Savage Love (Savage Trilogy #3) - Lisa Renee Jones Page 0,58
thinks he gets out of this.”
“This can’t be real,” Candace murmurs. “No hired killer would be that stupid, would he? Has Alejandro lost his mind?”
“I’m guessing there was a big enough payday and a ride overseas,” I say, “to equal retirement.”
“Does that mean it’s over?” she asks. “Was Gabriel the real target?”
“No, baby. Tag doesn’t bluff. If he said Alejandro is coming for you, then he’s coming for you.” I eye Blake. “What did you tell them that tipped Candace off to the threat to her and her father’s lives?”
“The text message she found threatening her father which I handed over. And,” he adds, “since I’ve been made aware of the complications Pocher represents, we took the audio of him and Gabriel talking about killing Candace and manipulated Pocher’s voice. We’ve handed that over and told the police.”
“Who did you tell him Gabriel was talking to?”
“We didn’t,” Blake states. “We simply left that unknown to us and them.”
“They’re still going to talk to Pocher,” I say. “And Pocher is still going to see us as trouble, all of us, Blake, and he’s not an enemy we need.”
“I heard you made contact with Kane Mendez,” he says. “I was ATF back in the day. I knew Kane Mendez’s father, who was a piece-of-shit, but I met Kane when he was much younger. He wanted a different life. His mother wanted him to have a different life. I believe he tries, and I believe he’s a peacekeeper in his world in a way that goes underappreciated. If he can help us, I’ll help him.”
I arch a brow. “How?”
“Find out what he needs.”
“No,” I say. “That is not how we’re rolling with that man. He owes me a favor. That’s all he needs to know. We aren’t giving him more. Just back the hell away from all things Pocher when you talk to anyone and everyone.” I change the subject. Kane and I, will do Kane and I. “How did you tell the detective I, and therefore Walker, got involved in all of this?”
“You and Candace got back in touch when you joined Walker. She was scared. You contacted her. She confessed her fears. We got involved.”
I turn to Candace. “Are you up to getting this call over with?”
“I want this call over with, but I feel awkward. I’m not crying. I’ve realized he’s gone which makes me feel like a shitty person. I feel like the detective will expect me to cry and there will be a funeral. His father is in Europe. His father—”
My hands come down on her shoulders and I turn her to face me. “Easy, baby. You got this and I got you.”
“The man was trying to kill you,” Blake adds, “and you’re running for your life. They don’t expect you to feel anything but scared. A memorial set up by his estate, at a later date, for your safety, feels appropriate.”
“He’s right,” I say. “Don’t overthink this. You didn’t kill the man and neither did I. We’re guilty of nothing. I’ll go first,” I offer, snaking my phone from my pocket. “Okay?”
“Yes,” she says. “I really do want to get this over with.”
I punch in the number on the card. “Good. I’ll hand you the phone. Listen to what I say and back me up.”
“Isn’t it really early to call?” she asks.
“He wanted to talk to you right when you landed,” Blake says. “And it’s better to just let his mind process you and move on.”
I dial the number and Detective Hines answers quickly. I spend about five minutes talking to him before he asks, “You’re close to this,” he says. “Why turn on the man who hired you?”
“Killers don’t protect people. They kill people. He was never there to protect them. And frankly, I could give two fucks about that sick fuck Gabriel. We’re better off without him but that asshole Alejandro is coming for Candace. Tell me you have some clue where he’s at?”
“We’re looking for him but for a man who killed Gabriel without a care for who saw and what the cameras recorded, he’s managed to disappear.”
My lips thin. “Because he’s not there anymore. He’s probably in a damn car on his way here.”
“We’ve alerted the locals there who apparently know Walker well. Blake Walker told us you’re handling her security detail.”
“Hell yeah I am, but here is what I can tell you, Detective. While you look for who hired him, because we both know that’s your focus, he’s looking for Candace. If