Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Jesus. A fucking roast with the head of a Mexican cartel. This had happened before. A surprise visit from someone as powerful as Marco also had happened before, and I remembered. It was always a reminder of the ramifications and implications of this life, this world I was in. I knew when I’d signed up to ride next to Maxwell that he was going to take the Red Demons far, and he had.
Crow turned back toward his bike, but Marco called out, “Ghost. A word.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve told you why I’m here, but I’m wondering why the national vice president of the Red Demons is in the area as well. Since your president is in Texas.”
Crow froze.
I heard it, though I didn’t see it. His feet sliding over the gravel came to an abrupt halt. I looked back, and he was watching me. I nodded for him to keep going.
Once he’d gone a few more feet, I answered.
“With all due respect, Señor Estrada, that’s internal Red Demon business, and I’d like it to remain that way.” I hadn’t a clue if he bought what I said. At this point, I was starting not to care. But my spine was itching, and when that happened, I paid attention. I just needed to suss out what was making my spine itch.
As soon as we went our separate ways, with a plan worked out for Marco’s arrival and where to go for the cookout, I called Heckler back.
I’d need any and all Red Demons he could muster up. There was nothing coincidental about Marco Estrada being here. He knew our plans, and because Crow froze the way he did, it made me wonder if he did too.
Heckler picked up after the first ring. “What’s he there for?”
“He knows.” I ignored Heckler’s sigh. “What’s the plan with Prez?”
“He’s here. We’ve got security around him, but until the doc says he can move or he’s in the clear, he’s here. We don’t know anything else. They won’t tell us.”
“I want you here.”
“You sure? Max was just shot.”
Damn. I still needed time to process that.
I shook my head. “Wait until he’s in the clear. I’m moving forward on the belief that he will be, because Maxwell is a stubborn asshole. If he’s going down, it won’t be that way. Once you get the clear, and he’s hidden and safe, come. Send half your men now. The head of the cartel is here.”
“I know. The guys will be on the road in an hour.” He sighed. “They’ll ride all night.”
“I’ll bring everyone up to date here.” Goddamn, that was going to be a bitch to explain.
And fuck, Kali was here too.
I made another call.
Machete picked up, sounding out of breath. “Yeah?”
I did not want to know why he’d be out of breath answering the phone after one ring. “I need you to come back.”
“The sister’s gone already?”
“No. Marco Estrada is in town.”
15
KALI
I’d found Harper and Aly at a local bar that looked like a trendy eatery. The gravel parking lot was filled and there were tables in front, to the side, and behind. The gravel road kept going past to a cute older house behind.
That was nice. If the owners lived there, they could just run over to open up.
Getting in had been a different story.
There was a line out the front door.
I knew they were already inside the bar, so I’d tried a side door. No go. This place had bouncers, so I stepped back, made a call, and Harper came for me.
“We love this town,” he gushed as he guided me to a corner table. “Oh my God. It has everything. Famous people. I recognized two NFL players, and that was just driving around town. Luxury cars. The mansions. OMG! The mansions! They have gates. Have you seen the country club here? A real motherfucking country club, like from the OC.”
Harper rattled off everything they’d seen in the two hours since I’d dropped them at the hotel. Apparently, a power nap did wonders, along with the amount of caffeine and sugar both had inhaled. Also, they still thought I was staying with them. They didn’t know about the motel, but I was going to explain later, after I got Claudia to come back home with me. With us.
We sat down, and Aly joined us a second later, smoothing down her shirt and throwing some hair over her shoulder. She’d been in the bathroom.
She leaned forward, her palms flat on the table and fingers spread. “I’m in love. Love. I’m moving here. I wanted a millionaire farmer? Forget that. I want a millionaire! I’ve gotta meet one here, don’t you think?” A worker walked past, carrying a bin of dirty glasses. She stopped him. “Hey. Are you a millionaire? You single?”
He was tall, with dark hair, attractive. He blinked at her a few times before he grinned. “I’m Brandon, and holy shit do I wish I were a millionaire. Maybe for you, we can pretend I am.” He gave her a once-over with a slight leer that seemed more like a compliment than actually dirty.