Deep Under (Tall, Dark and Deadly #4)(40)

“If we get enough from her we might have to bring in the Feds,” he says. “And that dirties things up.”

He means it makes killing Alvarez more complicated. “He’ll be in my face, and I’ll be in his.”

“Fuck, man. That was supposed to be me. You better enjoy it for me.”

“Oh, I will,” I say. “I will. But back to Myla. She has tolerated being in that man’s bed, doing God knows what, to survive and to protect Kara. If she thinks I’ve endangered her sister, this will fall apart. I have to be able to convince her that Kara is safe, out of reach, and that she will stay that way until this is over. She’s been through hell to protect her sister. If she thinks I’m endangering her, I’m not sure how she’ll react.”

“I couldn’t get Kara on the plane to Italy and I wasn’t leaving her here alone.”

“What about the Ella case?”

“I have men on the ground chasing what, right now, is an iffy lead. If I get something solid, I’ll use that to get Kara to Italy. We’re in New York.”

“You need to get off the radar completely.”

“You don’t have to tell me that,” he says. “I get it. I convinced Kara to go away for a few days with me to Seattle. I’ve arranged a private plane, and I’ll conceal our destination and identities, but I can’t keep this from her. I’m going to tell her when we’re there, give her some explosion time, and get her head on straight. She needs to get past the emotional aspect of this.”

“Make sure she does, man, because I have the same issue here. I can’t keep lying to Myla. She knows I’m not what I say I am. I’m going to kill any trust I’ve started to earn if I don’t tell her the truth and fast.”

“We leave in an hour,” he says. “I’ll tell her by morning and I’ll tie her to the damn bed until she’s reasonable, if I have to.”

“That’s what I want to hear,” I say. “That’s what I need to be able to tell Myla.”

“Understood.” He pauses a moment. “You never gave up on her, man. You were as obsessed with her being alive as Kara. More, even.”

“It was a gut feeling.”

“It was you doing what I couldn’t do and keep Kara sane at the same time. You did this for us. You are a f*cking brother, a Walker in every way.”

The emotion in his voice punches me in the chest, while mine hits me in the gut. Blake, his brothers, they are the family I never had, and that’s why I can’t leave this unsaid. “I am your brother,” I say. “And this started about you and Kara, but it’s become about Myla just as much. No. It is about her to me now.”

“Fuck, man, I get where this is going. She’s vulnerable and you know that makes her off limits.”

My jaw clenches. “I haven’t touched her.”

“Not yet, but you were warning me where this is going, preparing me so I can prepare Kara. This isn’t just another undercover job. This is her sister.”

“And I’m the one here. I’m the one undercover, keeping us both alive, and that means I’m going to do whatever I have to do to keep us both alive.” And instead of reminding him that he was undercover when he met Kara, I change the subject. “Tell Royce I need those emergency exit strategies now, not later.”

“We’ve already arranged a private jet and the Rosa Airfield is on standby around the clock. Get there and you get out. F Hanger, with Louie. I’ll text you his number.”

“I know where Rosa is.”

“Kyle-”

“I’m going to do what it takes to keep us both alive, and that’s not your call,” I repeat, and then hang up, immediately reaching for the door, only to have the phone ring again. I answer it and Blake says, “You’re f*cking right. You do what you have to do. I trust you. We all trust you. Just stay the f*ck alive and keep her that way, too.”

“I will,” I say, and this time when I end the connection, I have one thing on my mind. Getting back to Myla. I step out of the Mustang, automatically scanning the parking lot again, and my gaze lands hard on a black sedan, with equally blacked out tint on the windows. I study it, catching a flicker in the darkness at the driver’s side that tells me someone is smoking. I don’t like it and I unbutton my jacket, walking toward it, a calm, steady charge; my fingers flexing, and ready to draw my gun. There are shadows behind the glass, movement. Panic. The door starts to open at the same moment I shove it back into place and point my gun at the window. It rolls down, revealing Ricardo, who I happen to know is a prime player in the sex trafficking operation, and a piece of slime I’d happily rid this world of now and forever.

“Put your f*cking gun down,” he demands.

“I have no way of knowing if you are on Alvarez’s watch or working against him. The rules I agreed on with Juan include you telling me when you’re here.”

“That’s not what he said. He said-”

“I don’t give a f*ck what he said. You identify yourself when you’re in my line of sight or not only will I blow your head off next time. I’ll enjoy it.” I reach for my phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Calling Juan,” I say. “I want to know that he knows you’re here.”