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He tapped away diligently at his keyboard.
Mason stood on the opposite side, arms folded across his chest, his expression solemn, his jaw tight.
“I’ve got a recent location for Ariella’s cell phone, which matches the location that DeLuca gave us,” Aiden said.
He scribbled down the information on a piece of paper and handed it to me.
“Thanks,” I said gruffly.
“You can’t go dressed like that to the auction,” Declan said as he waltzed into the office, a fresh cup of coffee in hand. He sipped his mug and stood in the doorjamb.
“What’s wrong with the way I’m dressed?” I asked, and glanced down at my attire. My dark blue jeans had a streak of blood, and my shirt didn’t look any better.
He wasn’t wrong. “You have anything I can borrow?” I doubted they kept spare clothes at the office. “Or am I taking the clothes off your back?” I asked.
“You can’t go into the auction,” Jayden said.
I glanced behind me as he hurried in to catch up with us. Skylar stood by the door, waiting inside, and Lexa kept her company.
“And why the hell not?” I asked.
If anyone was going to rescue Ariella it was going to be me.
Mason could come too. He’d want to rescue Hazel, and I wasn’t going to stop him. Just like I knew he wouldn’t stop me.
We were in this together.
“We don’t know who is running the auction,” Jayden said. “It could be anyone, and you’re a prominent name in Breckenridge.”
“Everyone knows we work for Eagle Tactical,” Mason muttered. “So, what, we just let the girls get bought by some scumbags and then have to mount two rescue missions?” He shook his head and stormed toward Jayden.
“Hey! I’m just trying to help!” Jayden threw his arms up in surrender. “If you want to go and get turned away at the door, then by all means, show up. But if you want someone who can get in and get the girls out, then you need me.”
I didn’t like whatever plan Jayden had in mind. He was the reason Ariella and Hazel were still missing.
I glanced at the clock on the wall. Time wasn’t on our side.
While we could create fake identities and even put on a disguise, it was too risky. These types of events were by invitation only.
“You can get an invitation?” I sized up Jayden.
Jayden nodded eagerly. He was trying too hard. “I know the guy running the auction, Capo Sergio. He’s part of DeLuca’s family,” Jayden said.
Was he trying to make up for what he’d done, or was he hiding something from us?
What choice was there but to trust him?
My phone buzzed in my pocket. Could it be Ariella? I didn’t recognize the phone number.
“Hello?” I answered the caller.
“Hi, is this Jaxson?”
“Yes.” I felt the guy’s eyes on me as I took a step out of the room and stared at Izzie as she quietly colored. She’d managed to get ink all over her hands and on the desk.
“It’s Delphine. Ariella was supposed to pick me up from the airport, but she isn’t answering her phone.”