Twenty-four hours.

It had been twenty-four hours since Lexie was brought into the hospital, and her eyes still hadn't opened. The doctor said it was normal when someone was withdrawing from heavy drugs. Her concoction was a mixture unlike any they’d seen. Those damn Russians. She was lucky to be alive.

Marco, Gribbins' DEA associate, flipped his shit when he found out we’d taken it upon ourselves to find other intel and rescue Lexie. A good quarter of Viktor’s men had been detained or killed in the take down of warehouse eighty-three. Which meant that the operation the DEA had planned regarding Viktor, the Russian drug lord, was no longer going to happen, since he’d fled yet again. Not that I gave a shit about any of that, Lexie was top priority in that scenario. I just wished she’d only wake up and provide us with information that led to Blair, so our argument with Marco wouldn’t be moot.

“I brought you a coffee.” Gribbins extended the steaming paper cup in my direction.

“Thanks.” I took the cup and blew the steam, hoping it would cool quickly enough for me to take a drink.

“She’s still sleeping, huh?”

I nodded. “Doctor said it could be a bit before she wakes up. They’re pumping fluids into her, along with some kind of medication to try and keep her as comfortable as possible. She’s detoxing pretty badly.” Sweat beaded across her skin, her body twitching every so often. You could see her eyeballs rolling around behind her eyelids. My heart squeezed tightly in my chest for her.

It was odd feeling so upset over someone who’d been a pawn in the scheme of taking Blair from me. But Lexie didn’t know what was happening at the time. She was simply trying to survive a shitty hand of cards she’d been dealt in life. All I could wish for her was a better ending to such a tragic story.

Gribbins had set up witness protection for her once she’s back on her feet. Hopefully she’d be back on her feet soon. Nothing tied Lexie to Las Vegas, from what we’d found during investigating. So, she shouldn’t have any issue moving away from this toxic place to somewhere she could call home.

I sat my coffee cup on the table beside her bed and took her hand in mine. Gribbins sat silently in the chair by the large window. His attention at the city below. There was nothing to be said between us. We’d spent most of the day going over information we’d found in the warehouse, which wasn’t much. Nothing that tied anything to Clover, or the casino, for that matter. Even though the doctor never called with an update on Lexie, I decided to head over instead of going home. That house was a reminder of Blair, and the fact she was still missing from my life. I did my best to spend the least amount of time there as possible.

My eyes burned from lack of sleep. I leaned back to rest my head against the back of the chair, letting go of Lexie’s hand in the process. The soft beep of the vital machine was like a lullaby, rocking me into a peaceful abyss.

Blair smiled widely at me, “Don’t worry, I’ll be just fine. I promise you.”

“You’re going to be the death of me, woman.” She stepped away from the ledge. How she’d talked me into climbing this thing and jumping into the water below was beyond me. Always the risk taker, I loved that about her.

Her bubbly laughter caused my heart to swell as she stepped so close our chests touched. Her hand slipped into my hair and she gently massaged my scalp, “Gavin…”

Blair’s voice was muffled. Something was wrong.

Her hand rubbed my head gently, “Gavin…”

“Blair? You sound…”

“Gavin…”

My head lifted frantically. The aching in my chest heavy from seeing Blair in my dreams, feeling her touch, hearing her voice. “Are you okay?” My eyes snapped to Lexie. A sorrowful grimace darkened her face.

“Lexie,” I sighed.

“I’m sorry if I startled you.” Her voice was grainy, like it hurt her to speak.

I shook my head, “Drink this.” I poured water from the pale pink pitcher into a paper cup and held it for her to take. She gulped down the entire thing and I quickly refilled the cup, knowing she hadn’t had enough. After she’d downed two full cups she shook her head as I tried to fill it a third time.

“I’m good.” Her voice was small but sounded normal. “I can’t believe you found me.”

“Took a lot longer than I’d hoped.” I glanced over to the chair Gribbins had been occupying, which was empty.

“I’m surprised they didn’t kill me.” She ran her hands up and down her arms.

“Are you cold?” I rose from the chair to get another blanket, but she stopped me.

“I’m fine. Just the thought of those men gave me a chill.”

I squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry they took you, Lexie.”

“Don’t apologize for something that was out of your control.”

“I’ve failed so many times recently. I’m not sure I’m cut out for this anymore.”

“Stop kidding yourself, Gavin. I’m alive because of you.”

“At least one of you are…”

Lexie’s eyes soften as her lips pulled down with a frown, “Still no leads on Blair?”

I shook my head. My throat tightened at the sound of her name. I reached for my coffee and took a large gulp in hopes of pushing back the emotions trying to filter in.

“Do you know why they took me?”

“We have a couple guys in custody. We’re hoping to get something out of them.” I sighed. “Since you’ve been gone we’ve come across new leads and information. Once you’re cleared to leave we can go over it with you, to see if anything rings a bell or seems familiar.”

“Anything I can do, I’ll do it.” A tiny smile crept across her face as she gently squeezed my hand.

“Well, look who finally decided to join us.” Gribbins grinned from the doorway, two brown paper bags in his hand. “I’ve got food.” He held them in the air.

Lexie groaned, “Please tell me there’s extra in one of those bags for me.”

Gribbins chuckled as her stomach howled with hunger. “If there’s not, she can have mine.” We all erupted with laughter as Lexie blushed.

“No worries. I came prepared just in case.” He gave her a wink.

We each took a burger from the bag and sat in silence as we devoured them. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was myself until the delicious smell filled my nose. I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d eaten.

“So, can you tell me anything about what’s been going on?” Lexie wiped her mouth with a napkin.

“You need rest. We can go over everything back at the office once you’ve been released, like I already told you.” I filled her cup with more water.

“I have some of the files with me. Was going to look over a few things while we waited on Sleeping Beauty here to wake.” I gave Gribbins a questioning glance. “If she feels up to it, then I’m okay with it,” he countered.

“Lexus Mirragan, glad to see you awake.” The doctor stepped into the room holding her chart. He looked around the room at each of us, “Sorry if I’m interrupting something, but our patient here needs to be checked out since she’s vertical.”

I hadn’t known her last name.

“You’re fine.” Gribbins slid the file folder back into his briefcase. “Do we need to step out?”

“No, you’re both fine as long as you allow me to do my job here.”

I moved from the bedside chair and leaned against the windowsill beside where Gribbins was seated, giving the doctor more space to go about his business. Gribbins diverted his attention to his buzzing cellphone and stepped out of the room, while I watched the doctor check Lexie’s ribcage. Deep purple, green, and blue bruising took up the entire right side. They’d done more than a number on her, she’d been beaten. My teeth clenched as anger pulsed through me. Any man that would harm a woman was scum that needed to be taken care of.

“Looking good. You should be able to go home in a couple days. We want to monitor you while your body continues to detox the drugs from your system in case something happens.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Lexie smiled.

“Get some rest.” He gave her a stern look over the glasses perched toward the end of his nose.

Gribbins passed the doctor as he was leaving the room. “All good, Doc?”

“All’s good so far.”

“All good?” I countered, nudging my head toward the phone in his hand.

“More than good.” Gribbins grinned. “Mason got Lev to talk. Said they took Lexie because of some items that were taken without paying. You’ll never guess who took said items.”

I almost questioned why Gribbins was being covert about saying items instead of drugs, when I realized the door had been left open. “Who?”

“Clover.”

“You’re kidding!” I shot up from my chair as Gribbins quietly closed the door.

Lexie erupted with a fit of coughs, “What did you just say?” Her hoarse question was full of fear.

“Which part?” Gribbins' excitement died down.

“Di—did you say Clover?” The way she said his name alarmed me.

“Do you know him?” I asked in disbelief.

“I know someone who we used to call that.”

We used to call that…A chill rolled through my body.

“What do you mean by we used to call that?” Gribbins carefully asked.

“It’s a nickname…” Her eyes filled with tears.

“Whose nickname, Lexie?” I asked through gritted teeth. Trying to keep calm as we danced around who the hell she was talking about.

“My brother, Jonah.” Tears slipped from her eyes.

My brother, Jonah…

I couldn’t speak. Words had officially failed me. Was Clover Lexie’s brother? That couldn’t be…could it?

“Lexie,” Gribbins took a seat beside her bed, “are you one hundred percent sure your oldest brother's nickname was Clover?”

Her body was trembling as she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded. I gripped my hair tightly, not believing the news she’d just hit us with. “I—I should’ve put two-and-two together. Our mother was murdered right in front of Jonah by a Russian criminal, I was lucky enough to be with our older brother, Mattel. He’d taken me from the chaos months before her death, but Jonah wouldn’t leave her. No matter what our mother had done, Jonah wouldn’t leave her. But, in the end we never knew what happened to Jonah.” Lexie’s sobs forced her to stop talking. Gribbins laid a box of tissues beside her on the bed, and she pulled a few from the box.

Why hadn’t Mason found any of this information? Clover’s a unique name, if we’d found that her brother Jonah used that name, it would’ve been easier to connect the dots.

“Lexie, I know you’re upset but you have to tell us everything. I mean everything. Blair’s life depends on it, your life depends on it.” I growled in frustration.

Gribbins shot me a look that screamed calm the hell down. “We don’t know that Jonah is the man we’re looking for.”

“So, you think it’s some coincidence that the Russians kidnapped Lexie? Most likely the same line of drug lords that killed her mother. While a psychopath who goes by the same nickname as her brother Jonah is thrown in the mix?”

Gribbins sat in silence.

“If you honestly believe that…” I didn’t have to say any more for my point to be made.

Lexie sucked in a deep shaky breath and let it out slowly. “Mattel was so angry with our mother for living the life she chose. Each of us had different fathers. Hell, I doubt she even knew who they were. But the topping on the cake was when she started working for the Russians. She didn’t push drugs or anything like that.” Lexie shook her head at the memories, “No, she was a prostitute. She slept with those scumbags for money. They paid her to be their toy. Mattel didn’t want that for me. He had seen far more than any child should have, so when the time was right he plucked me from the madness. Jonah refused. Said we couldn’t leave our mother behind, and no matter the life she’d chosen to live, she was still our mother.”

“Several years passed after Mattel moved us to New Mexico before we heard anything regarding our mother. He’d kept an eye on the obituaries here in Las Vegas, knowing it was only a matter of time before her name showed up there. He was right. Olivia Janel Marrigan.” Her mother’s name fell from her lips like poison. “The obit read only her name, date of birth, and date of death. Hell, we were surprised it made the local obituary at all. Mattel wouldn’t go back to Las Vegas, not even to bury her. But I had to. I wanted to find Jonah. I knew he’d most likely be in rough shape. Especially after living with her once we’d gone, but I came up emptyhanded.”

“Where’s Mattel now?” Gribbins softly asked.

“He died in a car crash not long after I came back to Las Vegas.” Silent tears streamed down her blotchy cheeks. Lexie’s bloodshot eyes connected with mine. “You see, tragedy follows me wherever I go. I’m sorry your Blair was pulled into this.”

I sat on the edge of her bed and took her hand in mine. “This isn’t your fault, Lexie. Life has dealt you a pretty shitty hand, but that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.”

She gave my hand a gentle squeeze, “I’m no better than my mother was. No, I haven’t slept with drug lords for money. But I’ve been doing under the table jobs for the Casino to make a living. My life isn’t something to brag about.” She dropped her chin and pulled her hand from mine. I tilted her chin upward so she was looking at me once again, “Your life changes now. Witness protection will give you a new identity and set you up to start over. You can have the life you’ve always dreamed of, don’t think you can’t.”

Her eyes softened as the tears began to subside. “How do we know that your Clover is Jonah?”

Gribbins scratched his chin, “Well, we don’t have a picture of him. However, if you have one that isn’t too old we may be able to get Mason to use it in interrogation with Lev, to see if Lev recognizes him. Then we’d know whether it’s Jonah or not.”

Like a lightbulb going off in my head, another means of information hit me, “Joel…he’s still in lockup, right?”

“Yeah, awaiting his hearing.”

“Show him a photo of Jonah and gauge his reaction.”

“The thought crossed my mind, but I highly doubt he will speak to us without his lawyer present, and his lawyer will be a buffer between us and any information he could give us.”

“It’s worth a shot, right?”

“Yeah, it’s worth a shot.” Gribbins' fingers flew over the screen of his phone, “Mason will take care of Lev, I’ve got Joel. But first, we have to get you out of here today…not in a couple days.” He diverted his attention to Lexie.

“The doctor said—” I tried to argue.

“I know what the doctor said.”

“It’s fine with me,” She butted in.

“If Lexie says it’s fine, then we have to convince the doctor that she will be okay under our care. That our case can’t go any further with her here.”

“You have an idea of how to manage that?”

“I do.” Gribbins rose from the chair and headed toward the door. “Help her get changed, when I get back we’re out of here.” He slipped through the door before either of us could say another word.

“You don’t have to help me.” Lexie grimaced as she turned her body to hang her legs off the side of the bed.

I quickly came to her side, offering my arm to help lift her from the bed, “The hell I don’t. Your entire side is bruised.”

Her eyes shifted toward the floor. “I hate that you saw that.” Shame weighed heavily on her face.

“Are you kidding me? You shouldn’t be ashamed of what happened to you. That was out of your hands. They’ll get what’s coming to them, I promise you that.” Lexie winced as she put pressure on her feet to stand. “You sure you’re okay to leave here?”

“I’ll be fine. I just haven’t walked in a while.” I kept my arm around her waist as I guided her into the bathroom to change. “Thank you.” A small smile tipped her lips as she took a seat on the closed toilet.

“I’ll grab your clothes.” I retrieved the bag of clothes we’d picked up from the mall for Lexie. “It’s nothing special.” She took the bag from me. “A pair of jeans, a plain shirt, a jacket, and a pair of tennis shoes.”

Her eyes shined with unshed tears. “No one’s gone above and beyond for me in so long…since Mattel.” Her voice was thick.

“It’s the least I could do.” I slipped my hands into the front pockets of my pants.

“Gavin,” She lifted to her feet, and wrapped her arms around my neck, “you don’t owe me a thing. If anything, I owe you so much for what happened to Blair. For what happened to all of those victims. I’ve been a pawn this entire time and hadn’t the smallest inkling. If I make it out of this alive and am able to rebuild a new life for myself, that’ll be far more than what I should get out of life.”

I didn’t know what to say to that as I hugged her back, doing my best not to cause her pain from the bruises and aches of her battered body. She slipped from my arms and turned her back to me. Lexie struggled with the hospital gown. Every time she tried to lift her arms she groaned in pain. “Do you need my help?”

Her arms hung loosely at her side as she tried to hold back a sob. The shaking of her body made my heart hurt. I didn’t know much about Lexie; besides the information we’d dug up, and what she’d told me, but I knew she didn’t deserve the pain she’d endured. Only certain kinds of scum deserved that.

I closed the space between us. She didn’t say a word, or even look my way, as I untied the back of the hospital gown before giving her some privacy. “Thank you.” Her voice was small.

“Just trying to help.” I kept my back to her.

Her heavy sigh made me frown, “Can you help me again?” I could tell she didn’t want to ask, but there was no other choice when she couldn’t dress herself.

“Yeah…ugh—do you have your undergarments on?”

Her giggle caused me to chuckle, “I have my panties on, but need help clasping the bra.”

“Saying this is awkward would be an understatement, huh?” My eyes dropped to her back, the deep purple bruising looked like a vine curving and twisting from her waist up to her shoulder. Hatred thumped within me. I clasped her bra and helped pull the pale blue shirt over her head. Lexie managed to slip her arms into it and slid into her jeans. But putting shoes on was too much. “Sit back, I’ll put them on for you.”

She sighed, “What would I do without you, Gavin.”

Her words pierced my heart because this would’ve never happened if our paths hadn’t crossed. But she was thanking me for helping her while she was down. Lexie was completely oblivious that it was my fault. I tied her shoes and patted her leg.

“If I overstepped I’m sorry.”

“What?” My eyebrows dipped in confusion.

“By saying what would I do without you. I know Blair is everything to you, and I’m not trying to do anything to make you look at me that way. I’m grateful is all. Grateful for everything you, and the bureau, have done for me, and continue to do.”

I stood to my full height and extended my hands for her to take. She hesitated. “I know you’re not trying to overstep, Lexie. That’s not what I was thinking at all.” I sighed as I ran a hand through my hair before extending it back out to her. “If anything, I feel guilty for what’s happened. Guilty for not being able to save Blair that night, for what has happened to you. Guilty for it taking so long to get you back safely, and for Blair still being out there.”

“I can’t even imagine the pain you’re going through.” She squeezed my forearm. “But know that when you do get Blair back, and you will, she’s got the perfect man to help her recover.”

“You kids ready?” Gribbins' voice came from the crack in the half-closed bathroom door.

Lexie took a step, and I reached out to help her walk.

“I need to do this on my own.” She held her arm out to stop me.

I nodded.

Lexie was strong. How she’d gone through so much in her life and come out the other side in one piece amazed me.

* * *

“What do you mean Joel was released on bail?” Gribbins' voice boomed with anger.

“He was released on bail last night. Someone posted the hundred grand.” Joel’s attorney remained calm.

“We need to speak with your client.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“What the hell do you mean that’s not going to happen?” My fists clenched at my sides.

“He’s in the wind,” the attorney replied nonchalantly.

“You mean to tell me; your client was released on bail last night and he’s already in the wind?” Gribbins spoke through gritted teeth. It took everything in me not to pull the smug motherfucker over the table and beat his ass in front of his entire office, but I knew nothing would be accomplished if I did.

“Have you informed the Judge?”

“Of course not. I’m trying to find him before I have to do that. He’ll have the book thrown at him if he isn’t located. He’s most likely screwing some woman somewhere.”

“Are you kidding me?” I growled. “Joel isn’t worried about getting his dick wet, he’s worried about being on his boss’s good side. The fact that he doesn’t care about being in the wind tells us that he’s up to something big. Something that will seal his coffin, and it won’t matter if he’s threatened with being thrown back in jail or not.”

“You have an hour to let Judge Wilkins know, or I’ll make the call myself.” Gribbins tapped his hand on the table as we both stood.

“Be sure to let us know if you hear from him,” I added before we left him sitting alone at his desk.

Gribbins slammed his fist against the hood of the SUV before getting into the driver’s side. “I thought I was the only hot head,” I chuckled.

“How does someone so fucking ignorant become an attorney?” Gribbins was seething with anger as he cranked the engine.

“I know you’re pissed when you drop the f bomb.” That comment made him laugh.

“It blows my mind.” He shook his head as we pulled out onto the main highway.

I stared out the windshield as the scenery passed by. The sun shined bright in the afternoon sky, not a cloud in sight. It was a day Blair would’ve enjoyed. Especially at the beach or by a pool. She’d always been a sucker for water.

“Mason’s speaking with Lev within the hour.” Gribbins informed me just before we turned into the driveway of the safe house Lexie was staying at.

“Hopefully he gets something from him.” I opened the door to get out of the vehicle but stopped. Gribbins pulled his phone from the console. “You coming?”

“Go on. I need to make a couple calls.” I nodded, and left Gribbins to do his business.

My mind was swirling with all the bullshit going on. Blair was still out there and we were barely any closer to finding out the why of it all than we were right after she was taken. Clover was a goddamn snake who weaved his way in and out of situations while keeping under the radar. How the hell he’d managed to have so many people under his thumb I couldn’t figure out. Even the bureau couldn’t pinpoint much information on their own. I punched the unlock code into the keypad on the front door and disarmed the alarm system as I stepped inside the foyer. “Lexie, it’s me,” I called out so I wouldn’t startle her. She’d felt safe in the last house we had her in, only to be taken in the middle of the night. I couldn’t fathom the trauma that came with living through something like that.

“Lexie?” I called out again when she didn’t answer and was met with silence once more. My heart rate spiked and my hand instinctively went to my gun holstered on my hip. The safety clicked as I flipped it off, ready to fire at a second’s notice. The lights were out throughout the house, but plenty of natural light shined through the windows. Thoughts of Lexie being taken again, or dead flashed within my head. A thump sounded from the kitchen. With my weapon raised I stealthy maneuvered into the kitchen. “Don’t move!”

“It—it’s me!” Lexie turned around with her hands in the air. A glass of orange juice crashed against the floor.

I flipped the lights on and took in her frightened state. “Lexie, shit!” I holstered my gun and grabbed a hand towel from the counter to clean up the mess. “Didn’t you hear me call your name?”

“I—I was in the bathroom, I didn’t hear you come in.” She retrieved the broom from beside the refrigerator and began to sweep up the glass.

“Just glad you’re okay.”

Lexie stopped sweeping, “You thought I wasn’t?” Her voice wavered on the end. “Is there a reason I shouldn’t be?” she asked nervously.

“No, no, no.” I smoothed my hands down her arms in an attempt to calm her. “You’re safe, everything’s fine. It’s just...when you didn’t answer my mind went a million different directions.” I let go of her arms and took a step back.

“We’re all a bit jumpy right now. It’s fine.” She swept the remainder of the glass into the dustpan and dumped it in the trashcan beside her.

“Are you wearing my clothes?” Lexie was decked out in black sweat pants with a matching sweatshirt.

A blush crept across her cheeks, “Yeah, I wanted something large and comfy. Not my usual clothing. I really need to go shopping.”

“What happened in here?” Gribbins was perched against the doorway.

“A little misunderstanding is all,” I mumbled.

“I’m clumsy.” Lexie laughed.

“I’m just going to dive right in.” Gribbins rubbed his hands together but didn’t move from his spot in the doorway. Confusion took up shop across my face. “Lexie, you might want to sit down for this.” All color left her face as she took a seat at the kitchen table.

“What’s going on?” Her voice was small.

“Lev wants to talk to you.”

“No way,” I butted in.

“Hush it, Gavin,” Lexie countered. “Why me?”

“Said he’d only speak to you about the whys of your kidnapping.”

“Did he I.D. Clover as Jonah?” Her nervousness was showing as she continued to wring her hands together in her lap.

“He saw the picture. That’s when he asked for you.”

Silence hung in the air for a brief moment.

“I’ll do it.” Lexie straightened her shoulders to sit up taller.

“You don’t have to,” I spoke softly.

Her eyes cut to mine. Fierce determination blazed like an inferno within them. “I do. Lev knows something. That’s obvious because he didn’t flinch when he saw the photo of Jonah. He only wants to speak to me. Which means I’m a key piece to this fiasco. I have to talk to him.”

She was right. Lev specifically requesting her presence was a giant red flag that Lexie was a piece of the puzzle. Meaning, Jonah had to be Clover.

“Get yourself together, and I’ll make the call.”