Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Lovely to meet you,” Mom says, giving the woman a two cheek kiss out of respect.
“I didn’t hear anything about a funeral,” Dad says, making conversation.
“Dad didn’t want one. He’ll be cremated and brought back to Mexico with me.”
“How long are you in town for?” Mom asks. “We would love to have you over for dinner.” The truth is, my parents would like nothing less, but while we own the majority of Tesoro, the Gutierrezes run the underworld, and their family is not one to be fucked with. We’ve been coexisting for decades because our families go way back, but they’re sleazy and dirty, and with their prostitution and trafficking rings, they make us look like boy scouts.
“Hopefully, not too long,” Arielle says with a strong Spanish accent, pouting at Eleazar.
Eleazar visibly glares at his wife then smiles at my mom. “Thank you for the invite. Can I let you know? I have a few loose ends to tie up that will need my attention. You know how it is…” He glances at Dad. “Business before pleasure.”
“All too well,” Dad agrees.
“It’s an open invitation,” Mom adds.
After a few more minutes of chatting, Eleazar and Arielle say goodbye and we sit back down. I was hoping with the interruption my mom wouldn’t remember the topic of conversation, but when her eyes meet mine and she says, “Now tell me about this dancer,” I know I’m not in luck.
Lincoln
stalker: a person who harasses or persecutes someone with unwanted and obsessive attention.
Lincoln
an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person’s mind.
Lincoln
“If you send me one more stupid fucking text, I’m going to shoot you.” I glare up at my brother from my phone.
“Just figured I’d lay it all out for you.” He smirks. “Did you click on the handbook? I highlighted the important parts.”
I reach out and grab the marble coaster on his coffee table and chuck it at him. He ducks and it hits the wall behind him.
“Jesus, fuck!” he barks. “You could’ve taken my head off with that thing.”
“Consider that your warning.”
“So much anger,” he mutters. “Maybe if you got laid…”
“How about you worry about your own damn—”
My words are cut off when I see a certain brunette pass by the office, heading in the direction of the back door.
I hop up to follow her out and Lincoln chuckles. “Careful, you’re quickly crossing from obsessing to stalking. Might want to read those definitions I sent you.”
I give him a one finger response to his asinine remark as I head out the backdoor so I can talk to Sienna about the bullshit text she sent me the other night. I could’ve texted her back, but I figured it would be best to discuss it in person.
When I swing the door open and glance around, I spot her piece of shit car but not her. My eyes trail the area, knowing damn well I saw her come out here, when a noise catches my attention.
The first thing I notice is two guys, dressed in all black, standing with their backs to me, facing the brick wall. Even from behind, I can tell neither work for us, which immediately has me on alert. But what has me pulling out my gun is the fact that they’re not just staring at the wall, they’re actually cornering someone—and the flash of silver sequins confirms that the person they’re cornering is Sienna.
With my gun in one hand and my cell phone in the other, I quickly shoot a one-handed 911 text to Lincoln. He’ll know from those digits that he needs to get his ass out here immediately and bring backup.
“Back the fuck up,” I say in a low voice.
The guys spin around, and I instantly memorize their features—black hair, black eyes, light skin, tattoos covering both their arms.
“This ain’t your business,” one guy says, his accent thick.
I raise my gun and point it at him. “Do you know whose property you’re on?”
“We just need the girl,” the other guy says, avoiding my question.
“The girl is on our property,” Lincoln says, joining me, along with Rex and Oscar. “That makes her ours. Which means, if you’re trying to take her, you’re taking from us.”
“I’m gonna ask you again,” I say. “Do you know whose property you’re on?”
“Like I said…” the first guy starts to say, but before he can finish his sentence, I stalk over to him and raise my gun to his forehead.
His friend curses under his breath while he swallows thickly, lifting his hands up in surrender.
“Hellcat,” I toss out, my eyes never leaving these assholes. “Go with Oscar inside.”
Sienna scrambles around us and runs inside. Once I know she’s safe, I nod toward the two guys. “Check them.”
Rex does as I say, removing a knife from one guy and a gun from the other. He pulls out their wallets and reads their names out loud.