Page 114 of Rum & Coke

Valentina opened her mouth to protest, and I gave her the saddest look I could possibly muster. She had to know this was my chance. Even if I didn’t know Joss, this was a moment for me to tell them I was in danger. Valentina closed her eyes briefly and then stepped into the open kitchen. She could still see me from where she stood at the island, but then Joss stepped in front of me.

“Are you okay?” she asked quietly as she looked over at the guard who was by the front door.

“No.” I shook my head slightly, trying not to respond too much so that Valentina and the guard couldn’t see me. I looked down to see Colton on his iPad, and I took a few steps away so he couldn’t hear either.

“We need to make this fast. We’re telling the help that we’re here asking questions about a guy named Tony Martinez—”

“I met him,” I confirmed.

“He’s dead.”

“What?” My eyes became huge.

“Doesn’t matter. When Sebastian asks, tell him I asked you questions about girls being trafficked at Red Diamond.”

I nodded. “Okay, but I don’t think they are.”

“I know, but we’ll get into that another day. We need to figure out how to get you out of here.”

“You can’t take us now?”

She shook her head. “If this were a simple kidnapping case, I wouldn’t hesitate, but it’s more, Tessa.”

“More?”

“You do know who Sebastian is, right?”

I nodded.

“We need him, but we’re still doing surveillance on him, and we need time before we can make the bust.”

“I saw him kill a guy,” I stated.

“You did?”

I bobbed my head again. “That’s why I’m here. He’s worried I’ll tell the police, but some of the officers with Metro are working for him.”

“We can use that, but I need you to stay here until we can make the arrest.”

“Why?”

“There’s a lot of moving pieces, and we just don’t have the evidence right now.”

“Me seeing a guy being killed by him isn’t enough?”

“It would be your word against his, and I’d rather not take the chance of putting you in even more danger.”

“Okay, so what do I do? Just pretend everything’s good?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Everything’s not good, Joss. I’m pregnant.”

She smiled warmly at me. “We assumed as much since Autumn saw you at the OB. Is it Vinny’s?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Joss stared at me for a beat. “I was hoping he wasn’t doing that to you.”