Page 30

He handed her the flash drive, dumped the papers back into the box, and folded the flaps. “We better get going. The sooner we’re home, the sooner we can figure out what all this means.”

Outside, he placed the box on the rear seat of the truck and then slid behind the wheel. The late afternoon rush hour was beginning to take shape, and though it paled in comparison to what he’d encounter in Orlando, it would make for slow going.

He cast a casual glance to Dorcas while he fastened his seat belt. The toy crab was still in her grip. It seemed to have soothed her nerves a bit, as though finding it gave her renewed hope in finding her sister alive. For her sake, he prayed that they would, because he couldn’t even begin to imagine how devastating the alternative would be.

As he drove out of the lot and merged into traffic, his phone sounded with one of the ringtones he’d assigned to his informants. They never called unless it was important. Usually, it meant one of two things: they had a juicy piece of information, or they were trouble. Sometimes both.

His gaze darted to the screen and he recognized Serena’s number. He hoped that meant she’d reached the right decision about his offer.

“I’ve got to take this.” He swiped at the screen and put the phone to his ear. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Um...I’m sorry to bother you, but...well...things happened with Gideon last night and...” Serena’s voice sounded fragile, as if it might crack any second. “Is that job you talked about still open?”

“It is. Do you want it?”

“Yes.” A shuddering breath came over the phone. “I can’t do this anymore.”

Nate heard what sounded like sniffling, but he didn’t say anything about it. She wasn’t the type who liked to admit weakness, and she’d end up getting defensive. “I’m glad to hear you’re ready for a change. When can you leave?”

“Whenever. The sooner the better. I got nothing left here.”

Nate’s senses pricked. “Are you in danger?”

“Kind of. I can handle it.”

The phone creaked under the pressure of his tightening grip. That fucking asshole pimp of hers. God only knew what he’d done to her. When Nate had the time, he was going to track that scumbag down and beat him to within an inch of his life. “All right, go to our usual meeting place. Fiona should be working tonight. Tell her I said to put whatever you want on my tab. I’m out of town, but I’m going to have Luther pick you up. You remember him, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. He’ll take you to a safe place until we’re ready to drive you to south Florida.”

If he played his cards right, he could sweet-talk Austin into letting her stay with him and Nina for a day or two. They wouldn’t be thrilled, but it was the best option available. Having another woman in the house would put Serena at ease, while having Austin around would make her feel safe.

“Thank you,” Serena said.

“You can thank me by doing a good job for Lola.”

“I will. I promise.”

He ended the call, feeling better about Serena’s future but concerned about her current situation and state of mind. If she worked hard, Lola would treat her well, and she’d be on her way to a better life. It wouldn’t be easy—Lola was a tough boss who expected hard work, but he was sure Serena could handle it.

It certainly beat the alternative.

“Was that good news or bad news?” Dorcas asked.

“Good. Hold on.” He pulled over to call Austin. As expected, his brother wasn’t happy with the idea of a hooker staying with him and Nina, but he acquiesced to Nate’s request with a surly, “Fine, you owe me.”

Next was a text to Luther. While he typed, he filled Dorcas in on Serena’s situation, and the job offer she just accepted.

“I thought you guys specialized in personal security and property protection. Why do you need informants?”

“Most of the time we don’t, but every so often they come in handy. If I get a really good tip, I pass it on to the cops, which helps us build a good relationship with local law enforcement.” He flicked the signal and merged back into traffic. “Contrary to popular belief, a lot of the homeless aren’t looking for a handout. They want a way off the streets. An honest way. So, if I offer them something for information, they feel as though they earn what I give them.”

“And you also get them jobs?”

“That part’s new. My brother Ty—you remember him, right?—his girlfriend owns a bar in south Florida. A few months back, she was having a hard time finding good help, so I talked her into giving a few of my people a shot. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how it would work, but it ended up better than I expected. They got a job in a place where they could make a fresh start, and she got employees who appreciated the fact she gave them a chance when no one else would.”

“And that’s where this person will be going?”