Brice sat between the two men in the backseat of the SUV, his heart pounding with anticipation. He had his bags packed, a private jet waiting to take him and Aurora to a private island after Guzman’s plane dropped them in Mexico, and soon he’d have his precious treasure back. Two million seemed a small price to pay for his heart’s desire.

He’d lost so much. His home. His beautiful garden. Tonight, he’d get back the one thing he couldn’t live without. Maybe they wouldn’t have Adam, but they’d make their own family. They’d go to his secret getaway, out of the States, and away from prying eyes and this mess. Once he completed Ashley’s transformation and she truly became Aurora, they’d have a child of their own. A beautiful little girl. A handsome boy. The next generation to carry on his legacy.

They pulled into a parking lot in front of what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse and drove around to the back of the building. There, a small plane waited in the field.

“I see my ride is here.”

Neither the driver nor the men on either side of him responded. They stopped the SUV near a wide set of roll-up doors. Two men who could be the poster models for gang members with their tattoos, bandanas, and too-big pants loaded a large produce truck with boxes of apples. At least, that’s what they looked like. Brice had no idea what was in the boxes. He didn’t want to know.

The men got out of the car. The dark-haired guy on the right waved Brice to follow him. Brice doubted the guy spoke English, so followed without comment, but stopped midway to the door and turned to the guy following him with a gun pointed at his back.

“My bags?”

“Will be loaded on the plane along with the shipment as soon as Señor Guzman gives the order.”

Which meant he wasn’t going anywhere until Guzman got paid.

He walked into the warehouse, empty but for the fifty or so remaining apple boxes being loaded onto the truck. In another fifteen minutes, the place would be empty. Except for the wood chair sitting below a low-hung light next to the wall splattered with red and brown splotches Brice recognized as dried blood.

Guzman had his own playroom.

Soon, Brice would be at the house he and Aurora would call home.

Guzman came out of a small office at the back of the warehouse and walked toward him crossing the blocks of light and shadow on the floor from the high windows. Nearly sunset; it would be dark soon. He and Aurora would have a beautiful view on their flight. They’d reach Mexico with the stars shining and enjoy a late dinner on the private plane he had waiting for them in Mexico City to take them away. She’d love the extravagance and adventure of it all.

He couldn’t wait.

“I told you that if you did not deposit my money, I would keep your Aurora.”

Brice held up his cell. “As soon as I see her, I will finalize the transfer I’ve already set up.”

“You do not have long to wait. Here she comes.”

A white van pulled up outside the roll-up door and parked next to the produce truck. Iceman climbed out of the sliding door after two of his men exited the front. Another man gingerly stepped out of the back and stood next to the van, his legs wide, his body tense. Brice guessed he’d been hurt in some way.

Iceman reached into the van and dragged out the man who’d dared put his hands on his Aurora. Trigger. What she saw in him, Brice didn’t know. His glare and feral look only made the man look mean.

The hurt man reached into the van and pulled Aurora out by her arm. She stood next to him and the man shoved her forward, making her fall to her hands and knees. Trigger pulled out of Iceman’s grasp and ran head-down right into the injured man’s stomach with his shoulder, sending the man to the ground. Trigger kept his feet and kicked the guy in the nuts. Hard. Right between his widespread legs. Direct hit.

Brice flinched, his thigh turning in toward his balls in sympathy. Every man knew how much it fucking hurt to be hit in that most vulnerable place.

“Don’t fucking touch her again,” Trigger ordered, kicking the wailing man in the ass as he rolled to his side to cover his balls.

Iceman grabbed hold of Trigger again by his elbow and swung him around to face Brice and Guzman. Even with his hands tied behind his back, Brice felt the threat this man posed in his deathly stare.

He tried to get away from Iceman and come after Brice. “I’m going to fucking kill you.”

Brice ignored him and focused on the beauty standing to Trigger’s left. The woman he’d never lose again. “Aurora, darling. I’ve missed you.”