Page 61 of For Cowgirls and Kings

But instead of answering me, he sighs once more. “Ask your sister. She’ll know the spot.”

TWENTY-THREE

MATEO

February 18th, 2025

The ringer ends,sending me directly to voicemail for the fifth time, and the phone cracks beneath my grip.I don’t have time for this shit!I got the call from a blocked, anonymous number, and besides the panic in his voice and the vague location, the only lead I have is my sister.

My fucking sister who won’t pick up.What did she do?

“Hey? What’s going on?” Gus asks. I stare at him for several tense seconds, but when he starts toward me, I pull the truck door open and hop out.

“I got a call—” Gus pauses, and the screen door creeks behind him, signaling we’re no longer alone. Stetson steps out on the porch, her hand on her forehead shielding her face from the midday sunshine. Her face is flushed, blonde hair swept back into a low braid, her free hand resting on the small bump at her waist.

I contemplate lying. The last thing I want is to add stress to Stetson, especially in her current condition.

Her eyes harden, and she crosses her arms across her chest. “Don’t lie, Mateo. We love her too.”

I sag, my chest deflating. “I got an anonymouscall from a man telling me to start searching the Reacher National Forest. And that Dale doesn’t have much time.”

Stetson begins walking toward us as if on an invisible string, the panic becoming more evident the closer she gets. Gus puts up his hand, halting her as she moves to walk past him.

“That’s it? What’s with all the cryptic bullshit?” he growls, and I shrug in agreement.

“I don’t know. But I think my sister does. He said she’d know the spot, which makes me think this might be some kind of trap.”

A trap meant for me because of my family. All of this—everything Dale’s enduring—is my fault.

“Have you called her?” Stetson asks, her eyes scouring my face. I wonder what she sees?Evil? Defeat? Anger?

“Multiple times. But it keeps going directly to voicemail. I was going to try—” I pause, knowing now is absolutely not the time to mention McCrae, even if his name sits like poison on the tip of my tongue. “Her main guard. He should know where she is.”

“What can we do?” Stetson’s voice quivers and I hate that I have no good answers for them.

“I’d love a shower, and something to eat. And I’ll call this guy and the police department, and I’ll get gathered up to head out there as soon as I can.”

“We,” Gus states. I nod, the single word meaning more to me than I’m able to express.

“Yes, we,” Stetson adds, and both Gus and I shoot her a skeptical look. “Don’t look at me like that. Faith and I are just as capable at searching, and we’re as worried as you are. You’d have to tie me down to keep me from going, and I know Faith’ll feel the same way.”

I shrug, knowing there’s nothing I can do to stop her.Besides, Gus will never let anything happen to her. She’s probably safer by his side anyways.

“Go call her, get what you need,” Gus grumbles, turning back to the house without another glance.

When they’re both back inside, and out of earshot, I dial McCrae. It only rings twice before he answers, “Boss?”

I pause, waiting to hear any hints of discomfort. But when he sighs, sounding almost bored, I snap, “Where’s Valentina?”

“She’s in a meeting with a new liquor distributor. The one you approved last week, if you recall.”

“I’ve been busy, looking for a missing woman, if you recall,” I growl.

“I know. Have you found anything?”

“Yes. Get V out of the meeting now, and have her call me.”

He hesitates. “They just sat down.”