Free Brazen (B-Squad #1) by Avery Flynn Page B

low.
    “So your claim is that your sister’s ex-husband was planning to auction off his own daughter’s virginity to raise cash for his little militia religious cult?”
    Tamara’s jaw tightened and her hands curled into fists. “Oh he wouldn’t call it that, but that’s exactly what it was.”
    “And what would he call it?”
    “An arranged marriage.”
    Shit. He did not have time for this. They were thirty thousand miles above the Pacific Ocean on their way to take out a drug dealer who’d outmaneuvered them at every turn and wanted to harm the woman Taz loved, and now he had to deal with a power-hungry lunatic willing to barter his own daughter for gold. It almost made him miss the good old days when he didn’t give two shits about anyone but himself. Of course, then he’d met Bianca and his whole world had changed.
    Pinching the bridge of his nose, he outlined his options. First, the authorities. His brother Keir had connections everywhere, but they’d already used up almost every favor owed in their search for the Genie’s Wish kingpin. Plus, it was going to take a lot to get someone true blue to overlook an active warrant. Still, if she had something concrete, he could find someone to listen.
    “What kind of proof do you have?” Taz asked.
    She shook her head. “Nothing that would stand up in a court of law, which is why I had to take Essie and run, why we have to keep running.”
    Okay, the authorities were a no go. Second option, the B-Squad. Since all of them were currently in the same jet as he was, that was a no go too. Third, Camacho. The freelance investigator wasn’t a team player, but he had the tools to keep Tamara and Essie safe until evidence was found showing how much of a danger Jarrod was to the girl. And if that didn’t come through, Camacho could help them get lost—he’d already done it with his own identity.
    “And the million dollars you tried to extort from me was supposed to finance this?”
    She didn’t avert her gaze, but her cheeks turned pink. “I have some money but not enough. I didn’t have any other way to get enough for the fake identities and to start a new life.”
    “You have the contacts for those?” He already knew the answer, but he had to ask.
    Her chin jutted up. “I’ll get them.”
    Sure she would. More like she’ll lose half the cash to a scam artist. Taz scrubbed a palm across his face. Pain from a sudden tension headache stabbed him right through the temple. Leaving Tamara and Essie to their own devices was not an option. He had to put a call into Camacho and bring him up to speed before they landed at Indulgence Resort.
    “Where is Essie now?”
    “Somewhere safe.” The statement came out sharp, but Tamara couldn’t hide the worried wobble in her tone.
    In over her head didn’t begin to describe the situation. If she’d only told him the truth earlier… “Why not ask for help?”
    She choked out a pained laugh. “Are you kidding? Who would help me?” She closed her eyes and exhaled a deep breath. “Look, we both know that I’m not a good person. I never have been. I’m selfish, mean and willing to do whatever it takes to get my way. Everyone sees me that way. Hell, it’s exactly how I see myself because it’s true. But my sister? She didn’t.”
    She raised her gaze to the ceiling and blinked several times before bringing her focus back to him. “She was the one person who saw something else. I owe her for not coming to help sooner. It’s my fault she was trapped with Jarrod as long as she was. She needed my help and I was too busy being a bitch to do her any bit of good.” Tears spilled over her cheeks in black-tinted rivers and the tip of her nose was Rudolph red. “I shouldn’t have tried to extort you but it was the only option I could come up with. Essie is a sixteen-year-old girl with her whole life ahead of her—but only if I can keep her away from Jarrod. And we have to hide so well he’ll never find us, because he