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I answer with a growl, “The dealers in the organization want her working for them.”
“But… her father works for the same organization.”
“It’s a long—”
My ringing phone halts my explanation. I pull the device from my pocket to see the call is from the Puerto Rican area code. I dare to hope for good news and swipe to answer, placing the call on speaker so Birdie will pick up any helpful information. “Marisol?!”
“Mr. Madden,” wheezes a strained voice on the line.
Holy shit. Marisol’s father. “Borrero,” I say in greeting.
“I’m calling because I believe you to be in love with my daughter.”
I don’t indulge him, being more concerned with finding Marisol. “Where is she?” I demand.
“My daughter was taken from me. I do not know where she is, but I know who took her. I need you to find Marisol. I assume your background means you’re capable.”
Again, I ignore his statement in favor of getting the information I need. “What can you tell me?”
“Dario Cruz. He has my daughter.”
Knot picks up the keyboard and types furiously, working with Birdie to gather intel. “Who is Cruz, and why would he take Marisol?”
“Dario is the son of Adolpho Cruz, an associate of mine.”
“Don’t bullshit me,” I snarl. “I know who you are and what your associates do.”
“Fine. Adolpho is a fellow Copa in the Otero family. He runs the drug trade for the organization.”
Shit. Just like Marisol feared. “I don’t get it. Isn’t there some code between made men that protects you from disloyalty inside the organization?”
“Yes, normally. El Gran guaranteed that my daughter would not have to work with the Cruz family in the drug trade. To circumvent that promise, Cruz’s heir intends to play on the Don’s one weakness: family. If Cruz marries Marisol, she’ll no longer be my responsibility or under my protection. Dario Cruz plans to force Marisol into marriage, and then he can do whatever he wants with her.”
My grip on the phone tightens to the point the screen cracks. “If you knew this, how the hell could you let him get her?!”
The injured man coughs and fights to recover. “I only found out last night. Marisol attempted to escape while we were out to dinner. Dario anticipated the move and caught her. He sent Marisol home with me, and I confronted her. He forced her to accept his courtship, saying if she refused or told anyone, I’d be killed, and she would be taken anyway. Right then, I made plans to get her off the island this morning. Dario found out somehow, and we were ambushed. He has her now, which means Marisol is running out of time.”
Despite the man’s concern for Marisol, I find it impossible to muster any sympathy for him. Not even attempting to temper my disgust, I ask, “How are you not dead?”
“I do not know. I shouldn’t be alive. I can only assume Cruz let me live to maintain his leverage over Marisol.” The island gangster breaks into another coughing fit and groans. “Find her. Find Marisol. I need my daughter safe and away from this life. I have men, loyal men. I’ll place them at your service. I’ll give you whatever you want to save my daughter.”
“I’m not interested in a damn thing you have except her. Tell your men I land in an hour.”
Borrero wheezes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “I was right about you. Take care of her. She means more than the world to me.”
I don’t bother reminding Borrero that he’s the reason Marisol is in this life, to begin with. He already knows, and that’s why he’s putting Marisol’s life in my hands.
Borrero hangs up, and I lift my head to find Birdie watching with wide eyes. Knot stares as if seeing me in a new light. “What can you tell me?” I ask, shoving my phone into my pocket.
Birdie shakes out of her stunned silence and looks at her computer. “Dario Cruz, one of Puerto Rico’s most eligible bachelors. Son of Adolpho Cruz, drug kingpin for the Otero family. He shares an address with his father, perhaps living in the guest house on his father’s compound. I’m working on getting into their security now since that’s most likely where they’ve taken Marisol.”
Using the address Birdie provided, Knot pulls up a satellite view of the property. “This isn’t far from Borrero’s house.”
“But we’re not going there,” I announce.
“You’re not?” Birdie asks. “But I thought—”
Knot interrupts her, saying what I’m thinking. “Someone betrayed the Borreros. Gave away their escape plans. Since we can’t know who, we trust no one.”