Page 33 of Secrets

“We gotta eat, Kari,” he smiled. “Besides, I saw a six-layer chocolate cake on their menu that I have to try. You know, just to test it against Mama’s.”

“Lord, y’all are still children, and you’re technically old men.” Kari shook her head, grinning up at her mammoth brother-in-law.

“Yeah, but you still love us, chére,” he laughed. Miller walked back toward them and stood, not saying a word.

“Well? What did they say?” she asked. He held up a finger, and then suddenly, the smiling face of Juan appeared behind stealth netting.

“Jesus!” whispered Katrina. “Do you know how unsettling that is? All we see is your damn head!”

“Well, I could drop the netting, but you’d see a whole lot more,” he smirked.

“No,” she said, holding up her hand. “No, thank you. I assume they agreed that we have to get Jay out of there.”

“They did,” said Miller. “We are to get him out of there and take him immediately to Belle Fleur. They’re going to fill Millicent in on everything we know. It’s going to be a shock to her, and she may not react the way he wants.”

“I don’t think he has any expectations for her,” said Kari. “What will the prison think?”

“I’m to make it look like an escape,” said Juan’s head, still with no body.

“How are you supposed to do that?” frowned Nathan. Juan smiled at him, turning to grin at his father. Trak just gave a sly smile, pulling out his stealth suit.

“I’ve come to enjoy traveling with Juan.”

“Wait! We can travel with you?” said Tailor.

“Not you! I have to carry the person.”

“What are you sayin’, boy?” growled Tailor. Juan stared at him, unsure of what to say. Then Tailor bellowed with laughter, shaking his head. “I’m just messin’ with ‘ya.”

“Don’t do that! You’ll give me a heart attack.”

“Children! Can we focus?” said Kari. “What do we do with him once you have him?”

“You don’t do anything,” said Juan. “Trak and I will get him back to Belle Fleur. You will stay here at the hotel, be seen, wander, sightsee, whatever you have to do to show that you’re present and don’t have an additional person with you.

“We’re betting on the fact that once we have him out, Fowler will come looking for all of you and demand to see Millicent or at the very least, demand that she appear here in Chicago to give statements. He won’t give a damn about the brother any longer.”

Kari and Katrina both looked concerned. But when they looked at the rest of the men, there was a sign of mischief and joy on their faces that they’d seen before. Alec nudged Tailor, who nudged Wilson, who nudged Max, and so on.

“Boys, we’re about to have some fun.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Tell me what you need me to do,” said Trak softly to Juan.

“Just remember, don’t let go of me. If you do, I don’t know what happens to you. When we get there, you’ll be fine beneath the stealth netting. We know what cell he’s in. We just have to convince him to come with us.”

“How will you get both of us out of there?” asked Trak, seemingly unconcerned.

“I will have to get him out first, then return for you. Will you be alright?” he asked Trak. Trak gave a sly grin.

“This will be enjoyable.”

“Trak. Trak, you can’t do anything to any other prisoners. They could give us away,” said Juan.

“Let me worry about that, young one.”

“Young one? I’m an old man.”

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