“Stop,” Brielle ordered. “I’m Lieutenant Brielle McQuaid, LA SWAT. You’re under arrest, Alfredo Escobar.”
Alfredo responded to her warning by cocking his gun and aiming it at her.
“Don’t shoot Brielle,” Julia pleaded. “I’ll go with you, Alfredo.”
“Do you think I’m fucking stupid? Brielle McQuaid is the daughter of Cameron McAdamsandthe wife of Secret Service agent Justice McQuaid, a former Navy SEAL who’d rip off my head and devour my brains. But if you don’t come with me right now, Miguel Rivera won’t be alive much longer. We already worked him over pretty good.”
Brielle lowered her gun.
FROM LAGUNA BEACH INTO MEXICO
MARCH 11
Miguel and Julia
“If General Escobartakes Miguel and Julia, he’ll face the wrath of the United States government,” Brielle prophesied. “Julia is the daughter of U.S. Secretary of State Barbara Washburn who’s now running for President. And Miguel is one of her Secret Service agents and my husband’s beloved friend. Justice will stop at nothing to get them back.”
Brielle dropped her gun into her shoulder bag and took a step closer to Alfredo. “Our quarrel isn’t with your grandfather, Alfredo. It’s with Axis and Axalia Anderson. Justice and I killed their parents four years ago, then their brother when he threatened us, and Axis and Axalia were institutionalized when they posed a clear danger to everyone. Think about it. They’re using Julia as bait because they want to drag your grandfather into some master plan they have in mind. I promise it won’t end well for you or General Escobar.
“Call him, Alfredo. Tell him what I said. Tell him to kill Axis and Axalia before it’s too late. Or, if that’s distasteful to him, hecan allow Miguel and Julia to take them into custody. End this now.”
Alfredo faltered. Clearly, Brielle’s warning affected him. Doubt crossed his face a moment before he shook it off and squared his shoulders. “I’ll let my grandfather decide what to do. Let’s go, Julia.”
“Wait.” Brielle hugged Julia and shoved something into her back pocket. “Until we bring you and Miguel home, be smart.”
Julia murmured, “Thanks,” and allowed Alfredo to escort her out of Miguel’s house at gunpoint.
They cut through Miguel’s backyard to the next block. A plain white van was parked in the driveway of an empty house for sale. Alfredo slid back the side panel, and Julia gasped.
Miguel was in a desperate struggle with Alfredo’s accomplice. He tried to maneuver his legs around the guy’s neck while sustaining blows to his wounded side. Julia stared in horror at his bloodstained sweatshirt.
“Miguel!”
“Juan!Cesar!” Alfredo commanded in Mexican.
Julia jumped into the van and yanked Juan away from Miguel. She smashed her fist into his face again and again, stunning him. A well-aimed roundhouse kick knocked him off his feet, and Julia landed a few more punches to his face.
“Julia!” Alfredo’s voice held a sharp warning.
“Get him away from Miguel!” Julia knelt next to Miguel and pulled off the black hood. She bit back a sob that had risen in her throat. His face was a bloody mess. “Oh, God.”
Reaching into her pocket, she removed the Swiss army knife that Brielle had slipped to her. She cut the zip ties around Miguel’s wrists and gently lifted his sweatshirt.
“Oh, God.God.”
The mangled staples glistened in the blood running from the reopened wound.
Julia looked up at Alfredo. “He needs a doctor. These staples need to come out, and the wound treated. It might have to be restitched.”
“Dr. James Knight,” Miguel muttered as he pressed his hand against the wound. He gritted his teeth. “Call him. Free clinic.” He rattled off the number from memory.
“No!” Juan snarled and attempted to rise to his feet. “It’s a trap!”
Julia swung her arm and knocked Juan back down. She jammed her knee into his midsection and brandished the Swiss army knife. “Shut the fuck up, or I swear to God, I will cut out your tongue.” She faced Alfredo again. “If Miguel dies, I’ll kill you both.”
Alfredo pointed his gun at Juan. “Get back into the driver’s seat.” As Juan scrambled to do his bidding, he continued, “Call this Dr. James Knight.”
Thank goodness they hadn’t confiscated Julia’s cell phone. With trembling fingers, she pressed the doctor’s number. He answered on the second ring.
