“Victor had an informant. Someone in Montilla’s inner circle.” She licked her lips. Her next admission would tell Trees so much… “I offered him the location of his boss’s car and the man who had stolen it if he told me where to find Kimber.”
Trees sent her a weighty stare. “So you sold Ramos out. Then you called Valeria with the information, and she passed it to EM Security.”
She nodded. “Now Kimber is safe, yes? How is she?”
“Better than expected. No one raped, beat, tortured, or starved her.”
“They would not. She was too valuable a pawn to risk. If they had abducted her to exploit her or to use her as an instrument of revenge, their treatment would have been much different.”
“Makes sense that they didn’t abuse her. They always intended to exchange her.”
“For Valeria and Jorge. That is why I tried to beat them at their own game.”
“Gutsy,” Trees said with admiration, then his expression became a glower. “But dangerous and absolutely forbidden in the future. You won’t do that again.”
Laila didn’t refute him. It would only start an argument, but she couldn’t afford to let him dictate if or how she kept her family safe.
“How long before we reach my sister?” She pulled down the visor and stared in the little mirror, blanching at the mussiness of her curls as she tried finger-combing them into submission.
“Just a few minutes.”
That was a relief. Sitting this close to Trees, knowing he was furious, yet remembering how he made her feel when he’d touched her… She fidgeted anxiously.
Who do you think you’ll be with once the visit to your sister is over?
Trees. And God only knew what he would do to her next.
“Now answer my earlier question. Is your pussy sore?”
She changed the subject again. “Where are my things?”
Trees clenched his teeth in anger. “In the back seat. I cleared out the condo. There’s no trace of you left. If either Ramos or Montilla’s men come looking for you, they’ll find nothing. I even paid the sisters who own the place to swear you were never there.”
He’d thought of everything. Laila supposed she should be grateful. She hadn’t wanted to admit that she might be in over her head, but she couldn’t afford to stop, not until Montilla and Victor were both dead.
“Thank you for packing up everything.”
He cut her a glance as he rolled down the highway. “But not for taking you from Mexico?”
Since she would rather not lie to him, she pressed her lips together, not saying a word.
He sighed. “You know, once we’re done here, I’ll take you home. Then you’ll answer to me.”
“You do not own me.”
“I don’t. But I’m responsible for you.” He slid his free hand to her thigh and his fingers tightened. “I’ll do whatever I need to keep you safe. And let me be clear. The corrective discipline I mentioned in Mexico? That’s still coming to you. Is your pussy sore? I’m not going to ask you again.”
Laila remained mute as Trees pulled into the parking lot of an upscale apartment complex, drove straight to a building on the edge of the property, then turned to her, his expression sharp. “Laila?”
“My sister has been staying here?”
He nodded. “Since she and Kane arrived from Florida. Sit there. I’ll come around for you.”
Did he think she was going to run?
With a sigh, Laila let herself out of the vehicle. When he rounded the back and saw her on her feet, he glowered. “You don’t listen well.”
“I heard you.” She smoothed down her dress.
When she looked up, he was against her, pressing her against his Hummer. He took her chin in his grip. “Then you need to learn to obey.”
She raised a challenging brow at him. “You need to learn that I will bow to no man.”
“I don’t want you to bow, honey. I want you to kneel.” He shocked her by leaning in and raking his tongue up the side of her neck. “To learn to trust me to keep you safe.” Then he smacked her ass with his big, broad palm. “And to fucking answer my questions.”
“You do not—”
“Get to tell you what to do? We’ll see about that—after you visit your sister.” Trees gripped her arm and led her up a flight of stairs, to a nondescript front door, then knocked. “And you’ll be very sorry you refused to answer me.”
The fear and thrill that jolted her veins startled Laila.
Before she could think of something to say, Kane Preston answered and ushered them in, scanning the lot before shutting and locking the door.
“We’re clear,” Trees said.
Kane nodded, then turned to her. “Hi, Laila. Valeria is eager to see you.”