Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
“Agent Stiles is outside and wants to talk to the girls from the bakery.”
“Let her in,” Ace instructs and waves at the other bar girls to disappear.
Agent Stiles walks in and looks around, but she’s not interested in the pool tables and dart boards. She’s taking stock of the MC as a whole, trying to figure out what she doesn’t know about us. Finally, she says, “Willow Martinez.”
Willow pulls away from me and turns to face the federal agent. “Th…that’s me. Am I going to jail?” I pull her against my chest for comfort, for her, and for me.
“No,” the woman sighs and motions for Willow to sit. “You’re not going to jail. Based on what we’ve investigated so far, it’s a clear-cut case of self-defense.”
Ace steps up beside me with a scowl on his face. “So, what’s the problem?”
“The problem is that the man you killed, Alejandro Moreno, is married to Arturo Rojas’ only daughter, Valentina. A man like Rojas takes that very seriously.” She keeps her gaze on Willow even though she’s talking to Ace.
Willow nods and buries her face in her hands. “I’m totally dead, right?”
Agent Stiles, to her credit, at least looks unhappy to confirm Willow’s suspicions. “The Organized Crime division has confirmed that there’s a green light on you, Willow.”
Willow crumbles against the table, sobbing so hard the table starts to wobble. For a few long seconds, the clubhouse is silent except for the sound of Willow crying with her whole fucking soul, and it’s tearing me apart.
I lift her in my arms and take her seat, holding her as close as I can and whispering that she will be all right. “I’m not going to let shit happen to you, Willow, I promise.”
“You’re safe,” Ace assures her in that deep, firm tone that stops even Willow from arguing. Then he turns to Stiles. “Do you know how many cartel members are on this side of the border right now?”
“Not yet, but I do know that Alejandro worked with a small team, probably how they got a name on your girl so quickly.”
I look back at Ace, who nods at Wild Man to start digging into those assholes. “Thanks, Agent Stiles.”
She pushes away from the table. “No problem. I’m sorry this all happened to you, Ms. Martinez. I shouldn’t say it, but thank you for giving us one less bad guy to worry about.” She taps on the table and walks out without another word, another question, or even another look around.
As soon as Stiles leaves, Willow removes herself from my lap, wiping her eyes and shaking her head like a mad woman. “I should get outta here. If I stick around, everyone’s in danger.”
“We’ll take care of this,” I tell her and reach for her.
Willow pulls back, still shaking her head. “No. I can’t stay and put all these people I care about at risk. I’ve messed with a fucking cartel. Do you know what cartels do? They’ll burn Angel Harbor to the ground to get to me.” She swipes away more tears, her jaw clenched tight, and I know she believes this bullshit.
“You’re not wrong, Willow.” Ace’s booming voice cuts through her tears, but his words piss me off. “We are in the crosshairs of these assholes now for different reasons, but that doesn’t matter. You’re staying here.”
“Ace,” she moans. “Be reasonable.”
“I am being reasonable, Willow. You have to stay here because we simply don’t have the manpower to keep an eye on you while you go on the run or to keep you in a safe house away from everyone else. If you go, Joaquin will go after you, and I can’t have that right now. You’re staying.”
I can tell she wants to argue, but then her gaze bounces from me to Ace, and his words settle in. The MC needs me, and she knows that.
“I need you,” I mouth to her when she looks at me again. “Don’t make me chase you, Willow.”
She nods and looks around the room. “I would never do anything to put you guys at risk.”
“I know,” Ace tells her with a smile. “So keep your ass parked inside this fucking clubhouse until I tell you differently. Got it?”
She nods.
“Good. Come on, guys. We have business to discuss.” Ace nods and turns away so we can work out our next moves in the sanctuary.
I stand face to face with Willow. “Stay. Right. Here.”
She flashes a small smile and rolls her eyes.
“Joaquin,” she sighs and grabs my face. “Be careful.” She slips her tongue across my lips, slowly back and forth, before I open them and let her in. It’s a hot as fuck kiss, incredible and intense. Though it feels never-ending, I know what she’s doing.
She’s saying goodbye.
Well, fuck that shit. I pull back and kiss her cheek to her ear, whispering, “I love you, Willow. If you run, I will find you.”