Page 57 of She's Mine

“He’s been with the Bloodline this whole time. He’s been made Hernández’s second in command. Joseph was also the one who took Alyssa from the town of Blue Jay. She snuck out of David’s compound while he was here in LA, getting an update from me.”

I shook my head. “No, there must be some mistake.”

“I’m sorry, Charles, there isn’t a mistake,” Jeffrey said, and the pity in his tone caused me to wince. “I also have reason to believe the Bloodline have captured David, too. I was able to retrieve the messages sent to David’s phone, and it appears as though Alyssa managed to get in contact with him. She sent him a code, which wethinkis her location. David’s staff informed David that Alyssa snuck out of the compound, and they haven’t seen him since. I’ve been able to trace his movements as far as Crestline. I believe he tried to rescue your daughter alone.”

“Why didn’t David contact you as soon as Alyssa got in touch?”

Opposite me, Jeffrey shrugged. “I don’t know. He should haveknownbetter. All I can think is that he figured it was safer if he tried to rescue Alyssa alone.”

“He’s an idiot,” I scoffed dismissively. Ihadthought all three of the bodyguards employed by J&J Security to guard me and my family had been doing an excellent job. I’d been especially impressed with how David seemed to have gotten Alyssa under control. But to hear he’d raced off to ‘rescue’ her without contacting Jeffrey first made me doubt this man’s competence.

I’d been at Jeffrey’s office for a few hours now. He’d called me at my safe location, and told me he was sending a private chopper to bring me back to LA. My bodyguard, Scott Payne, had flown with me. Pamela was still at her own safe location, with her bodyguard, Pedro Lincoln. Thankfully, she had no idea that our daughter was currently missing. Or that our son had been alive this whole time.”

“Do you have any idea where they are? What did this code in the message she sent him say?”

“It was just a series of numbers and letters, but I have my top tech specialist working on it now. As soon as we have a location, you’ll be the first to know.”

“And when we do know where they are, what’s the plan?” I asked my oldest and dearest friend.

“I will dispatch my best team to apprehend Joseph, Hernández and any other members of the Bloodline that might be at the location. I will also send a second, smaller team, to locate Alyssa and David and get them out of there ASAP.”

“I’m coming with you,” I said. I wasn’t just going to sit on the side-lines while my daughter was in danger.

“Charles, you can’t. This could very well be a trap. Hernández and Joseph could be waiting for you. Please, let my team deal with this.”

“Like hell I will. I want to face the man who destroyed my family. I want to look my son in the eyes as he tells me he’s joined my enemy.”

Jeffrey shook his head and heaved out a breath. “Fine. You can accompany me, but I want you wearing full body armor. I’m going to bring in snipers, so the moment Hernández or Joseph try anything we can take them out.”

“That’s fair,” I agreed, knowing Jeffrey would have every tiny detail covered. That’s why I’d trusted him to supply bodyguards for me and my family in the first place.

I wouldn’t lose another child to that murderous cartel. I’d sooner die than let anything happen to Alyssa.

The office lapsed into silence, with neither Jeffrey nor I having anything else to say, while we waited for his tech team to confirm Alyssa’s location.

Finally, a young blonde woman, wearing glasses and a red formal dress entered the office.

“Ah, Felicity, I assume your presence here means you have good news for us?” Jeffrey asked with a smile.

“Yes Sir. The code points to a woodland area, near Mount Baldy Notch, right next to the Devil’s Backbone Trail.”

“That’s about an hour away by car,” Jeffrey said. “But in the chopper, it shouldn’t take more than ten minutes to get there. I’ll get the team ready. Thank you, Felicity.”

“My pleasure Sir,” the young woman replied, and then left the office.

The next thirty minutes passed in a blur of activity, as Jeffrey readied the two teams that would fly to Mount Baldy Notch, me included. We were all asked to wear body armor, and everyone had weapons too. One team would confront Hernández, Joseph and any other members of the Bloodline that were there. The second team would search the area for Alyssa and David. I desperately wanted to be part of the second team and rescue my daughter. But I also knew I’d never rest unless Ifinallyfaced down Hernández and the son he’d taken from me.

Knowing there was every possibility I might not make it back from Mount Baldy Notch alive, I asked Jeffrey to put me in touch with Pamela.

My best friend called his agent, Pedro Lincoln, and after a moment, I heard my wife’s voice on the other end of the line.

“Charles, what’s going on? Pedro told me you wanted to speak with me. How did you even get this number?”

“Jeffrey gave it to me. I’m with him now. The Bloodline took Alyssa—”

My wife gasped, but I was quick to reassure her. “Don’t worry, we have a location for her and are heading there now. But there’s something else you need to know. Joseph is alive – he’s been working with the Bloodline this whole time.”

There was silence for a moment as my wife digested the news. Finally, Pamela said, “Please, Charles, dowhateverit takes to bringbothour children home safely. Promise me.”

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