Page 76 of August

“Look, you’d have done the same thing in my position,” Todd wailed. “I had no choice but to hide.”

August stepped into Todd’s space, making the coward back up until his heels teetered on the edge of the dock. “You fucking ran because you’re pathetic. Instead of taking responsibility for what you did, you made the cartel go after Gigi.” He jabbed his finger into Todd’s chest. If he hadn’t needed the asshole right now, he’d have put his fingers through his eye sockets.

“I—”

“You nearly got her killed,” August spat. Before he got even angrier, August backed up. “Get him to the fucking car. I’m calling Alvarez.” Rami and Ghost each took one of Todd’s arms and followed Toth toward the SUV.

August pulled up the phone number Toth had given him earlier, the one that Dana had tracked down, and called it, bringing the device to his ear. The line rang three times. August’s chest tightened. What if they’d already killed her? What if they’d gotten their pound of flesh and—

“Hola?” Relief flooded through August.

“Alvarez?”

“Who’s asking?” the man said, quickly switching to English.

“August. You have someone I want and I have someone you want.”

A beat passed. August’s breath stilled in his lungs. “Is that so?” Alvarez dragged out the question. “You must be referring to Georgia.”

August’s blood pumped wildly. Fury coursed through his veins at the sound of Gigi’s name on the sick bastard’s tongue. It took two breaths before his voice was strong enough to speak. “And I have Todd.”

Alvarez inhaled quickly in what sounded like surprise. Interesting. “I suspect you want to trade.”

“That’s right. Where is she? I’ll come to you now. I’ll give you Todd.” He couldn’t have hidden his eagerness if he’d tried. There was no battening down the urgency to get to Gigi, to shield her from whatever the sonofabitch had in mind for her.

More importantly, to erase her fear. To let her know that he was there. That he hadn’t given up. That he’d protect her for as long as he lived.

“And if I say no?”

August’s mouth popped open. Grit filled his mouth. He swallowed but the texture didn’t change. “Then you’ll have a war on your hands.”

Jesus. Probably not the best answer. He’d just laid down his hand—admitted how far he’d go to get back what was his. Now the enemy knew August’s biggest weakness. Knew he’d give anything, kill anyone to bring Gigi home.

Alvarez laughed. The rich, thick chuckle made pinpricks of rage erupt beneath August’s skin.

“You think you can beat me in a war?”

“I think you don’t want to find out.”

Seconds went by. He was about to lose Alvarez. Every bone in August’s body screamed at him to do something, to stop the man’s interest from slipping. “I know about your involvement with the Radcliffes. Actually, I just left their place on San Juan Island.”

Alvarez sputtered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re laundering money through their charitable foundation. You gave them eighty-five million dollars. I’ve got all the evidence, and I’ll leak it to the FBI if I don’t have Gigi back in two hours.”

There. He’d just dropped every fucking card he had. If Alvarez didn’t bite, they really would have a war at their doorstep.

Each second moved like a bowling ball through wet cement. August’s pulse pounded against his temples, his blood pressure in the danger zone.

“Why should I believe you?”

“Because I know you were tipped off about Gigi. You found out where we were keeping her, and when you learned I was leaving, you sent people in.”

“So?”

Bastard didn’t even bother denying it. “So you should ask yourself how I found Todd. Or better yet, pay a visit to Roy Radcliffe and ask him.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Impatience fanned the man’s words.

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