Page 78 of Hart of Redemption
Boiling-hot rage seared my veins. “If what you say is true, where’s Grace?” My voice was matter-of-fact.
Mateo stared at me, as though I was too calm for his liking.
I could feel Rosario’s eyes on me. She laughed. “Mateo, one thing I’ve learned about Duke Hart over the years is you should be afraid of how even-keeled he is right now. Kind of reminds me of a snake, perched with its neck high, biding its time before it attacks its victim.”
“Duke isn’t about to do something stupid.” Outwardly, Mateo was exuding confidence, but the small crack in his voice said otherwise. “Because if he does, he won’t see Grace again.”
“Where is she, Mateo?” I asked, swinging the briefcase around my back, with my free hand joining the action, prepared to go for my gun.
Mateo aimed his Glock at me. “Hands where I can see them.”
“Your men frisked me.” I held out my arms. “See.”
“Throw the suitcase over to me,” Mateo ordered, losing his bravado.
Alexa moaned. “Mom, I have a headache.”
She probably had a concussion.
“We’re almost done here,” Rosario assured her.
“Not happening until I see Grace.” I stood my ground.
Mateo pressed the gun to Alexa’s temple. “Rosario, tell Duke to slide the briefcase over to me, or I’ll put a bullet in your daughter’s head.”
“You want the briefcase? Then go get it.” I threw it in the direction of the crate.
Mateo ran for it like a drug addict needing a fix.
His momentary lapse of attention gave me ample time to whip out my gun at the same time Rosario darted over to her daughter.
I swung my Sig Sauer 9mm at Mateo as his eyes widened at something behind me.
Motherfucker.His ghostly look told me someone was here. Whoever it was had rendered him speechless, so it must be either someone who had returned from the dead—or the law.
I spun around, swerving my aim and stumbling when I saw a woman wielding two guns in her hands like she was some vigilante out of a Marvel show. One gun pointed at me and the other at Mateo.
I lost my breath.
“What the fuck is your bartender doing here?” Mateo asked.
I tried to speak, but nothing came out. My tongue froze. My mind lost all thought.
“I’m Special Agent Fallyn Williams,” Joy said. “Put down your weapons.”
“You brought the Feds with you, Duke?” Mateo’s voice pitched. “I fucking knew you would pull something like this.”
The wordFedsshook the marbles from my brain as I backed up toward the front entrance, my gun still drawn, with Rosario to my right, protecting her daughter.
“Duke had no clue,” Joy said, trying to keep her attention on Mateo, Rosario, and me.
Ted Hughes had assured me he wouldn’t call the Feds. I didn’t think he had. I’d been conned. She was undercover. She was fucking undercover. Shock transformed into anger. Not at her. At me. I was the idiot. I should’ve figured it out. Then again, Jeremy Pitt’s tech team was always thorough with its background checks, and the government was always savvy in cloaking its agents.
“I am not going to jail like Tito,” Mateo said through a tight jaw, his gun still raised, his aim at Joy resolute.
“I wouldn’t do what you’re thinking, Mateo.” Joy’s voice was as calm as a warm summer day.
I kept my arm steady, my finger on the Sig’s trigger, my gun aimed at Joy, my attention on her unwavering, although the wordsshock and awedidn’t begin to describe how I felt.
