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“I feel I have to prepare you. You’re not going to like this, Lucas.”
“Where is she?”
“Gallo owns a club down there. A strip club.”
“She’s not…”
“I’m afraid so, Lucas. I’m sorry. Damon dumped Emily there in the care of a guy named Paolo. Apparently, he did so under Gallo’s orders. They are keeping her there until Gallo sets his takeover plan in motion.”
“That fucking son of a bitch! I’ll kill him! I’ll kill them all! Starting with Damon!”
“Wait, Lucas. Calm down. We need him. I agree the little worm needs to be taught a lesson, but after we find Emily. Okay?”
Andreas is blocking the door to my office. He probably fears that I’ll storm out and put a bullet in Damon’s head. He’s not far off.
“Fine! I’ll deal with the bastard later. Have you put together a team to go with us to Mexico?”
“Us? Oh, no. You’re not going. The boys and I are leaving tonight.”
“Andreas, I know you mean well and that you’re being a good friend. But there’s no way in hell I’m staying here while Emily is at the mercy of Gallo. No fucking way! I’m going, and that’s final.”
Andreas sighs. He’s frustrated with me, but I don’t give two shits. Emily is in trouble, and the last thing I need is to sit around like a spare part while others save the woman I love. There’s zero chance of that happening.
“Okay. I’ll make sure we have enough muscle. Gallo will certainly try to take you out. You’re not dying on my watch, Boss.”
The next few hours are a blur. The mansion looks like a platoon’s barracks, with our mercenaries assembling to go over the plan that Andreas had laid out. There is no shortage of weaponry and men capable of starting an invasion. But we have to be careful how we approach this mission.
We don’t know who’s in Gallo’s pocket in Mexico. The federales are easily bribed. Crossing the border is the trickiest part of this whole mission, so I leave it up to Andreas to arrange. This isn’t his first rodeo when it comes to smuggling men and weapons through the border post, so I have complete confidence in him.
It’s 11 p.m. when we set off for the border. It’s a two hour drive, so we should be in Tijuana by 1 a.m., give or take a few minutes to get through customs. That is usually the time of night when the strip club will be at its busiest. A good time to sneak in and snatch Emily back without being noticed.
My mind keeps straying to places where I don’t want it to. The what ifs are driving me to distraction. I have to believe that Emily is okay. The idea of her being forced to strip or dance on a bloody pole like a tart makes my blood boil. She is far too classy and innocent for the situation she’s in. I feel awful for protecting her against Gallo and his scumbag entourage.
Damon glances sheepishly in my direction the entire time we’re on our way to the border. I insisted that he stay right by my side the whole way. If he’s going to try anything, I want to be there to whip the shit out of him.
Hang in there, Emily, my love. I’m coming.
I sincerely hope that Gallo is there too. It’s about time the two of us had a little chat.
24
EMILY
“You’re pregnant, aren’t you? I thought you could put one over on me, did you, you little bitch?”
Paolo is furious. His face is red, and his eyes are darting to and fro as he stares a whole through my abdomen.
I was afraid this would happen. How long did I imagine I could hide my belly? I wear a bikini every night. It doesn’t exactly hide much.
“Well, I hope you’re as good at giving blowjobs as you are at dancing,” he snaps, “because that is going to be your new profession.”
“No! Please, Paolo. I’ll do anything else. Please, not that,” I beg.
“Shut up, you whore! You’re going to earn money on your back and knees from now on. It costs money to keep you bitches fed and clothed.”
He storms out of my room and slams the door. I have to tell Maria. This is a disaster!
I find her alone in her room.