Page 14 of Protecting Bree
“Do you think Fiona or Julie are in danger?” Preacher asked.
“Honestly? No. It’s been years. If Castillo wanted to get his hands on them, he’s had more than enough time and money to make a move. And they’re outside the age range of women he can easily sell. But just knowing he’s out there will send Wolf’s entire team on a rampage, and I’d rather concentrate on what I need to do in order to make Bree safe than worry about reining in Cookie and Hurt and the rest of that team.”
Smiley wasn’t sure he agreed. If he was Cookie and Hurt, he’d want to know about a past threat rearing its ugly head again. But he needed Tex and his expertise, and the last thing he wanted to do was piss the man off.
He’d give Tex some time—but not much. SEALs stuck together. Period. And while Wolf’s team might be retired, they were as much Navy SEALs today as they were years ago.
“I’mgoingto tell them,” Tex said, as if he could hear the disapproving vibes coming from the seven men around the table through the phone line. “Wolf and his team are some of my closest friends. I don’t want to alarm them if it’s not necessary. I just need a little bit of time to get more intel. To find this asshole. To make sure he isn’t a threat. If I truly thought Julie or Fiona were in danger, I’d be the first one calling them.”
That made Smiley feel a little better. Though, very little.
“So, Bree. You did good, girl. But don’t let down your guard. I’m on this. As are my people. I have a partner in New Mexico and another in Texas who are doing what they can to track the money trail from Castillo to the people he has looking for you. We’ll find them.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I fucking hate thank yous. Just be smart. My blood pressure is already high enough, don’t do anything that will make it go even higher. Tex out.”
The room went silent after he hung up.
“Fuck. This is not good,” Kevlar said after a moment.
Smiley thought that might be the understatement of the century.
“How are you holding up?” MacGyver asked Bree.
She shrugged. “I’m alive and safe. I’m good.”
“How much more emotional shit can you take?” he asked.
Smiley frowned at his friend, not sure where he was going with his questions.
“Well…considering the emotional shit I’ve been through recently, you might as well pile more on.”
MacGyver grinned. “This time, hopefully it’sgoodemotional shit. Addison is chomping at the bit to meet you. As is Ellory. Thought maybe you and Smiley could come over tonight for dinner.”
Bree looked at Smiley, as if checking to see what he thought. He saw the eagerness and excitement in her eyes. He could no sooner deny her anything she wanted than he could kick a defenseless puppy.
He turned to MacGyver. “Six good?”
“Six is perfect. I’ll tell Addy.”
“I’m going to take Bree to the store to pick up some stuff she needs and stock up on groceries. I also want to be home when the package from Tex arrives. Get Bree set up with the trackers. MacGyver, I’ll see you tonight. Everyone else, tomorrow?” Smiley was suddenly eager to get Bree home. Behind locked doors. Of course, they were probably safer here on the base, but there was no telling who Castillo had working for him. After all, look at what happened to Preacher’s woman. Maggie’s tormenter was under their noses the entire time. Right there. On base.
They all nodded and agreed.
Smiley and Bree headed for the door before anyone could come up with anything else to talk about.
His mind was spinning. If what Tex said was correct, and he had no doubt it was, this Mateo Castillo was evenmore bad news than he’d originally thought. And Bree was definitely in danger. Anyone who’d survived in the sex slavery industry for as long as Castillo had was obviously cunning and smart. He’d learned to stay under the radar. Probably had tons of connections.
Bree wouldn’t be safe until Tex found him and ended him once and for all.
And that couldn’t happen fast enough for Smiley’s peace of mind.
Mateo Castillo sat in a parking lot across from the main entrance to the naval base. He’d been so close.So closeto getting Bree Haynes in his clutches. But the Navy SEAL she was shacking up with wasn’t letting her out of his sight. It wasn’t going to be as easy as he’d thought to get his hands on her.
Navy SEALs had disrupted his life years ago in Mexico, and they were continuing to make things much more difficult than they needed to be now.
The only reason he was in Riverton at all was because the men he’d sent to retrieve his property had fucked up time and time again. They’d let Bree Haynes slip through their fingers more than once. He knew it was time to step in personally.
