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“What, you want me to sugarcoat this shit? These kinds of people don’t give a fuck about rules. They’ll do what it takes to get what they want, and they don’t let witnesses live long enough to testify. But this asshole wants more than ledgers and flash drives. He wants to send a message to anyone who’s paying attention, to demonstrate what happens to people who cross him. He’ll kill your mother. He’ll kill both of you. More likely than not, he’ll kill Nate. If he’s in the mood to make a really big impression, he’ll slaughter every person in this room.”

All of the color had drained from Rita’s face. She sank down on the chair next to Dorcas’s. “So what are we supposed to do, call the cops and let our mother die?”

Wade shook his head. “Until we know which cops are on the payroll, it’s not safe to involve the police. I still have some contacts with the DEA, but they won’t be able to put something together in this tight of a timeframe.”

A feeling of hopelessness washed over Dorcas. “There has to be something we can do.”

Wade lifted and lowered one shoulder. “There’s always something we can do. Question is—how dirty are you willing to play?”

“As dirty as I need to.”

“Really?” It was amazing, how he was able to load so much skepticism into one word. “You think you can look someone straight in the eye and put a bullet into their brain?”

Dorcas’s eyes thinned to slits. “If that’s what it takes to save my mother, I’ll do it.”

Chapter 20

ANY SECURITY SPECIALISTworth his or her salt knew a successful plan was ten percent execution and ninety percent preparation. Advance work was crucial, which was why Nate and the Six Points crew had planned everything down to the very last detail.

Outside, dusk had given way to night, though the lights in the Publix shopping center allowed a fair amount of visibility. Sitting behind the wheel of the rental car, Nate adjusted the fit of his earpiece. They were less than a quarter mile away from the auto auction, waiting for confirmation that Austin and the rest of the team were in position.

He flicked a glance to Dorcas, who sat to his right, and then to Rita in the backseat. Neither had spoken since leaving Six Points, and if Dorcas kept bouncing her leg like that, it might end up going right through the floorboard.

He reached over to put a hand on her denim-clad thigh, and her leg immediately stilled. “Relax, babe. We got this.”

“I know. It’s just...” She let out a shaky breath, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her dark green blouse. No makeup, and her jet-black hair was pulled back into a sleek, no-nonsense ponytail. And even though she was nervous, she gave off the vibe of a person who meant business, and damn, he loved that in a woman. “It’s my mom, okay?”

His heart ached for her. If their positions were reversed, he’d feel the exact same way.

“I understand. We’ll get her back. But guys like Salazar can smell nerves a mile away. You’ve got to bury that shit as deep as you can so he doesn’t catch a whiff of it.” He gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “That goes for you too, Rita.”

Rita didn’t respond, just stared out the window at the parking lot, where a bag boy loaded groceries into the trunk of an old Cadillac. She wore black pants and a plain black shirt, and her short hair was messy from constantly running her fingers through it.

Nate straightened in his seat and mentally ran through the plans one final time. It would work; he’d make sure of it. He tapped twice on his earpiece to get his brothers’ attention. “Are you in position?”

“Not yet.” Static mixed with Austin’s voice. “We’re waiting for Larissa to give the all clear to breach the perimeter.”