Mission: Impossible to Protect (The Impossible Mission Romantic Suspense Series Book 6), стр. 50

“Because you have a lot of shit coming at you. And I didn’t want to assume—”

“You can assume that I want to know everything. Sten wouldn’t want me wringing my hands in the waiting room. He’d expect me to be out doing everything to find Danni and the fucker who shot him.”

“We don’t have to wait until Izzy arrives…”

“No, I need to share with her what the surgeon told me.” Lars didn’t want to wait, but he had to take care of Izzy. Sten would have wanted Lars to give Izzy the surgeon’s debrief. It would be a shitshow since he couldn’t remember much, and what he did remember, he didn’t want to repeat. “And I need to make sure she’s okay.”

How was he going to reassure Izzy when all he had was wishful thinking and lies?

“How did they get the lead? Did Izzy remember something?”

“It’s the craziest shit. The FBI tracked the SUV plates from street cameras. Luna Star is the one who tried to run Danni down in Santee Alley. When she wasn’t successful, she placed a tracking device in Danni’s cast during the massage. That is how she knew about Danni being in New York. The woman is one disturbed chick. She tried to commit suicide a few years back when the press ran a story that Alex had a serious girlfriend. And then, when Danni showed up acting like his girlfriend, Luna focused her hatred on Danni. She followed Danni to New York to kill her.”

Lars couldn’t wrap his brain around the newest information. “But she’s Hardy’s massage therapist?”

“When Hardy took a fall on stage that she arranged, she became his massage therapist. Hardy didn’t recognize her, but her obsession started when she lived on the same floor as Hardy’s college girlfriend in two thousand six. She hasn’t confessed, but the FBI thinks she killed Hardy’s college girlfriend. Her family covered it up. Luna’s an heiress and has been in and out of psychiatric facilities for treatment. When her mother died eight months ago, there was no one to keep her in check, and her obsession with Hardy escalated. She has the money to do anything and hire people to help her.”

“What’s the connection between Luna and the cartel? Roland Young?”

“Luna doesn’t know how the cartel tracked the connection between her and Danni. Grayson’s theory is that the cartel got it out of either Roland Young when they tortured him, or out of Silas, the latest boyfriend.”

Lars didn’t give a flying rat’s ass about Luna Star’s mental state or her obsession with Hardy. The good news was that Luna Star, who gave Danni up to the cartel, might also be the way to save Danni. Lars needed good news, and this was it. It was still on him that he allowed Luna near Danni, and he’d never forgive himself for his poor decision.

“The FBI is able to track the device?”

Soon he’d get Danni out of the hands of another psycho.

“Both the FBI and Reeves were able to hack into the system. Reeves has been feeding the info, so I don’t have to wait for Grayson to report. But Grayson got us permission to join the assault on the warehouse. We’re not exactly assaulting, but you’ll be there if we find Danni.”

Lars couldn’t wrap his mind around the idea that Danni wouldn’t be there. But if the cartel knew about the tracking device, why wouldn’t they remove it? He shut down the image of Danni enduring those filthy hands on her.

“They’re holding Danni in a warehouse outside of Brooklyn near Bushwick. Part of the Bushwick Crew gang territory. Every alphabet agency is involved, which is slowing the whole process. Grayson will text me when they have the team in place, but it will be in the next hour.”

Lars reached to text Ryder when his and Dylan’s phones pinged that Ryder and Izzy were at the ER waiting room.

Lars wasn’t prepared for Izzy rushing him and wrapping her arms around him when he came through the door. Her quiet sobs against his chest shook his control.

“The receptionist wouldn’t disclose anything since I’m not a family member. And I thought…” Her voice broke on a sob.

“Hey, hey.” He patted her on the back. “You’ve gotta have a little faith in the man. Sten is one strong son of… He’s not going to let one bullet stop him.”

Her teary eyes searched his. “You really believe he’ll be okay?”

Comforting Izzy, Lars felt comforted too. “I do.” And Lars did believe. “Sten has you to live for. He’ll fight so damn hard not to leave you.”

And Lars knew Sten would fight not to leave Lars as well.

“The chest surgeon explained to me that she has to repair his bleeding lung and remove the bullet. It will be a long surgery, and there are risks. She had to tell me the worst-case scenario, but she has total faith that Sten will recover.”

“You and Sten are so much alike. Thank you for ‘softening’ his condition. I know what the risks are, but like you, I believe Sten will fight to live for both of us.”

Lars tightened his hold on Izzy. He complained about dealing with all these new women, but he was really grateful to have a sister now.