Page 29 of Ravaged Hearts
“GPS will only work aboveground, right?” I handed the items back to Brandon. “What if Hope is in a basement or a tunnel?”
“That’s why this tech is so smart. If it can’t connect to satellites to find a GPS signal, it’ll piggyback off a nearby cell phone to triangulate its location and transmit coordinates accurate to within a few meters. For example, if you’re underground and someone nearby has a phone, when that person goes topside and regains cell coverage, we get a notification with the GPS tracker’s location.”
I scratched the side of my head. “So these trackers are kind of like an AirTag in disguise?”
Brandon’s face deadpanned. “No, you tech buffoon. They’re much more sophisticated than those clunky discs.” He snappedthe box closed and placed it on his desk. “With Hope wearing them, won’t you at least feel a little reassured?”
I frowned. “Not remotely. As soon as Espinoza has someone pick her up, we’ll have no control over what happens to her.”
“Her father won’t hurt her. He’ll be so shocked to find out she’s alive that I doubt he’ll think to question if she has an ulterior motive.”
“Maybe. But seeing him again will be triggering for Hope.”
“If she didn’t think she could handle it, she wouldn’t have put it on the table.” Brandon stepped toward me. “Brother, I know a strong, intelligent woman when I see one, and Hope is just as brave and determined as Sage. Believe me when I say that those things can’t be contained.” He exhaled a deep breath. “I get it. You can’t stand the idea of her safety being out of your control. But ask yourself this: If it were any other woman, would you be on board with the op?”
I grunted. “That’s not the point.”
“It’s exactly the point, and if you can’t get your head squared away, I’ll sideline you from the mission.”
“The fuck you will.”
What would I do? Sit around my cabin waiting for updates? Absolutely fucking not.
“Watch me.” Brandon held my stare to emphasize the seriousness of his intent. “You need to be okay with this op, or at least pretend like you are, for Hope’s sake.”
The door bleeped, and Sage and Hope walked in.
Hope’s eyes found mine, and she paused her approach. “Sorry. Are we interrupting?”
I held my hand out, and when Hope came to me, I wrapped my arm around her, tucking her against my side.
“No.” Brandon shook his head. “It’s good that you’re here. We were about to work out the details of the op.”
My boss gave me a look that warned me to keep my negative opinions to myself or he’d toss me in the brig until the missionwas over. The cell, hidden in the basement of the lodge, was a relic from when the Wolf Street Mafia had owned the property, and I didn’t want to be the first of our team to test it out.
“Good,” Hope said. “I have some ideas, but go ahead and tell me what you’re thinking.”
Brandon sat against the edge of his desk again. “First of all, we need a plan for how to get your father’s attention.”
Sage perched herself beside Brandon. “The cartel could be arriving in Playa de la Palmera any moment now. Why don’t we do it there?”
“No,” I replied firmly. “That region is hot with narcos who want Hope dead. They might get trigger-happy before they realize she’s telling the truth about her identity.”
Hope gnawed on her bottom lip. “I suppose it’s a little too on the nose if I show up in Manzanillo. What if I surface in Acapulco, where Carlos lied about being?”
Brandon nodded. “It makes sense that you’d go there if you wanted to find your father, plus it’s where you spent your early years. Do you have any relatives there?”
“Carlos has a sister in Acapulco, but they’ve been estranged since I was a little girl. My uncle was murdered working for the PCC, and my aunt never forgave Carlos for putting her husband in danger. I doubt she’d have any way to contact him.”
“What if you show up somewhere public like a shopping mall or a hotel lobby?” Sage asked.
“Or a church?” Hope suggested. “There was one my family attended every Sunday. Father Bernardo—if he’s still alive—used to know everyone in our community. I bet he could get word to the cartel.”
“I like it,” Sage said. “And a church will be easier for us to monitor than a mall or hotel. Smaller space. Fewer people.”
Brandon stroked his jaw. “Your father sends men to get you. Since he’s thought you were dead for three years, it’s safe toassume he’ll want to see you, so they bring you to him—presumably at the compound—and then we’ve got him.”
Sage strummed her fingers on the desk. “Any suggestions for your cover story?”