Rectify

by Laylah Roberts

  “That’s not important right now. Tell us about your son and how you think we can help.”

  “Mateo is two. His father, Diego Mota, is a lieutenant for the Fuerte Cartel.” She took a sip of whiskey, hoping it would lend her courage. “Diego isn’t a decent man. He’s done some terrible things, but I never thought he would take Mateo.”

  “Why do you think he took him?” Aedan asked.

  “I left Diego over a year ago. He never once tried to contact me, to find out how Mateo was. Then a few days ago, my cousin, Maria, who works at Mateo’s day care, saw him in the park next to the day care. Two days later, Mateo went missing. It had to be Diego.”

  Rogan shared a look with Aedan that she couldn’t interpret.

  “Diego just let you leave with his son? He didn’t even want shared custody?” Rogan asked skeptically.

  “I was shocked too. But he was never all that interested in Mateo, or me. We pretty much led separate lives. Days would go by when I wouldn’t see him. There was always someone watching. Then one day, I came home from doing the grocery shopping and found him in bed with another woman. I knew he had other women, but he always kept them away from our house. It was...” she took a steadying breath.

  “It was humiliating. I was furious. Mainly because I had Mateo with me. He was too young to know what was going on, but I didn’t want him growing up thinking it was okay to cheat and lie. I was so enraged that I told him I was leaving. Surprisingly, he didn’t try to stop me. He just told me it was about time, and that he’d been trying to get rid of me and the brat for months. So I took Mateo and fled. I haven’t heard from him since.”

  “He let you go? Just like that?” Rogan asked again.

  “I know it sounds unbelievable, but I wasn’t going to question my luck.”

  “Why the hell would you get involved with a man like that in the first place?” Aedan asked with a ferocious frown.

  Natalya’s stomach lurched sickeningly. “I had no choice.”

  His face hardened, and his blue eyes grew arctic. “There is always a choice.”

  He was right. “Yes, there is,” she whispered. “But sometimes it doesn’t seem that way. Sometimes, it seems like there is only one path in front of you.”

  “Choosing to be with a violent, cheating criminal who had no respect for you was a better choice than me? I must have meant very little to you.”

  She wished she hadn’t hurt him. She’d spent the last three years regretting what she did, wishing that she’d gone to him instead. But at the time she’d thought she was protecting him.

  “You were everything to me. Aedan, I loved you.”

  “Funny way to show it.”

  “Why don’t we get back to the matter at hand?” Rogan glanced at Aedan warningly. “Natalya, when did Mateo go missing?”

  “Two days ago,” she answered. “I got held up at work. One of the other waitresses called in sick. So I asked my neighbor to pick him up. She has a little girl at the same day care. As they were walking home, a dark van pulled up beside them and two men in masks jumped out. They pushed my neighbor down, and she twisted her ankle as she fell. They grabbed Mateo and took off.”

  “Where was this?” Aedan asked.

  “Hondo.”

  “Hondo?” Aedan looked taken aback. “You’ve been living in Texas for the last year?”

  “Yes. I thought it would be best to get out of Mexico.”

  “Why Hondo?” Rogan asked. “Wouldn’t it have been safer to move further away?”

  “Yes, probably. But my cousin lives in Hondo. I thought it would be easier to settle in if I knew someone.”

  “What do the police say?” Rogan asked.

  “I can’t involve the police. They’d have to call in the FBI, and the last thing I need is the FBI looking into my background. Before I left him, Diego told me that I had to keep my mouth shut. Not that I knew anything. But he told me to keep a low profile and not to tell anyone about our relationship. He’s not even on Mateo’s birth certificate. Besides, I wouldn’t know who to trust. The Fuerte Cartel has a number of law enforcement on their payroll on both sides of the border.”

  “Have you tried calling Diego?” Aedan asked her.

  “Yes. I’ve left dozen of messages on his voicemail. I’ve tried calling the house. The last time I called a woman answered. She said Diego was away on business and not to call again. I wondered if he was hiding from me, so I contacted a friend. Carla is married to one of Diego’s captains. When I talked to her, she swore to me that he’s really not there. I didn’t know where else to go. No one will help me. No one will go up against the cartel. Diego is too powerful.”

  “How do you expect us to help?” Rogan asked.

  “I thought you might know someone in the cartel,” she said desperately. “Someone who could help lead me to Diego?”

  “I’m so sorry, Natalya, but I don’t have any ties with the Fuerte Cartel.”

  Her stomach clenched tighter, and she swallowed heavily, trying desperately to keep her tears at bay. She’d held it together for so long, she wasn’t about to break down now.

  “I overheard Diego talking about you just before we left, so I thought you might have dealings with the cartel.”

  Rogan suddenly became alert. “What did he say?”

  She frowned, trying to think of the exact words. “He was talking on the phone, so I couldn’t hear what the other person was saying. But it was something about how you couldn’t refuse the deal they were offering.”

  “The cartel came to me just over a year ago and offered me a deal on the new shit they’re producing. I said no.”

  “You did?” She gaped at him. “I didn’t think anyone said no to the cartel.”

  Rogan’s face grew grim. “It didn’t make me popular. They’re using the Seven Sinners and the Vipers to distribute their product in the city instead.”

  “Oh.” Her hope crashed. “Then there’s nothing you can do.”

  Rogan studied her. “Why don’t you go rest upstairs for a while? Let me think this all through.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t sleep.” She had to keep moving. She had to keep doing something. Otherwise, she’d fall into a pit of despair wondering where Mateo was; if he was all right, if he was crying for her.

  “You’re not going to do Mateo any good if you collapse, Natalya.” She would have taken heart that Aedan was showing some concern for her welfare if his voice hadn’t been icier than an arctic wind. “Take a break. Even if it’s just for an hour.”

  “I... I guess you’re right. I’ll lie down for an hour.” She wouldn’t sleep. But she could take the time to plan her next course of attack.

  Whatever the hell that was going to be.

  ***

  “What do you think?” Rogan asked.

  Aedan glared down at his clenched hands. There were a lot of thoughts rolling around in his head. Angry, nasty thoughts for the most part. Why did she leave him for an asshole like Diego? A man who’d cheated on her, who’d treated her so abysmally when Aedan had worshipped her? Aedan would have given her anything.

  But she’d chosen Mota, and he couldn’t understand why.

  “Aedan,” Rogan said sharply. “If you want me to kick her out, I will.”

  Aedan stared over at him, startled. “What?”

  “If you want her gone, just tell me.”

  “What about her son?” The little boy was blameless.

  “Like she said, he’s not yours. He’s not your problem. How do we even know that the boy isn’t better off with his father? Natalya could be a terrible mother.”

  “Natalya would be a great mother,” Aedan disagreed. He was certain of that.

  “She rejected you. Left you without an explanation for another man. What makes you think we can trust anything she says?”

  Because he just knew she was telling the truth.

  “She’s honest. Natalya doesn’t know how to lie.”

  “Even if she’s telling the truth, we don
’t owe her anything. The Fuerte Cartel is large and powerful. They’re not people you want to fuck with.”

  Aedan straightened. “You’re right. You should stay out of it.”

  Rogan leaned forward. “Meaning... you’re going to help her?”

  “I am.” The words had left his mouth before he realized he’d made a decision. But his gut told him that Natalya was telling the truth, and he couldn’t turn her away. He’d loved her once. No matter how she had hurt him, her little boy shouldn’t pay the price.

  “You always did have a soft spot for the underdog. I’m not kidding about this, Aedan. It’s dangerous. It would be damn stupid to get mixed up in this.”

  “Which is why I can’t ask you to get involved. I’ll help Natalya.”

  Rogan tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair. “I don’t like it.”

  “I know. But I can’t let a little boy suffer just because I hate his mother.” Except that he didn’t truly hate her, and that was the problem. The sharp jolt of desire he’d experienced when he’d taken her hand in his was surprising. He hadn’t figured on still being attracted to her. But it was just a physical attraction, nothing more.

  “What are you going to do?” Rogan asked him.

  Aedan rubbed his head. “I’ll contact an investigator. I’ll need some help to find Diego.” He’d need a bloody miracle more like.

  “If he’s the one who took Mateo,” Rogan said. “I find it strange that he would leave them alone for a year and then suddenly take the boy.”

  Aedan didn’t get it either. If Mateo had been Aedan’s son, he’d never have allowed him out of his sight.

  “I’ll talk to Natalya, and then I’ll call around in the morning. You don’t mind if we stay the night?”

  Rogan just shrugged.

  Although it would have been useful to have him on his side, Aedan knew Rogan had to protect his people. Going up against a cartel lieutenant could well be suicide.

  Which made him wonder what the hell he was doing.

  After saying good night to Rogan, who was busy on his phone, Aedan left. He strode up the stairs and headed to his bedroom. He stayed so often that he had a regular room. Sometimes he thought he might as well move in. He’d always hated being alone, even as a child.

  As he walked along the passage, he noticed Natalya sitting on the floor. She had her legs tucked up against her chest and was resting her head on her knees.

  “Natalya? What are you doing?”

  She stood, staring at him pensively. “Every time I lie down I see Mateo crying for me. Trying to rest is pointless. I think I should just leave. Thank-you for listening to me, and for what it’s worth, I genuinely am sorry for everything.”

  She turned away. Getting involved was a stupid idea. Maybe he should just let her go, pretend she was never there.

  But no matter what she’d done to him, her son shouldn’t pay the price.

  “I’m going to help you.”

  She froze but didn’t turn back. “What?”

  “I’m going to help you find Mateo.”

  Natalya turned. The stark relief on her drawn face almost had him reaching for her. But he hardened himself against the urge. Of course, she would apologize. She wanted his help. It didn’t make up for the way she’d betrayed him.

  She wasn’t his anymore. She hadn’t been his for a long time. Rogan was right, they didn’t know this Natalya. As much as his instincts said she was telling the truth, he still had to be careful. He’d once thought she’d loved him, and he’d been wrong.

  He had to be smart about this. No blindly trusting what she said. No letting his guard down.

  “Thank-you,” she whispered, reaching out. He stepped back before she could touch him. A flash of hurt crossed her face. “What are we going to do? Does Rogan know anyone who can help?”

  “Rogan is staying out of this. He can’t afford to get involved.”

  “Oh, but…” her voice trailed off.

  “What? My help isn’t good enough?” His old insecurities reared their head. “If you don’t want my help, fine, I’ll say good-bye now.” He turned to stride off. A hand on his arm stopped him.

  “Please, I apologize. I need your help.

  “I’ll hire professionals. Don’t worry; you’ll have all the help you need. Now, we both need some sleep. Get some rest and I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “I really am sorry about everything, Aedan. I never gave you a proper explanation of why I left you. I hurt you.”

  “I got over you years ago.” He rolled his eyes. “You didn’t seriously think I was pining for you all this time?”

  Natalya smiled tremulously. “Of course not. I’ve seen you in the tabloids; you never seem to lack for companionship. Although I’m surprised you gave up acting. That was always your dream.”

  His dream had always been to fit in. To be someone. It wasn’t until after she’d left him that he’d realized how meaningless it all was. Yeah, he’d become famous and rich. But it was all so false.

  He shrugged. “I got tired of it. It started to lack any challenge.”

  “Aedan, I don’t know what I can ever do to repay you. Mateo is my whole world. If anything happens to him—” She covered her eyes with her hand.

  He should turn away. He said he would help her. That was all. He didn’t owe her anything. He forced himself to move away from her. She let out a small sob. With a groan of frustration he turned back and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her lightly.

  “Damn you, Natalya,” he whispered. “I wish you hadn’t come back.”

  “I know. If I’d had any other choice, I wouldn’t be here.”

  Christ, that hurt more than it should have.

  “I know you hate me,” she cried.

  He fought the need to hug her tight, soothe her. What was she doing to him? She’d been back in his presence less than two hours and already his anger toward her was dissipating. He breathed in the scent of her. Vanilla and spice. That hadn’t changed.

  “I don’t hate you, Natalya.” Part of him still loved her. That’s why he was still so angry. Why he couldn’t move on.

  His control started to dismantle. Arousal hardened his cock, making it throb. He’d dreamed of how he would act if he ever saw her again. He’d intended to be polite but distant.

  He never imagined he’d touch her again, that his body would react so strongly to her closeness.

  “Sorry.” She pulled away and rubbed at her cheeks. He let her go. “I didn’t mean to fall apart on you.”

  “I think you’re entitled.”

  “Do you truly think we can get him back, Aedan?” she asked. “I don’t think I could go on if anything happened to him.”

  “Diego never hurt him before, did he?”

  “No. He was distant, but he was never mean. He never yelled at us or got violent.”

  “Then there’s no reason for him to hurt him now, is there?” Aedan reasoned.

  Natalya rubbed her forehead. “I just don’t understand any of this. I feel like I’m stuck in a nightmare and I’ll wake up to Mateo jumping on the bed. I searched for him everywhere. When I realized he was truly gone, I jumped in my car and drove here.”

  He forced himself to take a step back. She wasn’t his problem. He’d help her find her kid because he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t, and then he’d be done with her. Forever. In the meantime, he’d remain polite but distant.

  “Well, I need some sleep,” he said abruptly. “I’ll see you in the morning.

  She nodded. “Thank-you for everything. I can never repay you for this. Ever.”

  Aedan forced himself to keep moving, to not look back. She wasn’t his to take care of anymore.

  And that hurt him more than he thought it would.

  Chapter Three

  Natalya dreaded walking into the kitchen the next morning. She stood on the other side of the door, unable to force her feet to move. Having Aedan stare at her so indifferently…it was painful.

  B
ut it was what she deserved.

  Being so close to him last night had been sweet torture. She’d nearly begged him to hold her for just a few minutes. She’d lain in bed and counted the hours until the rest of the household would wake up. They’d been wasted hours. Time she could have spent looking for Mateo. But what could she do? She had no idea where to look for him.

  She could return to her hometown, Matamoros. But that would be a foolish move. If Diego had taken Mateo, the cartel would be on the lookout for her. They protected their own.

  Besides, Carla swore that Diego wasn’t there, so it would be pointless going back. Unless Carla was lying. She just didn’t know who to trust anymore.

  “You okay?” a deep voice asked from behind her.

  Natalya jumped, turning to see the large man who’d escorted her in last night. With a slight Scottish accent, reddish-blond hair, and broad shoulders, she could easily imagine women falling all over him.

  “I’m Colm. We met last night. Are you okay? Can I get you something?”

  “Oh, umm, sorry. I’m fine. Please, call me Natalya.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “You’ve been standing here for the last ten minutes, just staring at the door.”

  “Have I? Right, sorry. I must seem like an idiot.”

  His gaze softened a little. “I heard about your wee bairn.”

  “My what?”

  A flicker of annoyance crossed his face, and he ran his hand down his face. “Sorry, I haven’t had much sleep. Your son. I heard he’s been taken by his father. We’ll get him back for you.”

  She wished she had his confidence. The more time that passed, the more despondent she grew. What if she never found him?

  “You work for Rogan, right?” she asked.

  “Yep.” His face closed up, the glimpse of warmth disappearing.

  “I don’t think he’s getting involved.”

  “You’d be surprised what Rogan can do without getting involved,” he said cryptically. His phone beeped and he glanced at it. “Excuse me.”

  The door to the kitchen opened and Aedan appeared.

  “There you are. I was coming to wake you.” He frowned. “Did you sleep at all?”