"What the fuck are we supposed to do?" All heads turn to Pauline. The guys refer to her as Powder because she'll do anything for a hit of meth. She may have been pretty at one time, but drugs have turned her into a skeletal caricature of a woman. The sores covering her arms and face kept me away from what's between her legs and I never understood why any of the men took what she offered. If it wasn't for her treatment of Kiley, I might feel sorry for her.I push back from the table a bit and turn my full attention to the women. "Most of you are addicts." That's an understatement because I'd bet my ass, except for Red, they all are. "That won't work here anymore. You get clean or get out." The next part is rough but the truth. "Club whores are a dime a dozen. If you clean up and want to keep spreading your legs, that's fine, you have a place to do it within this club."When I finish laying out these rules, Pauline explodes. Red tries to grab her as she runs toward me with fists flying.
I stay the night in a small Las Cruces hotel. It's clean, comfortable, and meets my needs.I call Lorene, the only phone number in my new phone. She answers in a whisper. "Hey, can't talk right now, girlie. I'll call you back tomorrow." The call ends.Lorene has no idea I'm coming for Frank. She's been part of the Desert Crows since Frank got my mother addicted to drugs. She also helped my mom escape. She's a strange one and the closest person I have as a friend. We've never met in person, but I know she would try to stop me if she knew my plans. I stare at the phone in my hand before resting it on the nightstand. I need sleep. I close my eyes and think of revenge. The statue of the Virgin Mary and the peace of the mission creep into my mind.I'm tired. Tired of being angry. Tired of living a half-life and tired of hatred. I fall asleep cradled in the serenity from the church.I sleep better than I expected and wake up easily. Today's the day. I should go for a run, but I decide on a l
"What the fucking hell?" I yell. I run at the woman, but Coke and Loki beat me to her. They take her down hard and she cracks her head against the motor of an old bike.She doesn't struggle as Loki forces her hands behind her back. She doesn't move at all. Coke jerks her head up and there's a nice gash at the hairline. Coke has her gun. He gives it over when I place my hand out. It's a small .38 revolver. I release the cylinder and spin it to see that one bullet is missing. What the fuck? I've never seen the bitch. For a second, because of her darker skin, I wonder if she's one of Moon's. I don't see Moon sending a woman to kill me, though. He'd send his right-hand man, Gomez, and chances are good I would never see him coming."Is she alive?" I ask Loki. He checks her pulse while blood runs down the side of her face and drips into the dirt."She's still breathing," he replies.I'm trying to process what just happened. She asked for me then pointed the gun directly at me. I should have
I pull back a little from Dagger's hand against my back trying to put some distance between us. I touch my fingers to my forehead. It hurts, and my fingertips come away sticky with blood. There's a dull throb in my head and the light hurts my eyes.Dagger watches me like I'm an insect he wants to dissect. His blue eyes are ice cold. The smell of dirt and sweat dripping from this man overpowers the room. There's something wrong with my female wiring because I want to rub my nose along his skin. I want to lick the salt crystals that outline the trails of sweat. And I still want to bite that damn bottom lip of his.He's a Desert Crow. A skinhead. One of the reasons my mother feared for her life. What the hell is wrong with me? I've dreamed of killing my father for so long. This man took it away.I'm rocked by the knowledge that I have nothing to live for. My world is upside-down and hurt swells inside my soul. The last person I want to see me come apart is this man. I blink back tears. Fu
"While I clean your face, you'll answer my questions," Dagger says.I have my own question and it centers on the tattoo. I shake off the empathy the artwork invokes. The tone of Dagger's voice helps. Harsh and demanding has never worked in anyone's favor when dealing with me. Mr. Boss Man is about to find out that pushing my buttons is not going to work. "And if I don't?" It would have sounded tough if I hadn't winced when the cloth touched the edge of the cut on my forehead.The cloth goes still. "You have no idea the fucking trouble you're in, princess." He leans in closer so his hot breath hits my cheek. "I don't think you really want to find out."My hands form fists and it takes everything I have not to leap up and deck him. "I'm sure I won't be the first Latina you've killed, nor will I be the last," I say instead, keeping my voice as steady as possible.The fingers of his injured wrist grasp my chin and he raises my head higher. "You actually think the worst thing I could do is
The kickass look in her eyes makes my dick hard. The burn of desire is gone and now she burns with hatred. And all that hatred centers on me. I know exactly where she gets her temper. Fox was like that too. Hot and cold. Warm never worked into the equation for him. I guess I'm convinced she's who she says she is. Why the hell would a Hispanic woman show up at this club? There's not exactly a welcome mat out front for anyone with dark skin. Claiming to be his daughter is too crazy not to be true.Red enters the room with Skull following closely behind. She doesn't show fear, which could work out very badly for her. I stand and move the chair several feet away from Sofia. I look at Red and gesture for her to sit. I roughly jerk her hands behind the back of the chair. She doesn't resist. Skull moves in and takes over with the rope, securing her tightly. His face is grim."You need to make noise," I whisper in Red's ear. I hope she understands what I'm telling her. This won't be pretty, bu
I finally pull my pants up and secure my belt. When I turn away from the grimy toilet, I slam my fist through the wall by the door. I need the pain. One fucking day as president and this is what I get. A hand job, a pissed off Latina woman, and an ex-junky who needs a lesson in keeping her fucking trap shut.I leave the bedroom and find Skull standing in the hallway with his arms crossed. He glares at me and shakes his head. Yeah, he knows exactly what I was doing. Fuck, I'm a sicko. I brush past him and enter the small room. Sofia's fury greets me. I stop a foot away from her and move the wild hair covering her face behind her ears so she can clearly see what's about to happen. Her glare burns brighter, and I'm surprised I don't combust on the spot. Shit, my dick is already hardening again.I drop my hand to the sheath at my waist, unsnap the top strap, and slide the knife free. Her eyes follow the knife as I walk over to the other chair. Red surprises me when she makes a high-pitched
The anger burns like a red hot swell of molten lava.I thought I could do it. If Dagger cut me, I would have embraced the pain like I do when I fight. Putting the pain on someone else is different. I couldn't watch Lorene...Red...suffer and now Dagger knows my weakness.The bottom line is I'll be dead tomorrow. If I'd had a gun a few minutes ago, I'd have shot Dagger and Skull both and then taken out as many Desert Crows as I could before they took me down. That's what the anger does. When it takes over and rage fills me, I need blood.Anger management issues is what the high school counselor said in one of the many meetings my mother and I had with school officials. All I know is that something happens and I have little control when it does. I actually envied the emo girls who cut themselves back then. It relieved whatever demons they carried. Funny, I'd have cut them if they asked. The only relief I get is from fighting and doing damage to my opponent or getting my ass kicked. Seeing
I stayed with Mr. Loche for two hours. When I came back to the cabin, Father Andrews and Madison were cooking dinner together in the kitchen. She was laughing and he was telling her that anyone can learn to cook, it just takes practice. I don't add my two cents that the meal Mrs. Loche prepared would have been safer. I word it a little more carefully, "Please don't encourage her. Gabriella will throw a fit if Madison moves in on her territory." They stop what they're doing and I receive my first genuine smile from Madison that I've seen in weeks."It's a simple lasagna. Mak can make it when you're here at the cabin. Even I wouldn't do anything to piss off Gabriella." He cringes with great exaggeration and Madison laughs.She looks at him with a huge smile. "You didn't tell me you know Gabriella.""I know her daughter. I've heard all the stories from her and I'm terrified of her mother."I walk to my wife and wrap my arms around her from behind. She leans into me and places her hands on
It's three more days before our guest arrives. I'm actually tongue-tide when Moon introduces me to Father Andrews. He's American but lives in Mexico and drove all this way to return a favor he owed my husband. He's younger than a priest has a right to be and he's too damn good looking for his job. I place him in his early thirties. It's strange because he looks oddly familiar even though I'm sure I've never met him.The three of us walk into the living room where Mrs. Loche put out cucumber sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies. Father Andrews's eyes light up. "I haven't eaten since breakfast and these look delicious," he says while filling a plate.Moon doesn't sit with us. "Mr. Loche and I are working on a new garden and clearing some land. I'll be next door if you need me." He leans down and places his lips on mine for a short kiss. It actually embarrasses me because Father Andrews is watching. Moon taps me under the chin in understanding because of the heat traveling up my neck and
With revenge motivating me, dealing with what happened was easier. The need for blood became a driving force that allowed me to put my thoughts and feelings on hold. Now my feelings, doubt, and shame overshadow everything. My mind is a dark hole with a smoky mist that Moon stands in to beckon me out. His hand is there. I can almost touch it, but my fingers slide away, a millimeter short, and the darkness covers me once more.Sleep is the worst. Nightmares make me toss and turn throughout the night. Most center around blood on my hands. They drip the red, congealed mess onto everything I touch and when I open my eyes it's still there. Or so the dream goes.I find it strange that I don't dream about what Fernandez did to me. It's his laughter, though, that wakes me night after night. Moon is always there to comfort me during those horrible hours. He pulls me close to his body when I give the slightest gasp. I breathe in his scent and fill my lungs with his strength. Until I fall asleep a
Part of my heart-stopping fury recedes when I pull Madison back into my arms. Her entire body is shaking and she's still clutching the knife I handed her. Alex takes it from her hand after I scoop her into my arms and cradle her against my chest. I breathe in the scent of her hair and try to gain more control.This woman is everything. She's the reason I wake up in the morning. Everything I hold dear is wrapped up in her. Cori meets my eyes and she tips her head in acknowledgement. When she turns away, Duke is standing behind her. He pulls her into his arms and walks her toward the front room. He stops when Goose is dragged closer by one of Dax's men and places himself between Cori and Duke. Duke casually pulls his gun and fires, striking him between the eyes. Goose blankly stares at the ceiling by the time the sound of the gunshot fades from the room. Cori spits on Goose's body before Duke leads her forward. Alex gives orders to clean up the bloody mess."Please take me home," Madison
She steps forward and Fernandez spins and tries throwing a punch at my head but misses. He moves quickly even with a bullet through the foot and gets between Cori and Sofia's rifle. Melina takes the opportunity to bring her gun down on the back of his head. He stumbles and I kick the tibial pressure point in his good leg. He drops and I kick Celina's gun away from him. She grabs it and aims it at him as he wiggles around like a flopping fish. I hand Melina my gun and slam down into his back with my cuffs primed. I practically pull his arms from their sockets in order to secure his hands behind his back while he's stunned."Help me get him up on the kitchen island and I'll cut off his fucking clothes." We drag him back to the kitchen minus Celina who stays at her post, which is the front door. He struggles but it's not enough for four women on a mission.The sick feeling in my stomach stays and I turn slightly and rub tears from my eyes. Not a minute has gone by that I haven't thought a
We park a half mile from the home. Melina and I run up the street, carrying the post driver between us because it's so damn heavy, and check out the property. Like the house he kept me and Cori in, this one is away from other homes and on a nice sized piece of property. The desert foliage on the north side of the area gives us a good vantage point to see the back door. I call Celina."Send Cori north to our location. The front door is on the south side of the house and you'll have about twenty-five yards from the truck to the door. Sofia will be your driver and leave as soon as you're inside. She'll park and meet us. We'll come through the back five minutes after you enter." We covered all of this in the car, but it helps me to go over the plan out loud again. "Give Cori ten minutes to get in place before Sofia drops you off.""Cori just took off. We're set," Celina says before ending the call.After Cori meets us, we stay low and wait for Sofia to text me that Celina is in the house.
Alex brings the car to the front. Austin jumps into the back and I take the passenger seat. I told the men to put Gabriella in our safe room until everything settles. She can cuss them out in Spanish, I don't have time. Sirens can be heard in the distance and we need to be completely clear of the house before they hit the street that leads to my private road.I've also notified additional men to meet us at the warehouse. As soon as we have Fernandez's location, we'll be moving out quickly. It suddenly occurs to me that Dax is totally out of the loop, so I dial his cell."You're fucking kidding me," he practically yells when I tell him his wife ran over a man and picked up the women. "I'm on my way." Another call comes in and I look at the display. It's Caleb."Start heading here with reinforcements," I tell Dax quickly. "I'll call as soon as we have a location. It won't be long."The man in the trunk is moaning loudly. There are metal plates over the taillights and nothing he can do to
Madison is up to something. The strange feeling persisted while she dressed and then at breakfast. Sending her off to the service without me was nearly impossible. The fact is, I need to get my head out of my ass and take care of Fernandez once and for all. The thought of him taking Madison again is eating me alive.While she's at EE, I can focus on what it takes to keep everyone safe. The Frontera Cartel is out of the picture and now we can focus on one man. I have everyone but our outside security in the conference room. Austin joins us too."How do we bring him out in the open without risking one of our women as bait?" I ask the men. It didn't matter how much Madison complained, there was no way I would give into her plan.I've never reached my current level of frustration as we debate the best scenarios. Alex hasn't said a word since entering the meeting, which surprises me. When I look at him, his eyes are on the door leading to the hallway."What has you worried?" I ask him when
The women with Celina give whoops and atta-girl shouts. I can't help smiling. "We'll be another thirty minutes. There's a building supply store not far from you and I need you to pick up two metal fence post drivers." I never worked Cave Creek as a cop, but one of the officers lived there and loved having barbeques, so I'm familiar with the area."We're on it. Meet us in the parking lot."I disconnect the call and decide to join Cori in the front. I wiggle between the seats and then lean back and exhale after I attach my seatbelt. "I'm worried Moon could beat us there."Cori puts her foot on the gas and shoots forward on the freeway. The 51 is one of the lighter trafficked freeways if you're not driving it during rush hour and we're pushing the witching hour. It's the most direct route from central Phoenix to the north valley and we're in luck because it's wide open. If that luck continues, highway patrol won't have units in the vicinity.We make it to the building supply store in twen