No One to Trust - Iris Johansen [62]
“Second fiddle to Judd again.” Dominic grimaced ruefully. “I’m not as gentle as you might think. Let me help.”
“I’ll let you know.” Galen glanced at Elena again. She was looking past Barry at the setting sun, but he knew she wasn’t seeing it. She was thinking about her brother and the load Chavez had dropped on her shoulders.
Time to get to work. He’d make some calls and then, later tonight, after Elena had gone to bed, he’d talk to Judd.
“You’re going to go after him?” Judd shook his head. “Let Chavez put him down. The sniveling bastard deserves it.”
“You’re probably right. In any event, I’m going to scout around to make sure Luis is really in dire straits before I decide whether or not to go in.”
“Go in where? You know where Chavez is?”
“Miami, or near there. He went there directly from the ranch. Manero just found out he’s cruising around the coast on a yacht called The Prize.”
Judd’s gaze narrowed on his face. “And how do you know that?”
“I called Manero the minute I heard Chavez was on his way to the ranch. I told him to get a man out there to monitor the situation and to track Chavez when he left. He came through for me.”
“How long have you known this?”
“I’ve known he went to Miami since the day after I got here. As I said, Manero just found out about the yacht.”
“And you didn’t tell Elena.” It was a statement, not a question. “You were afraid she’d try to go after him again.”
“I didn’t want to take the chance. I think she’d do anything to put an end to this threat to Barry.”
“She won’t be pleased.”
“I don’t care. I want her safe.” His lips twisted. “Jesus, is that too much to ask? She’s never been safe in her life.”
“You want me to go with you?”
“I may need help.”
“Good God, you’re admitting you’re not all-powerful? What’s the world coming to?”
“Will you do it?”
“It will be difficult. A yacht isn’t like a house. They can see you coming.”
“It can be done.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow night.”
Judd was silent a moment. “I’ll think about it.”
“I won’t go in unless I believe we have a chance.”
He nodded. “I know you’re no amateur. It’s just that I have a good deal to live for right now. I don’t want to blow it.”
Galen turned to leave. “Let me know.”
Judd grinned. “You’ll be the very first.”
The mat.
Elena woke up screaming. Just a dream.
She was panting and drenched in sweat.
She got out of bed and went to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. Then she changed her nightshirt and went back to bed.
No, there was no way she could relax. Her heart was still beating so hard she felt suffocated. She needed air.
A moment later she was on the porch and taking deep, cool breaths.
“Okay?”
She looked over her shoulder to see Galen standing in the doorway. “I needed some air.”
“Couldn’t sleep?”
“Oh, I slept,” she said. “Nightmares.”
“About Luis?”
“Yes. He was on the mat, and Chavez was hitting him and hitting him and hitting him.” She drew a deep breath. “Luis was never good at hand-to-hand. My father and I both tried to teach him, but he didn’t want to learn. Maybe the life we led was too rough for him. Maybe if he’d grown up in a stable family situation, he’d have been different, happy. Everyone should have the chance to be happy.”
“If they don’t try to take that chance away from someone else.”
“You’re right. I know you’re right.” Her teeth bit into her lower lip. “But I can’t just sit here while Chavez is torturing him. I have to help him. After he’s free, I can turn my back on him, but not now.”
“What about Barry?”
“You and Dominic will keep him safe.”
“Oh, so I’m the one who is supposed to stay here and baby-sit?”
“Yes. Luis isn’t your responsibility. I want only one thing from you. I need to know where Chavez is.”
“And you think I can find out?”
“Sure.” She tried to smile. “You’re the great problem-solver. You can solve this one, can’t you?”
“Maybe.”
“Try.” Lord, she was cold. She crossed her arms