Page 48 of Ransom for His Secret Son

“Got it in one,” Violet muttered. “And that brings me to another reason we were keeping tabs on Lila. It’s her connection to Eloise Davenport. Technically, the connection isn’t directly to Eloise. It’s to her bodyguard, Zeke Regan.” She paused a heartbeat. “Zeke is Lila’s ex-boyfriend.”

Brody stilled. “What?” He shot a look at Remi, who looked just as stunned.

“They were together years ago,” Violet continued, “but even after they broke up, they stayed in touch.”

Brody’s mind began to whirl, his brain working through the implications. If Zeke had stayed in contact with Lila, then he could have known about the stolen embryos. He could have helped arrange the birth of Brody’s sons.

And if so, then Brody knew why.

Zeke had set this up so his boss could get revenge against Tarrant for killing her son.

“You got a picture of Zeke?” Brody asked. Violet nodded and pulled one up on her phone. Brody recognized him. “He was at Eloise’s house when Remi and I paid her a visit.”

“Doesn’t surprise me.” She stopped, sighed. “We don’t have enough to bring Eloise in for questioning. But Zeke is on his way in for an interview.” Her expression was grim. “If he confesses to anything, I’ll let you know. As for now, you’re both free to go.”

She didn’t have to tell Brody twice. He immediately started for the door, but Violet stepped in front of him. He could see the sympathy in her eyes. And the not-so-subtle warning.

“Look, I know what’s at stake here,” Violet said. “We’re all searching for your son, but it’s the job to us. It’s not the job for either of you,” she added, glancing at Remi. “Just don’t go all cowboying-up and do something that’ll get you arrested. Work with us, and we’ll help you find your son and Tarrant.”

Brody appreciated the words. But they were just that. Words. He wasn’t going to leave the safety of his son in the hands of others.

“Thanks,” Brody muttered to the cop. He didn’t wait for a response.

He turned, pushing open the door, and he and Remi quickly made their way toward the front of the station so they could retrieve their weapons. They’d been forced to leave them there before they’d given their statements, but Brody sure as hell didn’t want to step out unarmed. It would be gutsy for Tarrant to try to kill them outside a police station, but Brody wouldn’t put it past him to do something so reckless.

They stepped outside, both of them glancing around to check for any threats. Brody didn’t see any, but he stayed vigilant as they hurried through the parking lot.

“We’re on our way to see Eloise, right?” Remi asked, the moment they were inside the cruiser.

Brody didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

The cops might not have any reason to bring Eloise in, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have answers. If her bodyguard had even the slightest connection to what had happened to his sons, he was going to find out.

“You know, Eloise might not let us in,” Remi pointed out.

Yeah, he did know that, and it ate away at him. “If necessary, I’ll lie and say I have Tarrant. That’ll get her to open the door.”

With that thought burning through him, Brody pulled out of the lot and started toward Eloise’s house. They were halfway there when his phone buzzed with a text. It was from Reese, and the message flashed on the dash monitor.

We got the warrant for the cabin and are sending in a CSI team now.

Good. Maybe they’d find something, because Brody knew that time was running out for his son.

When he reached the security gate at Eloise’s neighborhood, Brody braced himself for a fight, but when he flashed his badge, the guard barely hesitated before opening it.

“She’s letting us in without a fight,” Remi muttered.

Brody nodded but kept his thoughts to himself as he pulled up to the house. Eloise was unpredictable, and he wasn’t about to let his guard down.

When they reached the front steps, he was fully prepared for her to ignore their knock. But the heavy wooden door swung open almost immediately, and Eloise stood there, looking every bit as poised as always, though her eyes were clouded with concern.

She surprised him again by stepping aside. “Come in.”

Brody exchanged a glance with Remi before following Eloise inside. She led them into the sitting room, then turned to face them. “I assume this is about Zeke.”

“You assumed right,” Brody growled.

Her lips thinned, but she didn’t snap at him the way he expected. Instead, she sighed. “The police demanded he go to the station for questioning. Zeke told me they want to ask him about a dead nurse that was found at some clinic. I know what they’re thinking, but Zeke didn’t do anything wrong.”