Page 163 of It Runs in the Family

“Selena, it’s Iris. I know about Rebecca and I know about the flash drive. I’m scared for you.”

My stomach dropped.

I know you’re mixed up with some bad people and maybe you’re stuck. I want to help you—please let me help you. If you need me to come get you, I will. And even if you don’t want help, please let me know you’re okay…I love you.”

The message ended.

My eyes sank closed. I’d been an idiot to send that voicemail.

“Where’s my flash drive, Iris?” Voss asked in deadly calm.

I opened my eyes. I had to protect Boone. But I didn’t need to give him a name to put the fear of God into him.

I lifted my chin with a defiant glare. “I gave it to a Texas Ranger.”

His face went slack. “You’re lyin’,” he said, but there wasn’t any heat behind it.

I shook my head. “They have a whole team workin’ on decodin’ it as we speak.”

He seemed to regain some of his senses. “At three in the mornin’?” he asked with a laugh.

I shrugged, fear filling every cell of my body. I was moments away from breaking into sobs, but I steeled myself. I refused to give him the satisfaction of breaking me. I’d survived twenty-six years without falling apart. I wasn’t about to start now.

“Where’s my flash drive?”

“I already told you,” I snapped. “I gave it to a Texas Ranger this morning.”

He turned to glance at one of the other men, who straightened and said, “We had reports that a man was with her today.”

Voss narrowed his gaze on me. “A Texas Ranger let you hang out with him while he was conductin’ an investigation?”

“I never said I was hangin’ out with the Ranger,” I said with a short laugh. “Why would a Ranger tolerate some convenience store clerk hangin’ out with him all day?”

Something whispered in my head, Really, Iris. Why would he? That makes no sense, undercover or not.

“Who were you hangin’ out with today?” Voss asked.

“I don’t know his full name,” I said, trying to hide how rattled I was by my own thoughts. “He was a one-night stand who spent the night and then hung out with me all day. I thought I was never gonna get rid of him.”

His hand cracked across my left cheek.

“Let’s try again. Where’s my flash drive?”

My face was on fire, but his violence only stoked my temper. I wanted this man to feel terror too.

I leaned forward, anger burning in my veins. “I don’t like repeating myself either, Mr. Voss. I already told you. I gave it to a Ranger. He’s been investigating you in conjunction with the DEA. He knows all about you, including your name. They’re probably makin’ plans to raid you any minute. And when they find my car in the park, you’ll have the Mesquite Sheriff’s Department lookin’ for me too.”

“You stupid, bitch. You’re not in Mesquite County. They can’t do shit about you.”

That’s when I realized what had been off in Garrett’s vision. The sheriff deputies weren’t wearing the Mesquite County Sheriff’s Department uniforms. Sure, they were tan, but it was a slightly darker shade. I really wasn’t in Mesquite County. Why hadn’t I figured that out sooner? I could have told Garrett.

Or Boone.

My one hope had been that Boone would see my texts and come look for me when I didn’t answer his calls or texts, and that they’d find my car and start looking for me. And if he solved the mystery of the flash drive, then maybe he’d believe me about the warehouse and come find me. But he didn’t know which warehouse. Plus, the vision I’d had of Boone trying to save me had him showing up at sunrise. Voss had said it was three a.m. Sunrise was hours away.

I wasn’t walking out of here.

I gave him a look of disgust. “Fine. Don’t believe me. But I’ll have a front row seat when they raid the place.”