Celina joins us in the medical room while I stitch Alex's forehead. He's been grumbling at me since we left the conference room. Celina and I grin. We both know what his problem is. Even with blood covering one side of his face, the man is seriously sexy in his boots; he should wear them more often."Stop whining, cowboy," I say just to get under his skin after he complains I'm too rough with the needle. I glance at Celina and wink. She winces when I slide the needle through his skin and I start the serious work without teasing him.The injury is a little more than a scratch and requires nine stitches. Moon went to the control room to check on some new information while I tackle the whiney baby. Neither Moon nor Alex handles an injury well. Doesn't matter if it's a bullet or a splinter in their finger. Men!When I'm tying off the last stitch, Alex brings his hand up and grabs mine. "You okay?" he asks solemnly.He's not talking about stitching him up. "I've been better," I say honestly
Madison is waiting in our room when I'm finished with a few security details. I was extremely proud of how she handled herself in the earlier meeting. It doesn't mean I'm not worried about what she's been through. Her turnaround has been too quick. It's possible she'll take a step backward and hide in the dark again. If I dare mention that she's delicate, I'll be sleeping with Two Dogs for the foreseeable future.She's sitting on the bed staring at her toes and when she sees me, a small smile quirks her lips. "You've been very patient with me.""I love you," I say simply and take her hand.She looks away, which bothers me. "I need to tell you everything that happened," she whispers so low I almost don't make out the words. "I know I shouldn't be ashamed. My rational brain tells me this, but the irrational part is having trouble.""Tell me when you're ready, baby. I'll be here." I circle one arm around her back and she rests her head on my shoulder. "I just want it done and over with an
Sofia mentioned Dax's new bodyguard the last time I spoke with her. Apparently, Dax met the guy in prison and at some point, saved his ass in a yard scuffle. To step in as Dax's bodyguard meant the guy was dangerous. What I didn't expect was his size. Dax is a large dude. Duke takes large to another proportion. He's the biggest man I've ever seen in person-pure muscle on an almost seven-foot frame, shaved head, surprisingly intelligent blue eyes, clean-shaven, wearing jeans and a black skintight tee, with chain-accented black biker boots. The perfect, if there is such a thing, Aryan comes to mind. Sofia had reservations about him until he rescued her two-year-old hellion daughter from one of her many dangerous scrapes. She says the child is glued to the big man. Sofia used the word "big," so I expected big. What I didn't expect was someone who could go toe to toe with Andre the Giant. Shit, I think while covertly spying on him while he stands at Dax's side, I wouldn't have wanted to de
The room's gone quiet at Cori's outburst and I'm at a crossroads. Do I rescue her from Dax's new bodyguard or do I allow Cori to deal with the situation herself? In the past, it wouldn't be an issue because she could easily put the giant in his place. Right now, I'm not so sure.Duke ignores her outburst and calmly fills her plate. When there's more than enough food for her, he pivots and walks to the vacant chair beside his and rests the full plate on the table at Cori's place setting. Her eyes find mine and she mouths, "What the fuck?" Then, she doesn't walk to the table, she marches. Duke holds the chair for her and I swear steam comes from her ears. She gives him an exasperated look without taking the proffered chair. She looks around for another place to sit and then eyes the door leading to the hall. This isn't like Cori. She's a woman with attitude and never puts up with shit. Being under Fernandez's thumb has affected her like it has me. She went through everything I did plus t
I send Goose to pick up the C-4. This is placing a lot of trust in an idiot, but leaving the house is not in my plans for now. After killing the girl Goose brought, the manic anger I've been dealing with is under control. Goose took the girl's body with him and will dispose of it.Using my laptop, I search Google maps for Moon's property. The aerial view isn't great and the darned zoom feature doesn't let me see more than the connecting street and driveway leading to the house, but it helps a plan formulate in my brain.While working on the details, my cell rings. It's an unknown caller. "Hello," I answer while looking at my fingernails, which need a manicure."Moon has a warehouse and we need you to get him to pay it a visit. We'll take it from there."Even the cartel is incompetent. "How the hell do I get him there?""If you hand yourself over, it's where you'll end up. Be creative and do it quick."The line goes dead. I made a deal with these guys so they could take care of part of
Taking a break and enjoying dinner was good for Madison. She needed a sense of normalcy and Gabriella provided it. I would like nothing more than to take her to bed before my meeting with the men. She's now part of that meeting, though, so I won't be tucking her in for the night until afterward. We chose to take a walk around the property with the short time we have.Even with the sun down, the temperature is in the nineties. I left my suit jacket behind after Madison gave me the look. My skin is damp beneath my dress shirt, so I'm glad I did. Autumn can't get here fast enough. With Madison's hand held firmly in mine, Two Dogs runs around stiffing the trail in front of us. The path circles the property inside the fence offering a landscaped oasis in the desert complete with a small water fountain I had installed to commemorate the place where I touched Madison intimately for the first time. I never told her why I put the fountain there. The look in her eyes when she saw it was enough.
It's been three days since the meeting. Moon has continued the lockdown and he hasn't left the house. It's like he thinks if I'm out of his sight, Fernandez will take me again. We can't run scared from this madman and Moon isn't behaving like the badass crime boss he is. He's worried. I see it in the firm set of his jaw and his sleepless nights. My husband is walking a thin line and sooner or later, he'll break. He isn't a man who sits on his ass and allows others to handle the dirty work. This is killing him slowly.I've had enough.All the women and I are sitting in Alex and Celina's apartment under the guise of needing a women's-only book club meeting. "Moon has no intention of allowing me to lure Fernandez out of hiding and I need your help," I say. Melina, Sofia, Celina, and Cori nod in assent.An armed escort brought Sofia here to the house fifteen minutes ago. I miss the twins, but they're safer at Dax's compound. When this is over, I'm taking an entire day and spending it at th
My fist hits the table and the cheap piece of junk falls apart. Moon has his compound locked down tight and the Frontera Cartel is breathing down my neck to deliver myself on a silver platter. It won't happen. The only positive is that neither Moon nor the cartel have any idea where I am.Goose is smarter than I gave him credit for and is making himself scarce because of my mood. The need to kill someone is eating at me and even though I need him, when the rage hits and I can't relieve it with cunt, he's in danger. My sister will pay for the desperate straits she's put me in. From losing my men and home, to her fucking another man, she will suffer for the rest of her life.I look up at the ceiling and run through the plan I laid out for Goose. A slow, satisfying smile spreads over my face as I picture Moon and his bitch's death. Goose might not come out of this alive. Fucking too bad. It's one less person I'll need to kill if the plan works and I no longer need him. What I do need is M
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