Page 55 of Desert Loyalties

“I put feelers out when the feds first started sniffing around. I’ve got a name. Christina LaGuerta. She’s out of D.C., part of LaGuerta & Associates. Woman’s never lost a case to the feds. Not once.”

Murmurs ripple through the room.

“She’s expensive,” Ranger adds. “Real expensive.”

Caine shrugs like it’s nothing. “Fine. Give her whatever she wants.”

Ranger looks at him. “Glad you said that. ‘Cause the only reason I haven’t called her yet is this: she’s slammed. Full caseload. And she’s not gonna come out to Nevada for just any case.”

He leans forward.

“But Mickey dug around. Turns out, she comes to Nevada once a year. Always on the same week, your wife’s birthday.”

Caine freezes. All the colour drains from his face.

“I don’t know what the connection is,” Ranger says. “But there is one. I’m guessing one call from Alecia will work in our favour.”

Silence.

“I’ll talk to her,” I say. My voice sounds steadier than I feel. “She’ll do it.”

Caine exhales. “Alright. Why don’t you go have a word with her. We’ll move some things around. Free up some funds.”

I nod and get up.

We don’t say it out loud, but we all know: this is going to cost us. Maybe more than money.

But whatever it takes, we’re getting him back.

Leaving the chapel, I nearly run straight into the women. They’re all here. The old ladies. The lifers. My sisters.

Kate steps forward first. “We heard what happened,” she says. “Are you okay?”

Before I can answer, Kelly grabs my hand. “Of course she’s not okay, her man just got arrested.” Her British accent makes it sound like a lecture, but there’s concern under every word.

“I’m holding it together,” I say. “We’ve got a plan. I’m going over to Alecia’s. I need her help.”

Rani speaks up fast. “We’ll come with you.”

I shake my head. “I appreciate it, really. But I’ve gotta ask her for a big favour. Don’t think ambushing her is the right play.”

They nod, understanding. Still, Kate says, “Is there anything wecando?”

“Not right now,” I tell them. “But I appreciate you being here. All of you.”

I squeeze Kelly’s hand before letting go, then turn and take off down the hallway.

Time’s burning. And if Alecia’s the key to LaGuerta, then I need her to open that damn door.

Pulling out of the lot, I hit the throttle harder than I should. The tires spit gravel behind me as I tear out toward Alecia’s place. My hands are shaking. Not from fear but from the weight ofeverything.

Turning onto the main road, I glance at my phone on the seat beside me. No messages. No updates. Just the silence.

I park crooked in front of Alecia’s duplex, kill the engine, and just sit there for a second.

Breathe, Skye. Get it done.

I knock firmly on the door. It’s barely a second before it cracks open. She looks good, nothing gets a woman out of sweats faster than a husband who can’t keep it in his pants.