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“We need Grandfather to let us handle this our way.” Caleb tightened his hold on Gia’s hand and followed Zach inside.
The president’s office resembled a stately conference room. Polished mahogany panels reflected the soft sheen of overhead lights. Ben Blackwater sat at a long conference table, his phone pressed to his ear.
He barely glanced up before issuing a curt command. “Sit.”
Caleb obeyed before he realized he’d done so.
Zach moved just as fast.
Gia took a more graceful seat beside Caleb.
Ben ended his call with a sharp sigh. “That was Chief Nez. No sign of Jennie. And until we have proof she’s been taken across state lines,” his mouth thinned, “or murdered, the FBI won’t intervene.”
“Gia has information that will help.” Caleb cast a wary glance at his grandfather’s aide and security detail. “But it needs to stay between us for now.”
Ben motioned to the others in the room. “Wait outside.”
Once the door clicked shut, he leaned back, the leather creaking beneath his shifting weight. “Tell me.”
Caleb waited for Gia’s nod before speaking. “Vincente Lopez murdered a DEA agent. Gia witnessed it—that’s why she fled Miami. Now he’s using Jennie as leverage to force her back.”
Gia’s voice wobbled. “I can turn myself in, tell the DEA what I saw. They’ll arrest Vincente.”
Caleb shook his head. “Lopez has high-powered lawyers. They’ll discredit Gia, and the cartel will put a target on her back. We need to lure him here, and after we get Jennie back, we get him to incriminate himself, so Gia’s not involved. On video. Once the footage of his confession is public, the Feds will arrest him, and his father’s cartel will likely disown him to avoid the heat. He’ll take the fall alone.”
Plausible enough. What he didn’t say was he expected Lopez to come with armed men, ready to kill.
And that was just fine.
Because he didn’t plan on Lopez or his men leaving the reservation alive.
Ben’s gaze shifted toward the closed door, his expression unreadable. When he spoke, it was low, forcing them to lean in.
“We’ve been tracking cartel activity on the reservation. Their reach is long. Their money fills too many pockets.”
His face hardened. “I’d like to trust the Tribal Council and the police, but I can’t guarantee we wouldn’t have a leak. And there are rumors of a second cartel.”
Caleb darted a look at Zach. “Los Coyotes?” A flicker of satisfaction filled him at his grandfather’s nod. “I may have started that rumor to force Lopez into a personal visit.”
His amusement vanished. “Too bad the asshole didn’t take the bait before he grabbed Jennie.”
His grandfather’s disapproving stare had his mouth snapping shut.
“I won’t let the reservation become a war zone,” Ben said sternly. “And I won’t invite more federal oversight.”
“We won’t involve them,” Caleb replied. He wouldn’t leave Gia’s safety, or Jennie’s to strangers. “We don’t know what informants the cartel has in the FBI and DEA. Here, we control the meeting. We limit Lopez’s access.”
“Jennie is one of us.” Zach’s voice was taut with anger. “If we don’t control this fight, Lopez does. And Jennie loses.”
His gaze slid to Gia. “Gia loses, too.”
Ben steepled his fingers, the silver and turquoise jewelry on his wrists and fingers catching the light.
He studied them quietly before finally speaking. “He won’t come alone.”
“That’s why we dictate the terms.” Caleb clung to his patience. “My friends have agreed to help. They’re all former special operations guys. Experienced. We’ll keep their presence low-key and control the operation from start to finish.”
“What makes you think he will agree to your terms?”