Page 86 of Emerald

“I think you might need to call Sophie, or I can get Zoe.”

“I don’t want to stress Zoe during her pregnancy,” I tell her.

“This might be over my head. I can help you with guy problems but this …” Mackenzie states.

“She looked relaxed, happy. She was laughing with her stepson at a luxury resort dressed in head-to-toe designer gear.”

“Maybe you should tell Sergei? He needs to know.”

“I know, but what happens if she isn’t Anna anymore?”

“I really don’t know what to tell you. Call Sophie, you know she will look at it pragmatically.”

She’s right. “Thanks for the chat.”

“I’m here anytime,” she tells me as we say our goodbyes and hang up.

I decide to call Sophie.

“Hey, everything okay?” she answers hesitantly.

“Yeah, just something happened today, and I need to talk to someone about it.”

Silence falls between us.

“And you called me?” Sophie questions.

“I called Mackenzie first, but she suggested I call you,” I say.

“Oh, okay then. What is it?” she asks with her no-nonsense tone.

“I found Anna.”

“Oh my god, that is amazing. Is she okay? Have you told Sergei? Is she safe?” Sophie peppers me with questions. I then explain to her exactly what I saw, and all the information Nash gave me. “Shit,” she says at the end.

“I know.”

“I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer here. I agree we don’t tell Sergei yet. But I do think you should contact her. Maybe at the gala. See how she reacts to you in a public environment. See if she seeks you out during the night.” That was what I was thinking. “She could be so deep undercover that seeing you might trigger her out of it.” I was thinking the same thing, too. It is what I am hoping will happen. “But you’re goingto have to be careful because if she is as deep as it sounds, then you trying to save Pearl might not happen.”

“I have to save Pearl.”

“I know and we will, but we need to be careful. This is dangerous, you’re not only dealing with the cartel, you’re also dealing with the leader’s wife. I’m not sure you can trust her.”

I let out a heavy sigh. “That’s what I’m worried about.”

“Look, I’m going to talk to Brooks, but I think we need to come to Mexico as back up,” she states.

“You don’t think I can do this?” I bristle.

“Please, I know you could take out the entire cartel in a blink of an eye, but I think you’re going to need more hands-on-deck for this operation. It’s not going to be an easy extraction,” she tells me. Sophie’s right, shit’s hit the fan, and I need to push aside my ego, I’m going to need help with this.

“Okay.”

“Wow, thought you were going to fight me on this.”

“I’m not stupid, I know when I’m beat,” I tell her. “Please don’t tell Sergei, Zoe, or Max, I don’t need them worrying.”

“I agree. I’ll make sure they are all distracted with welcoming Jade and helping her get her life back,” she states.

---