Page 143 of Risky Passion

“Jeez, that explains a lot,” Maya said, glancing at Piper.

Piper’s pale skin seemed to turn gray. “That’s near that drug den where they took my daughter.”

“Perfect spot for a criminal mastermind,” Whisper said. “Remote, swampy, and fucking creepy enough to keep most people away.”

“I’d bet good money she’s disposed of a few bodies using that boat,” Cobra said, pointing at the tinny on the screen.

Aria pulled her phone, pressed one number, and held the phone to her ear. "Levi, where are you?" Her tone was sharp enough to cut steel. Her scowl deepened as she listened to his response. "We need the chopper.We've found Beatrice's house in the Everglades at Rosebud. So get your ass back here ASAP."

She nodded, her jaw tightening.

"Roger that. Twenty minutes? Fine. We'll be ready." Ending the call, she turned to Cobra and pointed. "We need intel on that place."

"Copy that," Cobra said, spinning back to his keyboard, his fingers flying across the keys.

Onyx ran into the room with Charlie on her heels, and the two dogs careened around our tables like furry missiles. Everyone smiled, enjoying the light reprieve for a couple of moments.

My thoughts drifted to my cats at home. They had enough food and water in their automated feeders to last days, but I would text Tracy next door later and ask her to check on them anyway. She knew where I hid my key because she’d helped me out a few times when I got stuck at work.

"Now that we have Beatrice’s name, I'll dig into her background," Piper said, pulling her laptop closer and settling into her chair. "Let's see what I can find."

“Piper found Alice Turnur for us,” Ryder said, flashing her a quick, loving smile. “Before B snatched Alice from the hospital.”

Maya snapped her fingers. “That’s another murder we can pin on Beatrice, that doctor she killed at the hospital. She shot him in the back. Though it looked like he helped her kidnap Grant Hughes.” She frowned, her gaze narrowing. “I wonder if he helped her take Alice last time, too. Or is there another bastard working with her in that hospital?”

“She’s got her damn fingers in everything,” Parker said, his voice simmering with frustration. “The wharf, the hospital, corrupt cops. It’s a fucking nightmare.”

“At least, we might finally get some answers to all your cold cases that are forever piling up,” Whitney said, tapping a pen to his chin.

“Except one,” Parker muttered before clamping his mouth shut.

I had a feeling that he wished he could take those words back.

Jaxson's gaze swept to his brothers, and a deep, unspoken sadness passed between them.

When Jaxson turned to me, sorrow lingered in his eyes, but therewas something else too; a silent plea for me not to press him. I didn’t. But I tucked my questions away for later. If there was something between us, and I had a good feeling there was, I needed to know that he wasn’t hiding any skeletons in his closet.

“Well, this is weird,” Piper said. “There’s no birth record for Beatrice Holloway that matches her age.”

“She could’ve changed her name,” I suggested, leaning back against the table.

“If she did, she did it over forty-five years ago,” Cobra said, shaking his head.

“Or she was abandoned as a baby at the orphanage,” Ryder added, crossing his arms.

“There were a few like that,” Jaxson said. “That ledger we found detailing the Kincaid brothers’ intake mentioned plenty of kids with almost no details. Makes me think a lot of them were just dumped on the orphanage steps.”

“Okay, team, listen up,” Aria said, stepping forward with her hands on her hips. “The chopper can fit five of us. Levi and I are in for starters.”

“Count me in,” Jaxson said. “And Onyx.”

"Hold your horses, Jaxson," Aria said, raising a hand to cut him off. "I'm taking Maya and Xander from my team, plus Ryder, as he's our most senior officer here. I won't risk anyone else."

Ryder straightened and gave Aria a quick nod, pleased at being chosen. Beside me, Jaxson clenched his jaw as frustration etched in every line of his face, but he kept his silence.

"We already know Beatrice can rig a place with C4," Aria continued, her voice hardening. "And I'd bet my life her house is no different. I need my team on this."

"What am I?" Cobra scowled, crossing his arms, yet his smile confirmed he wasn’t as disappointed as Jaxson for not being chosen.

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