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Everyone laughed.
"I know how you all feel. I want him too, but we aren't breaking rules. We do things by the book or not at all. We're not taking risks. I'm not going to lose one of you because we get sloppy. If we know the man's name, we can go back home, dig up more on him and come back prepared." Bryon stood. "There's nothing more we can do tonight. Let's all get some sleep and tomorrow we can plan our next steps. Right now, our goal is to find Lenora's brother and get them back together and find out where they belong. The rest isn't a priority." He held up his hand as everyone started to argue. "I know there are kids in danger, but we have to do this right. We can't just go in and take down someone as big as Diaz without any planning. We're going to have to sit on this one until we get more information. I know the girls are in danger and probably being moved as we speak, but our hands are tied without more intel."
"He's right. We have to be smart about this." Carter stood.
Archer nodded. "Let me work some of my sources as well. The more info we can gather, the stronger we'll be." He put an arm around Carter. "Right now, I know I could use a few hours' sleep."
Beau stood. "Xander, did you get cream for Lenora?"
"I got some store brand stuff, but tomorrow I'll hit a tattoo shop and get the good stuff. I'm keeping my appointment unless we have something to move on. It's taken me almost a year to get in to see this artist." Xander met Bryon's stare across the room. "If I'm needed, I'll cancel in a heartbeat. You know that."
"I do. Right now, there's no reason to cancel it. We'll be information gathering for the next while. If we make a move, it won't be until tomorrow night at the earliest. Go get your ink." Bryon smiled.
"What about your wedding?" Trenton asked.
"Postponed. I can't have Becca or Faith out in public here. We'll go home, regroup, and replan. She'd rather have Lenora safe than marry me."
"That's because I already have you. That piece of paper isn't going to change anything." Becca walked into the room. She went to Bryon and wrapped her arm around him. "Now, if you guys are done, I'm going to steal him and remind him that just because there's work to do, that doesn't mean he can't sleep next to his fiancée for a few hours." She kissed his cheek.
"You heard the boss." Bryon laughed, then looked at Becca. "How's Lenora?"
"She woke up and wanted Faith to come to bed. She's okay. Just a little nervous and overwhelmed. She'll be fine. I didn't see any injuries on her other than some bruises on her arms and legs. I think she's okay. She still refuses to let Beau examine her. I can't blame her, and unless I see signs she's hurting, I'm not going to force her."
"I agree. She's been through enough." He pulled her closer. "I love you. I'm sorry about our wedding."
"Me too, but this is more important. I'm yours in every way that matters." She kissed him. "But it might help if you come to bed now and remind me."
He smiled as he brushed another kiss across her mouth. Despite having a ton to do, she was important too. "It would be my pleasure." Taking her hand, he led her down the hallway, permitting himself to forget about everything going on and focus on the most important thing in his life… her.
CHAPTER NINE
Becca walked into the kitchen, desperate for a cup of the coffee she smelled. She paused in the doorway, watching as Xander, Kasey, Noam, Matt, and Bryon stood behind Carter, staring at a large laptop screen.
"Becca should play football. Look at the way she took him down." Xander laughed.
Bryon didn't laugh. His lips were pressed together in a tight line and the tense muscles of his body were visible. He didn't like what he was seeing at all. "He could have killed her."
"Nah, he didn't know what hit him. Did you see the look in his eyes when she fell on top of him? Becca totally caught him off guard and Faith timed that exit perfectly." Noam slapped Bryon on the back. "Your woman kicks ass."
Bryon sighed.
"I promise not to make a habit of it." Becca walked into the room, going straight to Bryon and wrapping her arms around him as she watched the replay on the screen. A chill ran down her spine as she remembered the fear that had washed through her as she'd stepped out of that bathroom and put their plan into action. They really had been lucky nothing had gone wrong. Still, she had no regrets at all about what they'd done. After hearing Lenora's story, she would do it all over again, no matter the risks.
"You better not." Bryon moved her in front of him and wrapped his arms around her. "As hard as this is to watch, you did a great job." He kissed the top of her head.
"Thanks. I hope never to have to do it again." She watched the scene a few more times, then slipped out of his arms to get a cup of coffee. She stood against the counter as the guys went through other videos of the two men who had been with Lenora.
"The man she walked in with is Albert Washburn. He's a longtime member of Diaz's group. Rumor is his father was killed by police in the eighties during a police drug raid. Diaz allowed Albert and his brother Brad to stay with family friends in the group. He's got a record a mile long with arrests for drugs and trafficking but has somehow slipped through the system and avoided charges," Carter told everyone. "His brother died from a heroin overdose about six years ago. No record of Albert having any other family or getting married. The man who bought Lenora is Jason Wagstaff. He's fifty-six years old and is a property manager here in Las Vegas. He owns a lot of the retail space you see along the strip and rents it out to big-name companies. There are rumors of large sex parties at his home by invitation only. I'm assuming his perverted desire for children is why he's so selective of who attends."
"I'd like to get hold of his guest list," Xander growled.
"You and me both," Noam agreed.
"Working on that." Carter winked at them. "Dyson is diving deep into Wagstaff's world and finding a lot. He'll be sending it on to us once he's confirmed things."
"Wait." Bryon held up a hand. "We aren't here to take down everyone. We don't have the time or resources to do that. We need to make sure Lenora's safe and if possible, rescue the other kids from where Diaz is holding them. Even that might be more than we can do. We're not starting a war on the pedophiles of Vegas. We'd never leave. They're everywhere in this city."
