“For fuck’s sake,” she grumbled. “Well, there’s no other choice. You’re going to have to go get him.”

I laughed at her idea of a joke. “I’m not going anywhere. Cali and Justice need me.”

“Justice needs you to bring her daddy to her,” she argued. “Whatever problems Cali and Garret have, that’s between them. But Justice deserves the chance to be held by her father.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and prayed for patience. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Cali and Justice will be fine until you get back,” Mom promised. “Guzman and I will be right here with her. And Maria.”

“Mom, if you want him here so badly, then you go get him!”

She cupped both sides of my face in her chilled hands. “Nova, it has to be you. He thinks both you and Cali are dead. He might not believe me, and then I’ll have to deal with your dad and everyone else. Which will take too much time. If he sees you in the flesh, he’s going to freak out, I’m sure. But he’s more likely to believe you about Cali. Plus, I know if he still doesn’t cooperate, you can just knock him out and bring him down here.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “How would I do that?”

She lifted a brow at me, a knowing light in her blue eyes. “How did you kill those men when you were thirteen, Nova? Something tells me that wasn’t just the self-defense Raven has taught you mixed with dumb luck. How about telling me how you killed Manuel Ramirez?”

Unable to lie to her, but unable to tell her the truth, I pressed my lips together and turned my gaze out the window. Not even now could I break my promise to Anya. I would take it to the grave if I had to.

“I’m sure kidnapping your brother—should it come down to that—won’t be too much trouble for you.” She patted me on the arm. “Especially if you take a few men with you to do the heavy lifting.”

Cursing under my breath, I stomped across the room, needing space from her. But Guzman was watching me closely, and I could see the judgment in his eyes.

“What?” I demanded. “Do you actually agree with her?”

He sighed. “If it were me in your brother’s shoes, I would want to be here to help take care of my daughter. There is no guarantee of tomorrow, especially not for the precious baby girl upstairs. Father and daughter deserve the chance to have at least one moment together, even if that is all they get.”

“But Cali won’t like it.” I tried to make him understand. “She’s been through so much already. She’s going to hate me if I bring Garret here, especially while she’s so vulnerable.”

“She may be angry, but she won’t hate you. Deep down, she knows that Justice having her father is the right thing.” He nodded toward the door. “You’re wasting time. That little girl is waiting for her papa to hold her.”