Wicked and True (Wicked & Devoted 4)

Was driving him to drink—literally. “You can’t imbibe on the job.”

Trees gave a long-suffering sigh and put the beer back in the fridge. “Fuck.”

“Is she mouthy and difficult?”

“No. She barely speaks, and I swear sometimes I’d do just about anything to know what’s running through her head. The problem is, I want to fuck her.”

Yeah. Zy understood that perfectly. He’d lived through the excruciating months of wanting the woman he couldn’t have. “Sorry.”

“I’ll deal. What do you want to tell me?”

“Some friend of Walker’s has temporarily joined the team to help with Kimber’s recovery. Name’s Matt. You probably won’t see much of him. I met him. He seems okay.”

“Even though he’s a friend of Walker’s?”

“Trust me. I was as shocked as you.”

Trees shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I like that news? It’s fine by me. Hell, whatever they need to do to bring Kimber back…”

“Keep that in mind because what I say next might make you blow a gasket.” Zy let out a breath. “The bosses are thinking about using Laila as bait to help get Kimber back. Pretend to set up a hostage swap and—”

“No. Fuck no! Over my dead body. Absolutely not happening. End of conversation.”

“It’s not my favorite plan, either, but I think they’re running out of options and getting desperate. Kimber is a wife and a mother with two small children who need her, and Laila is—”

“Expendable? That’s fucking bullshit! She’s a human being and she’s”—he shook his head—“fragile.”

“I know.”

“You don’t know! She’s been bullied, abused, and raped since she was fourteen by the very people who want their hands on her now. You’ll have to kill me before I let anyone dangle her in front of a bunch of cutthroats. I’m dead fucking serious.”

“Is there any chance such a plan will allow for the capture of those who wish to hurt my sister?”

At the sound of Laila’s voice on the far end of the kitchen, Zy froze. Beside him, Trees scowled and cursed. Then they looked at one another. Zy telegraphed to his buddy that she was his woman and, therefore, his responsibility. Trees’s expression told him in return that since Zy was the acting boss, he wanted no part of this office bullshit.

Zy shook his head. Sure, why not heap more shit on my shoulders this week? You wouldn’t be the first…

“It’s possible,” he finally answered. “But it’s risky.”

Laila scoffed. “Even breathing around these people is risky—and certainly not a guarantee. My sister has endured too much, and she has her son to consider. I will do it.”

“You will not,” Trees exploded, towering over her with bared teeth and menace.

In the shadow of his thunder, she stood unblinking and uncowering. “You cannot stop me. You brought me here safely, and for that I thank you. But I owe you nothing beyond my appreciation.”

“I didn’t ask you for anything. But I would consider it a personal fucking favor if you would please give a shit about your safety.”

She cocked her head, her big eyes looking so sad. “Unfortunately, Emilo never gave us that choice. And I am certain his father, Geraldo, who is probably running his organization again now that he is gone, will be even less interested in such things.”

That was the elder Montilla’s reputation, from what Zy had heard.

“Fuck,” Trees muttered.

“If the Edgingtons or Muñoz ask me to help set a trap for Geraldo and his goons, I will say yes. My mind is made up.”

And Trees wasn’t about to stop fighting to change that. “Laila, you’ll be bait. Chum. Something my bosses will skewer on a hook and use to reel these bastards in. And if they lose you?” He shrugged. “Oh, well. Not their problem. Do you understand that?”

“Yes. But do you understand I will have no future if I refuse?”

With that, Laila turned away, then paused and looked back at Zy. “I cannot pay you for the clothes on my bed. Please return them.”

“It’s not a problem. You left your house in a hurry and you weren’t dressed for our winter.”

“I will not accept your charity.”

Then she was gone.

Before he even spoke, Trees looked ready to lose his shit. “See what I mean? She’s going to drive me crazy.”

Clearly, and Zy didn’t envy his pal.

He’d always thought Trees would fall for some pliable female who was a little twisted and conspiracy-theorist, too. They’d have a few kids, prepare for a doomsday that hopefully never came, and enjoy the shit out of a life they lived as off the grid as possible. In his mind, she’d be loving and boisterous, filling in Trees’s large conversational gaps. She’d cede to him about important things and make his life hell the rest of the time. And she would love sex.

Zy didn’t think Laila was any of those things, but it didn’t matter. Trees was already in deep shit.