Page 29 of Rescuing Baylee
“I don’t even know if he would come to you. He’s a well-documented hide and seek champion.”
Landon grinned, his white teeth flashing, and it made her heart stutter.
“Well, it’s a good thing I’m a good observer,” he said softly. “I’ll find him.”
She cocked a brow and gave him a skeptical look. “I don’t know. He’s pretty good.”
Landon winked at her and gave her a confident nod. “I’ll get him. No worries.”
Baylee drew back a little, appreciating that he’d lightened the atmosphere after the bad news. “If you think they’re watching the apartment building, wouldn’t it be a good time to find them?”
Landon nodded, propping his hands on his hips. “The gang suppression unit are aware of what’s going on, but this group, or Tango, is hard to pin down. Chino Vega was kind of the leader of the group, but now that he’s dead, I’m sure things are in turmoil. For the past couple of years, he’s been fighting against the Texas Syndicate taking over his Tango. And maybe his brother Hector will pull the group into line.”
“Not until he gets his revenge on me, though, apparently.”
Landon’s silence spoke volumes, and Baylee felt a knot of tension coil tighter in her chest. The thought that Hector Vega or his younger brother Luis might derail her comfortable life made her stomach churn. She could handle stress and trauma in peds, but this was a different kind of danger—one she couldn’t predict or control.
“We’ll stay one step ahead of them,” Landon said, his voice steady and reassuring. “You’re safe here, Baylee. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Baylee wanted to believe him, but the fear lingered, gnawing at the edges of her resolve. She bit her lip, her thoughts driftingback to the apartment building and the people who lived there. She’d grown close to some of the tenants, like Mrs. Traeger, and the idea that they might be in danger because of her actions weighed heavily on her.
“What if they try again?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if someone gets hurt?”
Landon’s expression softened, and he reached out to gently brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “We’re going to keep a close watch on the building and the area. If they make another move, we’ll be ready.”
Baylee nodded, though the worry didn’t entirely dissipate. “And Siggy?”
“We’ll get Siggy,” Landon promised. “Tonight, if we can. I’ll go with Morgan and a couple of officers, and we’ll make sure the coast is clear before we go in. We’ll get your cat out safely.”
The way Landon spoke with such certainty and calm helped ease some of her anxiety. She knew she couldn’t let fear paralyze her, not when there were people counting on her to stay strong. Still, the thought of Landon going into a potentially dangerous situation for her sake made her stomach twist.
“I don’t want you getting hurt because of me,” she said quietly.
Landon’s eyes softened further, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Baylee, this is my job. Protecting people is what I do. And right now, that means protecting you—and your cat. We’ll be careful, I promise.”
She managed a small smile, appreciating his attempt to reassure her, but the weight of the situation still pressed on her. “Thank you, Landon. I just… I’m not used to relying on other people.”
His hand was still resting on her shoulder, a comforting presence. “You don’t have to do this alone. We’ll get through it together.”
Baylee looked into his eyes, finding a steadiness there that she clung to. She was used to being the one in control, the one who took care of others. But right now, she was learning to lean on someone else, and maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.
The look in his eyes made her think of Nightshade, years ago. When the Deltas had moved in and rescued them, there’d been one guy, Truck, who had had the same look in his eyes. He’d reassured her that everything would work out, and it had.
“Okay,” she said finally, her voice firmer. “Let’s get through this.”
Landon gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before stepping back. “First things first. We’ll check in with Morgan and see if they’ve found anything. Then we’ll make a plan to get Siggy out.”
As they moved into the living room, Baylee felt a strange sense of comfort in Landon’s presence. Despite the chaos and fear swirling around them, she felt safer knowing he was there, watching out for her. The evening light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room, and for a moment, she allowed herself to breathe, to trust that things would be okay.
Landon’s phone buzzed again, and he glanced at it, his expression turning serious. “Morgan’s got a lead. Looks like they’ve identified a vehicle that was near the apartment building when the shots were fired. They’re checking it out now.”
Baylee’s heart skipped a beat. “Do you think they’ll find them?”
“Maybe,” Landon said, his voice cautious but hopeful. “If we’re lucky, this could give us a break in the case.”
She nodded, trying to push aside the fear. “I hope so.”
Landon’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he spoke again. “Why don’t you try to relax a bit? I’ll update you as soon as we know more.”