Page 27 of The Riders’ Reign

We’re crowded back in his office, watching the clock and waiting for Hector’s call.

My palms are slick with sweat, my heart hammering. Nerves clench my guts. I know how much is riding on this, and it’s fucking terrifying. I keep thinking about how it’s going to kill Camile if something bad happens to Ghost—something else bad. She’s already blaming herself, and this voicemail message thing is her idea, so if we can’t pull it off…

My heart tightens at the thought. She’s already been through so much, and I’m petrified that if we lose Ghost, it will break her.

And that will break all of us.

The phone rings. We’ve had it automatically forwarded to Jack’s office. The air is sucked out of the room as we inhale in anticipation of the next few minutes.

I hope the others don’t notice the shaking of my hand as I lift the receiver.

“Yeah?” I do my best to sound cool and calm, though inside I’m quivering.

“It’s Hector Sanchez.” His accent is starting to sound familiar. “Let me talk to my son, or your man will lose body parts.”

“I hear you. Give me a minute. I need to take the phone to him.”

I hit the button to mute him on our end, jerking my chin at Phoenix, who is in charge of the recording.

I unmute the phone. “Okay, you can talk to him now.”

I hold the receiver next to the phone we’ve put the software onto.

Hector speaks in Spanish.

My stomach drops. Fuck. We’d never thought of that. He’s going to expect a reply in Spanish, too, something we can’t provide. I throw a look to the others, and they all have the same shocked expression on their faces that I imagine is on mine.

Thinking quickly, I speak. “You need to speak English, or we won’t let you talk to him. We need to understand what’s being said, or you could be making arrangements for his rescue.”

Hector’s response is gruff. “You are telling me I cannot communicate in my own language.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. And don’t start making threats to remove body parts from our man. We’re perfectly capable of making the same kind of threats. I’m sure you don’t want your son back in pieces.”

A pause comes down the line, and my heart hammers so hard I feel nauseated.

Then Hector speaks. “Very well. English only.”

“Okay, you can talk to Ledger now.” I give Phoenix a nod.

“Son, are they treating you well?” Hector asks.

Phoenix hits play on the recording and Ledger’s voice, albeit distorted slightly to make him sound like he’s in distress, plays back.

“I’m not hurt.”

“That’s good,” Hector replies. “We will get you free of these sons of bitches soon enough.”

I look around at the others, trying to get a feel about whether they think Hector is buying it.

Phoenix hits play again. “I’m okay, I swear,” Ledger’s voice replies.

It doesn’t quite fit with what Hector has said, but hopefully it’ll be enough.

I take the phone back. “That’s all you’re getting. Now we need to put plans in place to make the exchange.”

“I have an offer to make you,” Hector says. “I will exchange your man for my son, and, as an apology for shooting your president, I will also include the girl’s mother. I will use one of our private planes to bring her to the United States, and I will guarantee both of their safety.”

“What about the brother?” I ask.