CHAPTER 139

Struggling to her feet, Tessa made her way to the living room, tossed on her bathrobe, and paced the darkened room. But as she ran through the scenario again, trying desperately to study the situation from another angle to find another solution, she ran into the same brick walls.

She was trapped.

From across the room, her phone rang. Tessa dashed for it, hoping it was Zy. That he wanted to come back. That he wanted to talk. That he’d changed his mind about the mission.

When she lifted the device, it was her private caller instead.

Tessa sucked in a shaky breath to steady herself. “Yes?”

“Time’s up, Mama. Do you have information for us or is it a permanent nighty-night for this precious baby of yours?”

She snapped. “How can you threaten an innocent child? What did she ever do to you? What did I ever do?”

“Nothing,” he acknowledged with the gravity of someone talking about the weather. “But I can do anything I have to in order to stay alive and one step ahead of the cops.”

“You’re putti