Brett, however, was still hesitant to agree. “How solid is this plan of yours?”
“It’s our best shot of getting out of here and finding your daughter.”
The other man thought for a second longer before nodding. “Okay, then. Tell me what I need to do.”
Chapter 14
“She saw my face.” Emilio Garcia glared daggers at the man he used to trust with his life.
Used tobeing the operative term.
“From ten yards away,” Sal rebutted. “And it was only for a second, plus the lighting in here is horrible.”
Dabbing his handkerchief across the back of his neck, Emilio blotted at the sweat beading on his skin as he stood at the edge of the lot near the warehouse.
The concrete had kept the inside cooler, but this part of the job was messy and better suited for the birds than a broom.
“A second is all it takes, you idiot,” Felix—a man Emiliodidtrust with his life—pointed out.
“Felix is right.” He stared back at Sal. “A single, solitary second can change everything. Including destroying the life I have worked years to build. For me. For my family. Even for your ungrateful ass.”
“I’m not ungrateful, Emilio. I appreciate everything you’ve ever done for me. But I’m telling you, even if the Webb womandidsee your face, she’s an American tourist who’s scared out of her mind. She has no idea who you are, and probably won’t even remember you ever being here.”
“I can’t run that risk, Salvador.” Emilio shook his head. “I won’t.”
Fear filled the other man’s dark eyes, for he knew what was at stake.
“W-what do you propose we do?” the imbecile asked nervously. “The transfer of money has not gone through yet. We gave the hostage’s families forty-eight hours, as we’d planned.”
“Thanks to your idiot cousin, theplanis no longer valid.” Another good point made by Felix.
Sal’s swallow was audible. “So what are you saying?”
“I’m saying”—Emilio made himself perfectly clear—“I want the Webb woman and the girl taken out of here. Now.”
“Now?” Sal’s brows shot up with surprise. “Where am I supposed to take them?”
“There’s an abandoned farmhouse forty miles north of here. I want you to personally escort them there and stay with them until the transfers are complete. Use one of the trucks so they can’t be seen. If the family demands proof of life, you can give it to them. With only two women to watch, you’ll have less responsibility. This means there’s less of a chance you’ll fuck up again.”
“My men and Ihavebeen watching them, Emilio,” Sal assured him. “Nothing has happened that puts our plan at risk.”
“I disagree. And since I am the one in charge…”
“Fine. I’ll have Marcus help me, and—”
“No.” Emilio cut him off. “Marcus stays here.”
“But Marcus is—”
“The reason we’re having this discussion in the first place.” Emilio turned to Felix. “Bring him to me.”
“Emilio, please,” Sal pleaded for his cousin.
This time, his pleas fell on deaf ears.
“Go,” Emilio told his trusted confidant.
A minute later, Felix returned with Marcus in tow.