Page 41 of Fighting for Julia (Laguna Beach Cops #6)

Fists flew amid grunts of pain. Axalia’s mad shrieks pierced the air.

Blood dripped from their noses, from cuts and gashes.

Miguel did his best to protect his bad side, but Axis landed a kick on it.

He dropped to the dry grass, panting and holding his side.

That’s when he noticed Axalia’s hands around Julia’s neck, squeezing the life out of her.

Julia was trying desperately to pry off the girl’s fingers.

“Oh, hell no!”

Miguel executed a series of moves that took the wind out of Axis, then rushed to Julia’s aid. He yanked Axalia away from Julia and tossed her like a rag doll into her brother who’d begun to rise to his feet. They both tumbled into the grass.

Julia bent over, gasping and choking.

“Sweetheart, are you okay? Can you still fight?”

She nodded and straightened her back. “Let’s end this, Miguel. Time to stop dickin’ around.”

Despite their dire situation, Miguel guffawed. “Wow. I can’t believe I just heard that come out of your mouth.”

“Yeah, well, I’m pissed.” She raised her voice and let out a string of expletives in Spanish directed at Axis and Axalia that caused the crowd to erupt into laughter.

Miguel laughed with them. “Ready, Washburn?”

“Ready, Rivera.”

They stood in a fighting stance, side by side. Miguel glanced over at Raúl and Ricardo. “The twins look like Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid . Only taller. And Mexican, not Asian.”

“And meaner,” Julia added.

Raúl gave them a signal, and Miguel lifted his chin in acknowledgement. “Let’s do this.”

Axis and Axalia hurtled toward them as if they’d been shot out of a cannon.

In synchronized action, Miguel and Julia landed flying kicks to the siblings’ midsections, stopping their momentum.

They shook off the stunning blow to their chests and attacked.

Miguel and Julia worked as a team, throwing kicks and punches, switching between the Andersons, ducking, and playing off each other.

Miguel didn’t know how long they’d been fighting, but his side ached and his punches began to lack their earlier impact. He needed to put Axis down and help Julia end Axalia. Miguel tried to get Axis into a chokehold, but the kid’s demise came in a way that he hadn’t anticipated.

A kick to his temple.

Axis dropped like a sack of potatoes. His body twitched, then lay still. Miguel’s heart slammed into his chest. Adrenaline still pumping, he knelt next to Axis and shook him.

“Axis! Come on, kid! Wake up! Axis!”

Axis didn’t move. Miguel leaned over him. No breath. No pulse. The crowd stirred restlessly.

Axalia caught sight of her brother lying in the grass. She let out a wild cry and rushed headlong toward Miguel. He prepared to defend himself, but she dropped next to her brother and gathered his lifeless body in her arms.

“Axis! Oh, God, Axis!” she wailed at the top of her lungs. “No! No! Don’t leave me! Please don’t leave me!” She rocked and keened his name.

It was almost pitiable to watch.

“He’s gone, Axalia,” Miguel told her as gently as possible.

The sound of his voice galvanized her. “You! You killed him! I’m going to rip you to pieces and feed you to the pigs!”

She leaped to her feet, feral and crazed with grief. Just then the distant sound of many motorcycles arrested their attention. A black wave of them came down the mountains like a horde of giant ants. The crowd screamed and scattered. General Escobar’s men raced toward their stockpile of munitions.

“Oh, shit!” Miguel exclaimed.

With their attention on the motorcycles, Axalia saw her chance to escape.

She sprinted through the crowd running in different directions.

Miguel and Julia took off after her. She hopped onto an ATV and roared away, churning dry grass and dust. Axalia headed straight for the Jalisco motorcycle gang barreling toward the open field.

Miguel commandeered an ATV, and Julia perched behind him. “Hang on!”

She wrapped her arms around his waist. He pressed the accelerator, and they shot forward after Axalia.

They closed the gap fast, but they were too late.

The Jalisco motorcycle gang surrounded her.

Someone yanked her off the ATV and knocked her unconscious with the butt of an AK-47.

She slumped to the ground. The kidnapper, or whoever he was, lifted Axalia into his arms and raised his rifle.

The other motorcyclists abruptly turned 180 degrees and headed back into the mountains.

Then he did something even stranger. He saluted them.

Miguel squinted. There was an odd, familiar quality to the man.

“No. It can’t be.” The sun was in his eyes or maybe he was hallucinating.

Not knowing what else to do, Miguel lifted his hand in response.

The man climbed onto his motorcycle with Axalia and joined his rapidly retreating gang.

“How weird,” Julia remarked. “Who was that? He acted as if he knew you.”

“No clue.”

“We should go after Axalia.”

“No, Julia. She’s someone else’s problem now.”

Miguel made a U turn and headed back to the compound.

Heavily armed, General Escobar waited for them on the edge of the field. “I saw what happened. It is a miracle the Jalisco gang did not attack us.”

“A very strange miracle,” Miguel agreed. “What I’m about to suggest is even stranger. I think they were coming for Axis and Axalia.”

“Strange, indeed.” He paused. “So, it’s over. What happens now?”

Julia wrapped an arm around Miguel’s waist. “Miguel and I are going home to Laguna Beach, and we’re getting married before he joins my mother on the campaign trail.” She reached for General Escobar’s hand. “Gramps, I would invite you to the wedding, but?—”

“But under the circumstances, it is impossible. I do not wish to spoil your happy day. And professionally?” he hinted.

“I will protect you for as long as I can under one condition.”

He frowned. “What condition?”

“You go legit.”

General Escobar let out a surprised laugh. “Legit? What does that even mean?”

“Supply medical marijuana. It’s a multibillion-dollar industry, Gramps, and growing every day. With your connections, you could easily break into the business. Or buy out current suppliers. Your choice.”

He scratched his chin. “I promise I will consider it.”

“That’s all I ask.”

General Escobar pointed at Axis. “What shall we do with him?”

“Can you call an undertaker in Mexico City and arrange to have Axis’ body picked up? From there we’ll have it flown to Chicago, where he’ll be laid to rest with his family.”

“Sí. Will you wait until tomorrow to leave?”

“No, Gramps. We want to get cleaned up and leave within the hour.”

Miguel silently cheered. He was more than ready to get the hell out of Mexico.

General Escobar nodded. “Alfredo and Juan will drive you to the airport in Mexico City. I’ll book a flight for you while you shower and change. But please eat something before you leave. You skipped breakfast.”

Julia’s face softened. “Now you sound like a grandfather.”

Her voice sounded husky. Either from hot emotions rising in her throat or from nearly being strangled, Miguel didn’t know.