. Anger and doubt roiled inside him. He did background checks on all new members himself. Nothing made him mistrust the man in the year he’d been onboard. In fact, Gatlin himself chose him to stay behind. Was there anything behind the decision? Fuck. If so, where did that leave Gatlin? Rio clenched his jaw. While he’d put his own life in their hands before, and would do so again. This was about Celeste. Could he trust them with her life?
…
The sound of a passing vehicle sent every muscle along the back of her neck screaming for relief. Celeste scurried to the window, checking over her shoulder to make sure the door was still shut. Vix stood on hand, bouncing on her tiptoes in anticipation. Celeste pulled back the curtain, just enough to fit her finger. Through the narrow gap she saw the SUV park in the back, and a man in a business suit exited the driver’s side. Leonard. Thank God.
She flipped the latch and slid the door open, clenching her teeth as the dull rolling sound screamed in her head. With one last glance toward the entrance, she slipped through and inched the glass door closed on Vix’s disapproving frown. Tiptoeing across the tiled balcony, she called out in a stage whisper, “Leonard.”
He adjusted his sunglasses as he looked both ways before crossing the drive. She knelt at the corner, holding the intricate rail as she leaned down to speak to him. Leonard chuckled. “Look at you, sitting behind bars, just like your father.”
She grimaced, then looked at the rails in front of her. Scowling, she shook her head. “You’re such an ass.”
He raised a brow. In what little time they’d spent together, this was the first time she’d been rude. How could he choose now to make a crack about their father? He had to know the situation, the danger Oz was in after being arrested. He shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned back, sighing heavily. “He’ll be fine, little sister. Our father has friends everywhere.”
Friends who could save his life? Even if it would be a life spent behind bars? That still had to be better than the alternative. Having no idea what Mexico would use for the death penalty, her mind went to a worst-case scenario. Firing squad. They didn’t actually do that…right? “Does he have a lawyer?”
Leonard pinched the frame of his sunglasses at the temple, dragging them down like he had all the time in the world. “I have someone bringing him now.”
“Good.” She nodded. “Thank you.” Though that was going to complicate things. She couldn’t exactly talk to the attorney while sitting on the balcony floor.
“I take it I won’t be welcomed inside.”
She bit her lip, glancing at the glass door. How much should she tell him? Surely not that she was working with the law. If he was being an ass now, how would he react to her collaborating with the very people who arrested Oz?
“How about you come down?”
She eyeballed the ground, trying to measure the distance. Leonard was about her height. Which meant if she sent down one of the metal chairs from the patio set, she could prop it against the pillar and use it to climb back up.
Another SUV pulled up at the back, toward the far side of the rear parking area. Leonard smiled, holding up a hand in greeting. “Here’s Dad now.” He put his glasses in his breast pocket and turned to walk away.
“Dad? Here?” How could he be here? Not bail… “Wait,” she hissed. With no time left, she shot up, tossing a leg over the railing. “Help me down.” If this worked, he could easily give her a boost up. Well, hopefully. How many times had she imagined Vix doing this while she was away at boarding school, yet she’d never considered how to get back inside.
She stayed on the grass, keeping as close to the building as possible. With any luck, her sitter wasn’t looking straight down from the window. Her foot went sideways on the uneven ground, and she pitched to one side. Leonard grabbed her by the upper arm, mumbling about her clumsiness as he yanked her onto the sidewalk. They were already halfway across the building, yet she could almost feel someone’s eyes boring into her.
Leonard’s grip tightened. “Ouch.” She frowned, glaring at him. “I’m fine.” She pulled on her arm, but he dug his fingers into her bicep. “Leonard?” Then she got a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Who would have been close enough to infiltrate Oz’s group? Who would she have trusted enough to be around her purse or phone? Who would know their father well enough to fake his speech patterns? Her eyes grew wide as the realization hit her.
Leonard smirked, shaking her so hard she was thrown off balance. “What’s wrong, little sister? Finally put the pieces together all by yourself?”
The driver of the SUV got out, pulling open the back door. A blood-soaked arm appeared at the edge of the door. Her stomach heaved. Leonard had certainly not brought an attorney.
