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My blood was rushing through my veins. The high of being back in action was with me.

I loved it when we got an opportunity to be more than the rich Mafia playboys most of the world saw when they looked at us.

Were we those? Yes, we were at times, although the Mafia part was gray these days.

We weren’t technically the Mafia anymore, but we did fall into a morally gray area, which we were fine with.

Things like this were when it got hazy. Taking out those who thought such activities as kidnapping and selling humans were alright.

What the fuck was wrong with these people?

The excitement was dying down as we eliminated most of the enemy and surrounded the remaining two living ones.

I was disgusted yet not entirely shocked to see that Chris Brynes was behind this dirty, ugly business.

And, as always, his sidekick, slash bodyguard, slash asshole buddy, Scotty, was right there with him. I didn’t know who I hated more.

They were bound. Tiernan or Darragh was about to start with the questions when we received a frantic yell through our earpieces.

Those earpieces were how we stayed in contact and coordinated throughout the mission.

They could be a lifesaver. It was from Turbo.

He was a member of the Horsemen of Wrath MC, our local motorcycle club in St. Augustine, Florida.

They were considered friends of the family and the Hounds of Justice.

When we required extra hands, we often went to them.

Turbo acted as our Overwatch during this mission.

You didn’t want to leave your back to potential enemies. His words illustrated why.

He yelled, “ Incoming. A dozen armed men storming the building .”

This warning had us turning outward to face the perimeter to deal with the new threat.

Then, there was the sound of gunfire—Christ, just what we hoped wouldn’t happen.

It seemed Chris had more backup than what had been guarding the outside and inside of this meeting place.

I knew the others wanted to know what was happening out there and to help as much as I did, but we had to hold our positions.

Running out there would likely get us killed in the crossfire from Turbo’s gun.

If we stayed here, he knew everyone out there was the enemy.

The gunfire lasted several minutes, though it came in waves, and those began to have longer and longer pauses in between. I wondered how Turbo was handling it. He had to be a fortunate bastard. If we survived this, I’d have to ask him if he was Irish.

Finally, Turbo came back over the comms. “ All clear. Comin’ in. You won’t fucking believe this ,” he said.

Not long afterward, a door opened, and in strolled Turbo, all casual acting.

I noted at once that he wasn’t alone. My body tensed.

But the smile on his face said the ones at his back weren’t enemies.

To my surprise, there were four men and a woman with him.

They were dressed similarly to us in dark combat fatigues and armed to the teeth.

Wariness and bewilderment hit me, and I had no doubt the others felt the same.

Who the fuck were they, and why was Turbo presenting his back to them and smiling?

Turbo must’ve felt our tension and read our minds because he called out to us, “Hold up. They’re the good guys.”

My oldest brother and head of the family, Darragh, yelled, “Turbo, you’d better explain who the hell these people are right now.”

Turbo’s reply came at once and quickly. “This is the cavalry. They helped me take out the ones coming in to kill your asses.”

Thunder, the Horsemen of Wrath’s secretary and the one in charge of them this time, snarled at him since Diablo and Scorpion, their president and VP, weren’t there.

“Goddamn it, this isn’t time for you to play around. Who the fuck are they?”

“I’m not messing around. Let me introduce the DeSantis family.

This is Alphonso, the patriarch. This is his oldest son, Luciano, then Gerardo, Rocco, and last but not least, his sweet baby girl, Gianna,” Turbo explained.

When he finished, he grinned at the woman.

Her response was to flip him the bird. All it did was make him laugh loudly.

When Turbo’s laughter began to die down, Darragh continued, “Okay, you’ve told us their names. What are they doing here, and how do you know them?”

His tone told me that he was about to go off. I knew when my brother was at the end of his patience. Turbo wouldn’t like that. He must’ve heard it in Darragh’s tone because he rushed to explain.

“I grew up near them. I’m older than they are, but my family has known theirs forever. As for why they’re here, I’ll let Alphonso tell you.”

The eldest DeSantis moved forward. Automatically, his sons and daughter fanned out behind him. They were watchful, and while their hands weren’t on their guns, they remained close. We had ours the same way, so no offense there. It paid to be cautious, even if Turbo did know and trust them.

Alphonso explained, “We weren’t expecting to find anyone here.

Wish we’d known. We didn’t mean to spook you.

Turbo is right. We’ve known his family all my life.

As for why we’re here, we’ve been tracking these bastards for months.

We got word that there was a trafficking ring hitting different areas of the country, but the main distribution hub was rumored to be here in Florida.

We don’t take kindly to that kind of thing, especially in our backyard.

We discovered there was a big meeting with the main players and the boss happening here tonight.

We decided to see what we could do to cleanse the world. ”

As he paused, I spoke up. “And why would you be the ones to do that?”

“It’s kind of what we do,” Luciano, the oldest son, said.

“Your job?” Darragh questioned.

“Yes, our job. Listen, we mainly go after fugitives who miss their court dates or fail to do what they’re supposed to as agreed upon in their bail bond contract. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t step outside that if the need arises,” Alphonso added.

They were bounty hunters? I hadn’t expected that.

I was curious. Astonishment was on all our faces.

I’d never met a bounty hunter. Here was a group of them, a family, no less.

My eyes kept returning to Gianna. She filled me with thoughts and sensations that were outside the norm and had me slightly reeling, which was why I said what I did next.

If I had a clear head, I would’ve never said it.

I had a sister and female cousins. I knew it was stupid, and they would kick my ass if they heard me, but it came out so fast that I couldn’t stop it.

“So you’re bounty hunters. That’s dangerous work. Why did she come along?” I cringed on the inside, though I kept my expression calm. Gianna fired back immediately.

“Why shouldn’t they bring me? I might have a vagina, but that doesn’t mean I’m inept, stupid, or without skills. Why’d they bring you, pretty boy? Better watch you don’t mess up your manicure or your hair,” she snapped back waspishly.

Her reply made me want to laugh. Her pretty boy comment didn’t bother me. I decided to play off it. Maybe I could make her think I’d been joking. I grinned at her, winked, then blew her a kiss.

Gerardo, the middle son, cheerfully said to me, “Our sister is well trained, I assure you. She’s the one who found these swine. I’d watch myself if I were you. She’ll cut off something you want to keep.”

I wanted to continue the verbal battle, but Alistair, the head of the Hounds of Justice and my cousin-in-law, now that he had finally married my cousin, Aisling, pointed out to the DeSantis,

“While we appreciate what you did, we need to talk to you more. As you can guess, our involvement in this has to be kept a secret. And being bounty hunters doesn’t protect you from legal prosecution.

Your work is outside the legal constraints, unlike police officers.

It would behoove you not to be found to be participating, either.

” The implication was clear. Fuck us over, and you’ll go down, too.

“We get that. I’ve got to say, I’m curious why an MC and a rich family rumored to be part of the Irish Mafia are killing these men. Shouldn’t you be working with them?” Rocco asked, scowling.

We gave him dark looks and some upset mutters to show how we disapproved of his assumption. Not that it wasn’t something most people wouldn’t make, but it did get old at times.

“Don’t judge based on rumors and assumptions. Listen, we can talk more about this at another time. Why don’t we arrange to meet later today or tomorrow? We can work this out then,” Darragh suggested.

“What’s going to happen to these two? Why didn’t you kill them like the rest?” Alphonso asked.

We glanced over at Chris and Scotty. Though bound by their wrists and ankles, with gags in their mouths, they were trying to wiggle loose from them as if they could.

I secured those myself. They wouldn’t be getting out of them.

Tiernan snorted in amusement when Shane, another cousin, smacked both captives in the back of the head with the palm of his hand.

They weren’t baby taps. He did it hard enough that their heads were flung forward hard.

His oldest brother, Aidan, told Alphonso, “They have a special date with us.”

“Well, we’re not in a hurry. How about we hang around and see how this date goes? Afterward, we can arrange this meet-and-greet you want to have,” Alphonso stated.