Page 52

I wondered if he’d be stupid enough to shoot it.

If so, he’d find those bullets ricocheting back at him and his guys.

However, it appeared he wasn’t that dumb.

Too bad. Next, he had all four SUVs moved and lined up along the wall, getting as close as possible.

Then, men scrambled to stand on their roofs to reach the top of the wall.

Most of them appeared to be close to six feet tall.

The SUVs were five and a half feet high.

The razor wire was added over another foot.

They’d have to jump and pull themselves up.

And when they got to it, the wire would tear their asses up.

What was he thinking? I glanced at those with me.

They were shaking their heads. No leather blankets or anything came out.

The order was given. The men, at least, had on leather gloves, but they wouldn’t stand up to the wire’s barbs.

They were more for show and not leaving fingerprints.

One grabbed the wall, but his hands slipped, causing him to fall.

Another got up on his elbows but ripped his arm open when reaching past the wire.

It was pathetic to watch. I wanted us to mow them down now, but Agony would give the order.

I was waiting for the command when one nimble bastard somehow got his ass over the wall.

The others doubled their efforts. We heard swearing and cries of pain, but two more made it.

The rest shook their heads. Our guys on the inside would take care of those three.

Just as I thought it, there was the retort of several gunshots and then silence.

“Get your asses in there and open that gate,” Alvaro screamed.

I had news for him. Wire would have that function locked down.

The only way it would open was if he did it.

As if my mind had been read, the gate began to open slowly.

They scrambled to the ground and stood there, rifles at the ready.

When it was open far enough to get inside, two men stuck their heads around the gate and ducked back.

No gunfire, so they did it again. After a second look and nothing, they felt secure that one of their guys had opened the gate, and they charged inside.

We moved out of the woods but stayed back.

“ They’re coming for the clubhouse, move ,” Wire ordered.

That was our signal. We took off running.

It was like a well-choreographed movie. They didn’t see us.

From around the far corner of the clubhouse came Predator, Cyclone, and Pope.

They fired and took down three of Machado’s men.

Surprise had them scrambling. Careful not to get into a crossfire with our three, we opened fire.

It was pandemonium for a few minutes on their end.

We took cover where needed, but we wore Kevlar vests.

I didn’t know why they didn’t, but it was good for us.

Less than five minutes, and all twenty were down.

We carefully approached to see if they were dead.

The only one who wasn’t was Rodrigo. His son was shot through the head, staring sightlessly at the night sky next to him. His father turned to look at him. “You ruined us,” he gasped, then took his last breath. A thorough check verified that all were dead and accounted for. Damn, that was too easy.

“ Here come our boys back. I believe they’re bringing Bones a prize ,” Wire said over the earpieces. I heard the amusement in his voice. I turned to face the gate, eager to get my hands on Deon Morton. My bloodlust would be satisfied after all.

???

Most of the men were on cleanup duty. The SUVs would need to be disposed of, and so would the bodies.

There was the ever-smallest chance the cops would be sent out, but Wire was listening to the scanner to warn us.

I’d taken time to let Blythe know I was safe and to kiss her before coming.

She and the other women were keeping the kids entertained.

Eliana and Stitch were attending to minor injuries, nothing serious.

They waved away my offer to help. Blythe had cried in relief when she saw none of us were killed or terribly wounded.

I calmed her, then went to the outbuilding with Agony, Leon, and Hulk.

Entering, I saw Deon was trussed up in the chair that Tavia had occupied.

She was manacled in a dark corner, lying in a heap on the floor.

She wasn’t dead, but Leon’s handiwork showed.

Her head hung down, and she barely moved.

Deon was scanning the building, probably to find a way out.

When he saw us, his gaze focused on me, and his panicked expression turned to a sneer.

“You wait, you’ll pay for this. Do you know who I work for? They’ll kill you,” he snarled.

I looked at Knight.

“We had him blindfolded.” He answered my unspoken question. I smiled.

“Deon, I’ve been waiting for this. It’s been coming for too long. Your girlfriend gave us your location. She’s not happy with you.”

“Tavia would never tell you anything.”

We laughed. “Oh, but she did, and it’s all thanks to you. Seems she hates the fact that you let a mark replace her in your heart,” Leon said.

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. No one has replaced her,” Deon denied.

“Fucking liar,” Tavia croaked from the corner. His head whipped around to stare at her. I guess he hadn’t noticed her when they brought him in. She was behind and off to the side of him.

“Tavia?” he gasped.

“Yes, Tavia. How else would we get the information she was so eager to share? You should know, a woman scorned is the worst kind,” I told him.

“I didn’t scorn her. And you have no idea what you’ve done.

Her family, they’re a cartel in Mexico, you idiots!

They’ll lose it when they discover what you’ve done to her.

If you want any hope of a single one of you surviving, release us.

Let us go back to Mexico. It’s no guarantee, but if you don’t, they’ll massacre everyone,” Deon threatened.

“You were blindfolded and late, so I should share what happened before you arrived. The Machado family came to demand the release of Tavia. We weren’t inclined to oblige, so they entered our property without permission.

We don’t like trespassers, so we expressed our displeasure.

They’re dead, including Rodrigo and Alvaro.

They were never a cartel. They had ideas of grandeur.

There’s no one left to lead, except a handful of low-level soldiers.

They’ll steal what they can and then run,” Agony informed him.

Tavia let out a keening wail. Deon shook his head. “You’re lying,” he whispered.

“I am? Well, let’s see,” Agony said as he tapped away on his phone. While he did, I stepped closer to Deon.

“You are one of the lowest pieces of shit I’ve ever met.

You lure poor women to believe you care about them.

And the whole time, you’re sneaking around trying to impregnate them so you can steal their babies, sell them, and then you do the same to the women.

We know about the whorehouses. Blythe knew what her fate was supposed to be. And you’re a coward,” I sneered.

“I’m not a coward! Why would you say that?” he snapped.

“You sent Tavia to acquire Blythe from the antique store rather than try yourself. You knew she’d get caught. It was what you wanted—a way to get out from underneath her. You didn’t want her anymore, but were too scared to tell her,” I accused.

“Bastard,” Tavia hissed.

“ Mi amor , my love, it’s not true. He’s saying that to divide us. I only love and want you,” Deon denied.

“We know what happened. You developed feelings for Blythe, but didn’t know what to do.

If you left, Tavia would make sure her family killed you.

You were caught, and so you kept playing at it, but you wanted a way to disappear and stay with Blythe.

Who could blame you? She’s beautiful, intelligent, loving, and warm.

She gives all of herself. Or that’s been my experience.

Except in your case, she never did that, did she?

There was a piece she held back, and it drove you crazy.

It’s why you got drunk after you beat her.

You felt guilty,” I growled. I was saying anything I thought of to keep him off-kilter and make Tavia believe he had wanted out—psychological punishment was very painful.

“I’m going to cut off your balls and cock then feed them to you, bastard,” Tavia croaked.

“I swear on my life, I don’t love Blythe or want her. It was all work. You know that. They never mean anything to me,” he pleaded.

“That’s not what you told me. You lie so easily, Deon. But who are you truly lying to?” a woman softly asked. I whipped around to find Blythe moving toward us. I hurried to her.

“Firefly, you shouldn’t be in here,” I told her as I lightly grasped her arm.

“Baby, I need to be here. I have things to say to him, and then he’s yours. I can’t fully move on until I do, please,” she whispered.

I saw the determination on her face and the fire in her gaze. I conceded. “Fine, but only for a little while, and then you go. He’s not worth risking you or our daughters.”

“I won’t.”

I took her hand, and we walked back to where the others stood, facing Deon. He stared at Blythe with an almost sick expression. His eyes homed in on our joined hands. A flicker of anger was there, then gone.

“Hello, Deon. I’d like to say it’s a pleasure to see you, but I don’t lie.

Do you have any idea what you did to me?

Or those women you used and discarded before me.

All because you want money. Those were your children!

God knows what kind of people you sold them to.

And I know you don’t care. You make me sick.

You and that bitch, Tavia, deserve each other,” Blythe hissed.