Cobb (Lighthouse Security Investigations #9) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,96

inhaled deeply before letting out a long curl of smoke. “You ever been to Faro El Palmar?”

Shaking his head slowly, Cobb kept his left hand on the steering wheel while unobtrusively sliding his right hand to his weapon. “No.”

“Pity. A beautiful lighthouse is on the point.”

Cobb lifted a brow, then slowly raised his right hand to his shirt, pulling up the sleeve, exposing the lower half of his lighthouse tattoo.

The man stared, then nodded. “Yes… a beautiful lighthouse.” He inclined his head toward the border. “Cross here. You can make it. Your people are on the other side. I’ll get rid of the vehicle.”

He held the man’s gaze for a few more seconds, then nodded. Still keeping his hand on his weapon as he climbed down, he hustled to the back and called out, “Let’s go.”

Tate alighted first, quickly followed by Timothy, who anxiously looked around. Tate unlocked his handcuffs and removed the gag. “One word and—”

“No, man, I’ll be quiet!”

Drew stood at the back of the truck bed and lifted Carmen by her arms only to settle her onto the ground. Tate unlocked her cuffs but before he removed her gag offered her another warning. “You seriously do not want to be left over here. So, keep your fuckin’ mouth shut.”

Her gaze jerked over to the Mexican with the rifle and licked her gag-swollen lips, nodding.

Anxious to get to Josie, Cobb raised his hands as soon as Bray appeared with her. She smiled, her eyes lighting as soon as her gaze met his. She immediately fell into his arms and kissed his cheek.

“You can let me walk for now.”

He agreed but kept her right by his side. The four Keepers shook the man’s hand, never knowing or needing to know his name. They knew he would be paid well for his assistance, and he’d get a truck out of the deal, as well.

The crossing area for the Rio Grande was easy to traverse due to the lack of rain. The group hurried through the water that in some places was only knee-deep, led by Cobb with Josie’s hand in his. Lights on the other side provided guidance, and they were soon in the U.S., greeted by Floyd standing with several agents wearing jackets emblazoned with FBI on the back. Others were with the Customs and Border Patrol, CBP on the backs of their jackets.

Cobb’s body tightened as Tahoma Starr stepped into the light and his gaze landed on the initials IDTF stitched into his jacket.

“International Drug Task Force?” Cobb asked, his gaze not wavering even when Tahoma nodded.

Tahoma’s gaze scanned the group, lingering on Josie before pinning Carmen with a hard stare. Stepping forward, he looked at his co-aide to the senator. “Had my eye on you for a while, so I gotta tell you, even though I’m a step behind these guys in getting my hands on you, this feels fuckin’ good.”

“You want to tell me what the hell is going on?” Cobb growled.

Tahoma turned and walked toward him. Leaning to the side, his gaze scanned Josie. “Are you okay? Your parents are waiting to hear.”

Cobb heard the gasp behind him, and Josie popped out to his side. She looked up at Tahoma, her body still weaving slightly. “Oh, God, I need to tell them that I’m okay—”

“I’ll get word—”

Interrupting Tahoma, Cobb snapped, “My people already have.” He knew that LSI would be in contact with her parents, and it might be selfish as fuck, but he had no desire to let Tahoma fuckin’-task-force Starr step in at the last minute as though he had saved the day.

Floyd looked at Carmen, then turned to Cobb. “Been wanting to get my hands on Carson Wright for several years. Can’t thank you enough.”

Drew shook his head, saying, “You can have her, man. It’s a pain to listen to her.”

The agents loaded Carmen and Timothy into two separate vehicles as Timothy began turning on her immediately and her curses and threats rang out in the night.

Josie moved in closer to Cobb, and he breathed easier as his arm wrapped around her again. Giving her weight to him, she squeezed his waist as she looked up at Tahoma. “I don’t understand. You don’t work for my dad?”

“I was undercover, Josie. My people have been working on the drug trafficking between the Grand King Casino, which is secretly run by the Sinaloa Cartel, and getting drugs and drug money into the U.S. Carmen came across our radar, and I was tasked to get