Page 116 of Last Chance

She grinned. “All because of my skilled sous chef.”

Minutes later, Logan joined them, his plate and coffee mug empty. “Dinner was excellent. Thanks, Janie.”

“I had help, but I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Learn anything?” Sawyer asked.

Logan’s expression darkened. “The VIP coming to Hartman is due to arrive any time, and he’s here to lead a cleanup mission.”

Sawyer’s blood turned to ice water. The Vatos Locos VIP was here to lead a hit squad. His gut said the target was Janie.

CHAPTER 26

JANIE LOOKED FROM Sawyer to Logan and back. “What is it? What’s wrong, Sawyer?” Whatever was going on wasn’t good. That much was plain.

“The Vatos Locos VIP is coming to Hartman to lead a hit squad.”

Oh, man. “Let me guess. The target is me?”

“No confirmation of the target’s identity,” Logan said.

“But?”

He inclined his head.

Great. Nothing like having one of her worst nightmares roar back to life. “So we’re back to the same puzzle. Why do they want me? As far as I know, I’ve never crossed paths with Vatos Locos.”

“Maria is related to several members of the gang,” Sawyer reminded her. “With 10,000 plus members, no one knows the complete roster.”

She sighed. “All right. I’ll give you that point. Since I don’t know the members, I might have encountered more than one besides the hijackers. That still doesn’t solve the mystery of why they want me.”

“I might have an answer for that one,” Logan said.

Sawyer folded his arms. “Let’s have it.”

“My contacts have heard several references to a money debt.”

A frown. “That’s not all, is it?”

“Two deep sources mentioned the VIP’s compromised identity.”

Blood drained from Janie’s face. “The missing hostage.”

Logan glanced at her with approval in his eyes. “Agreed.”

She shoved her fingers through her hair. “I don’t get it. The hostage was just another guy I saw once. Why does it matter if I might remember him? Fortress didn’t get a hit on facial recognition. Why do Vatos Locos members care?”

“They’ll care a great deal if the missing hostage was the leader of Vatos Locos.”

“Wait a minute. Fortress has a sketch of the hostage’s face. I’m not the only one who would recognize him now.”

“They don’t know that, sweetheart,” Sawyer said. “As far as they know, you haven’t realized the importance of the missing hostage.”

“What does this mean long term, Sawyer?”

“There are thousands of members.”

Her hands fisted. “And?”