"Thank you, Gabriella. Why don't you join us?" Strangely, Mak's lips quirk when she asks. After another string of Spanish from Gabriella, I understand why."Would you care for wine?" Moon asks after Gabriella marches from the room muttering."Yes, wine please," I tell him. I actually need something stronger, like a gallon of moonshine, maybe.Mak, who's now smiling full out, tries to reassure me. "Gabriella is that way with everyone she meets. Don't let her get to you. She has a heart of gold and is very loyal. She also cooks the best food I've ever tasted. Help yourself. We don't stand on ceremony, even when forced to eat in the dining room. It's an argument I've yet to win with Gabriella.""She really didn't like me.""Well, she defended you to Gomez and told him not to mark up your lovely skin and turn you into a tramp. Or at least that's what I think that word means."My hand immediately covers my neck and upper chest in mortification."Madison," Moon says sternly."Well, I think G
I park the SUV inside the warehouse beside one of our black Caddies. SUVs are great, but an actual trunk is needed to conceal a body, even if it's a live one. The Caddies are also lower to the ground and take sharp turns better if you need the speed. Moon's vehicles are modified with kick-ass engines and bulletproof glass. I tend to drive the car that fits my mood. Every so often it's the Bugatti. It's flashy and draws attention, which means I can't have nefarious plans like I do now. Maybe I'll take Celina for a nighttime desert ride in the Bugatti. Blevins and Juan are standing with Rack by the door to the back room. I walk over and give the nod to the first two men. They get lost quickly. Their shift ended at six and they have vehicles waiting outside. The two men who relieve them will come to the warehouse district when this shit is finished."What condition is he in?" I ask Rack."The worst is a broken wrist. I'm sure the cuffs attaching him to the chains are painful. He knew h
I choose the guest room to sleep in because I don't feel comfortable crawling between Alex's sheets in his bedroom. I lie awake for a long time and think about Alex and Kiley-Alex the killer and Kiley the young, innocent child. I barely know either of them and they've both changed my life. How do I reconcile what's happening? I never expected to fall asleep, but I jerk awake when the lamp beside the bed comes on. Squinting, I make out Alex resting his hip on the bed beside me. His tie is loosened and he appears exhausted. I fight myself to not reach out and smooth my hand across his face. The agony I read in his expression is a physical ache that hits me hard. He blinks and gains control. Now I want to wrap him in my arms because I know he's masking the pain."Is there a reason you're not in my room?" he asks quietly. His voice sounds strange. I'm not sure if he's pissed off or trying not to startle me.I roll in his direction which puts me closer. I smell him, he's showered and his d
The man gives me a steady look. "Hello, ma'am. Please call me Dax." His blue eyes appear menacing on his bruised face. I'm fairly sure he's the guy who followed us on the bike. I'm not into the skinhead look, but I can't deny he's attractive. Whereas Alex and Moon look and act like gentlemen, this man is rough with hard edges. I have little doubt that he's as deadly as the other two men in the room."Are you with the Desert Crows?" I ask because I need to be sure.He gives me a slight grimace but answers, "Yes."I turn to Alex. "Why is he here?"His fingers relax and his grip turns into a caress. "Let him tell you." Alex nods and Dax starts talking.Within a few minutes I breathe easier, feeling as if a hundred pounds have been lifted from my chest. He's seen Kiley and she was okay as of earlier today. He tells us the story of how he joined the Crows after leaving prison. Many things run through my mind-drug addict, thief, sexual predator. The last thought makes me tighten my fingers i
The shit will go down tomorrow, or, I look at the large clock on the wall, later today. Mak and Celina stayed in the conference room while Dax explained his plan. He drew a map of the house and gave specifics about Fox's orders if anyone came for the child.There are two guards, one always with Kiley. In the room where they're keeping her, there's a floor to ceiling bookcase with a hidden safe behind it. The orders are to snap Kiley's neck, stuff her in the safe, and get the hell out. Dax said there's a small indent next to the safe for Kiley to hide. He will deliver the doll to her, take out the guard in the room, and settle Kiley behind the bookcase. His opinion is that the riskiest part is showing up with the doll and displaying attachment to the child. He thinks he can talk his way in and the house guard may join his side. He can't be a hundred percent sure and that worries me.If all goes as planned, he will handle the guard stationed directly on Kiley so she's safe. He wants us h
She moans and the moans turn to cries that fill my head with the sweet powerful sound. I thrust forward and hold myself still as cum shoots from my cock and claims the woman who is claiming me. Years of staying sheathed in condoms goes right out the window. Stupid, stupid, stupid, but so fucking unbelievable.I bury my face into the space between her neck and collarbone that smells so heavenly. My body covers her and she doesn't complain. Or maybe I'm smothering her chest and she can't breathe."I could wake up like this every morning," she whispers.At least I know she's alive. I roll again so we're where we started our morning dance. "I didn't use protection," I tell her because it needs to be said.She lets out a small giggle. "I'm clean and on the pill as per Elegant Escort rules, so it's all riding on your past mating habits.""Mating habits?" I ask with a smile."Well, do we need to worry?" she mumbles against my chest."No, my mating habits have been all about latex orgasms." He
The hardest part will be getting past Skull with the doll. I think he's as fed up as I am, but I can't risk Kiley's life to find out. I'm prepared to kill him even if I'd rather not.I stride up to the front door like I own the place. It's a small two-bedroom home on the outskirts of Peach City. The town is mostly populated by anti-government, racist idiots with half of them living on government subsidies. I've never understood the philosophy. Fine, don't support the establishment, but for God's sake make your own way and don't live under their thumb by taking handouts you didn't earn. Each month I scrape together enough to pay my few bills and meet my obligations. Nothing like the money I made before I was an ex-con, but I get by and work hard.This entire area, with their white supremacy leanings, is the scum-hole of Arizona. Prison never changed my mind that the color of someone's skin made them good or bad. Living with dickheads who think they're better than their brown or black co
Once Metal's on the ground, I look at Kiley. Her eyes are tightly closed and her body is as still as a mouse. "Hold the doll and keep 'em closed, Kiley," I whisper as I walk over and pick her up. I use my bad hand to release the latch on the bookcase. The safe sits back two feet and is open to make it easier to place her inside if shit goes down. It's just big enough for her dead body, and I can't fight the anger that boils through me. I place her in between the safe and the wall. She never opens her eyes. "I'll be back in a few minutes." She doesn't acknowledge me. I close the bookcase and click the latch so it stays closed.I slip out the door and head to the living room to wait for Skull. He comes out with his hands at his belt. He's not nearly as big as Metal, but I'm not taking chances. I have a gun pointing at him when he looks up. My shirt and DCMC cut are covered in Metal's blood."Don't move your hands or I'll put a bullet through your head.""Fuck, Dagger, what the fuck?""Me
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