How could she say such things? “No.”
“Yes. The night I escaped with that affluent doctor’s daughter with EM Security’s help? I wanted to come for you so badly and take you with me. But I knew if I was caught wandering the compound, I would be questioned and taken straight to Emilo. If that happened, I worried I would never have another chance to escape. I was pregnant. I worried it would not be long before Emilo knew, too. Then he would kill me.”
For having his child. That made no sense, but Emilo had been an abusive bastard. Maybe he had never wanted a son or daughter.
But if that was true, why had he hunted them down in St. Louis? To kill Valeria for the “sin” of leaving him?
“I do not understand.”
“I left you behind, and I never should have. I should have risked myself to take you with me that night. I could have spared you a year and a half of utter abuse and misery. But I was too afraid of what would happen to me and my baby…” Valeria started crying, and Laila heard the genuine remorse in her voice. “I am so sorry, hermana.”
That confession had obviously weighed heavily on her sister, and Laila hated to hear her tear herself apart over making the obvious—and correct—choice. “I understand. I support your choice. Nothing is more important to me than you and Jorge. Do not get involved in this mess, except maybe to demand that EM Security help me find Trees.”
After all, his point about having no backup, no equipment, and no help was true.
“No, it is time I do more. The root of all our problems is Geraldo. I will deal with him—once and for all.”
Laila reeled back in horror. “You cannot.”
“I must. He will not hurt me. He will never hurt me. I have the one thing he wants most in this world. Jorge.”
“You cannot sacrifice your son to that monster. He will—”
“Never,” Valeria said firmly, like a vow. “But perhaps I can negotiate with him since I have leverage, and I refuse to let you risk yourself again. I will call EM Security and work something out.”
If Montilla would stop hunting them, maybe they could have a life? “But what if Geraldo will not negotiate?”
“He will.” Her sister sounded smug.
Laila didn’t understand, but her first priority was Trees. Valeria and Jorge having a cartel-free future was critical. Laila wanted that for them. But if these violent bastards took Trees from this earth, she would have no tomorrows.
“And what of Victor?”
Valeria scoffed. “Ramos is nothing but ass-licking pond scum. Emilo was right about very little, but he was right about that. He is more dangerous than smart, and I think I know a way to ensure that he gets exactly what is coming to him.”
Laila blinked. This was her sister? Valeria almost always allowed her to plan and execute whatever needed to be done. “I do not understand.”
“I know. And…there are things I should have explained much sooner, but I was embarrassed. If you had known, however, I might have saved you some heartache and trouble. Another grave mistake I will have to live with. I hope you can forgive me someday.”
“Valeria—”
“Give me an hour. I will see what I can work out. See if you can locate Victor. And take care of yourself, hermana. I will be in touch.”
“I cannot wait an hour to start saving Trees.” She had already wasted too much time as it was.
At least locating Victor would give her something to do. She could find out if he had taken Trees and plead for her beloved’s life. She would offer Victor whatever he wanted for Trees’s safe return.
“Would he truly want you putting yourself in danger for him? No. The man who confessed to me that he loves you would give his life to spare yours. Please honor him. I will be in touch soon.”
Then Valeria hung up. Immediately, Laila went to work, trying her best to plot how she could both keep her promise and save the man she loved.