Maybe not. There were a thousand ways Nate could fail. The myriad options were overwhelming.

If they got the FBI involved, and Ana still died, could Nate live with having talked her into that decision? Would Marisa ever forgive him?

If they continued going Marisa's way and they failed, she wouldn't blame Nate. He could be with her, help put the pieces back together. Otherwise, she'd be all alone in the world.

Nate wanted desperately to find Ana, but Marisa was right. With Leslie dead, the situation looked bleaker than it had that morning. Chances were good Ana wouldn't survive.

Once again, Nate would have failed to protect someone he loved. How could he live with himself after that? What accusations would the image in the mirror hurl at him then?

And what difference would that make? He couldn't imagine that sweet, precious child hurt, killed. Ana was so full of life, so energetic and joyful. If she didn't make it through this, Marisa would never be the same, and neither would Nate.

Marisa hung up the phone and handed it back to him.

Nate pulled in a deep breath and turned to her. "You told her everything, didn't you?"

"Not everything, but about Ana, yeah."

"And?"

"Pamela Gray's flight landed a half hour ago, and she's on her way. I tried to get Rosa to let us in, but she said she couldn't risk her job." Marisa shook her head. "She said Pamela Gray considers the help expendable. She said Mrs. Gray would fire her on the spot and not think a thing about it. The woman's a fool. Maids, cleaning people—they know everything about their clients' lives. They see what's in the trash, they overhear conversations. Mrs. Gray's just lucky she hasn't been ripped off or worse if she treats her employees like that."

A spark of passion lit Marisa's eyes. Despite everything, she still cared about people. He loved that about her.

The thought had him swallowing and leaning toward his door. Until he got his head screwed on straight—as if that would ever happen—he'd better put the L-word away. And with Ana still missing, there was no time for such foolishness.

If only he could dictate to his heart how to feel. Just one more thing he was powerless over.

"Will she call us when she arrives?" he asked.

"Rosa said we wouldn't be able to miss her."

They settled in to wait. Nate hoped Pamela Gray had answers, because if she didn't, they were out of options. He didn't know how, but one way or another, he had to get Marisa's daughter back to her, safe and sound. If he didn't...

He couldn't fail to be a hero twice and survive the fallout.

Chapter 20

TWO SECONDS LATER. Two friggin' seconds, and his plans, his life, would have all been over.