Everything in my life is going so well. On the business end and personally.
“How many brothers came with you?” I ask while I wrap my arms around him. I pull away as he answers and look into his eyes.
“Chains, Fury and your brothers.”
“No one else came?” I question, feeling my smile fall from my face.
“No, kid. He didn’t come.” Tears threaten to fall and I can’t help it . . . but feel the sadness that washes over me. Even though he ran from our hotel room like it was on fire, I still love him. I love Inc, and I always will. I only wish things could’ve been different.
“Are we clear to come in now?” Troy asks, and I completely missed the fact dad said brothers and not brother.
The door opens and I see my two idiot brothers. One who I want to smack most of the time, and the other who, well, who I have some work to do with. Xander is dressed up as a giant dick, while Troy is the poo emoji . . . which is weird.
“I know why Xander’s a dick, but what’re you?”
Xander chuckles from behind Troy, “The party pooper.”
I chuckle, smiling more than I ever have before. Even though I don’t have everyone I love here with me today, I’m going to make the damn best of it.
Authors Note:
My lovely readers,
I’m typing this as I just finished the last words on this book. If you’re anything like my beta team, you’re begging for more because there’s so much unfinished business.
I can’t even disagree. There really is so much unfinished business that I couldn’t pack it into one book.
So, I hope you’re ready for this surprise.
There will be more of Zane, Octavia, and Inc later this year. I already have some other projects up for pre-order, so I’m hoping for a late fall or early winter release. AKA, October-December.
You’ll be getting your first ever MMF book from me. You’ll learn so much more about Inc’s past, plus O’s business and Zane’s thoughts on this all.
Inc (Raiders MC #1) will be coming this year!!!!
I love you all so much and thank you for supporting me on this wild ride.
Coming Soon: Call My Bluff
Call My Bluff will be in limited publication for 6 months.
Grab it Here: https://amzn.to/2WpLmp9
Coming Soon: Surrender
Grab it Here: https://amzn.to/2xzvOXt
Coming Soon: Amara
Grab it Here: https://amzn.to/35x1fy6
Coming Soon: Flawed
Grab it Here: https://amzn.to/2SxjmhV
Coming in 2021: Twisted Steel Second Edition
Pre-Order Here: https://books2read.com/u/3yEnIn
Coming in 2021: The Elites
Get it Here: https://books2read.com/u/bovnyL
Amara
Reapers MC Book 12
Playlist
Why Don’t You and I — Santana & Chad Kroeger
Joke’s On You — Charlotte Lawrence
Young & Sad — Noah Cyrus
Heartless — Julia Michaels & Diplo
Ghost — Noah Cyrus
Bitter — Fletcher & Kito
Live or Die — Noah Cyrus & Lil Xan
Team — Noah Cyrus & MAX
Again (Acoustic Version) — Noah Cyrus
Back to you (Feat. Kiiara) — Ekali
Sad Together — Olivia O’Brien
Broken Glass — Kygo & Kim Petras
Praying for Me — Chloe Mk
Phobia — Savannah Sgro
Killing Me Slowly — Bad Wolves
I’m Sorry — Diamante
Acknowledgments
My Alpha Team: Courtnay, E.C., Jai, Chas, Tania, Janet, Taneesha, Kim, Isabelle, Heidi, Cynthia, Jojo, Vikki, & Lisa— I really relied on you all so much during this book. When I was nearing the end I grew so uncertain, but y’all reminded me how this was perfect for Amara, and I appreciate your support more than I can ever put into words.
My Cover Designer, Clarise— You’re a beast. You made me fall in love with our glitter effect for the women in the club. I can’t freaking wait to do more of this.
My Blogger Team— I say this every time, but thank you so very much for believing in me. Thank you for constantly helping me promote my work. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.
My Editor, Kim and Proofreader, Jackie— We’re really rocking this entire process when it comes to editing. Thank you both so much for helping me make sure my books don’t have nearly as much mistakes as they do before they release. Lord knows I miss some pretty basic stuff every now and again.
Gloria— Thank you for going through this entire manuscript to help me ensure the Spanish was absolutely correct.
Heidi— Thank you for reading Amara the night before I was finished. I needed someone who wasn’t part of my alpha team to go through and give me their input as well. It’s because of y’all that I think this book will be one of the best.
Rae B. Lake, E.C. Land, April Canavan, Jen L. Grey, and Iris Sweetwater— Thank you all for your friendship and support. I’ve known some of you for years, and others for only a few months. Regardless of the time we’ve known one another, I consider you all to be amongst my closest friends. Thank you all for being here in the moments where I need you the most. I love y’all dearly.
To the ones who make mistakes.
Just kidding. We all make mistakes because we’re human.
If someone ever tries to make you feel imperfect in any way, accept it, but don’t let it tear you down. None of us are perfect. Not one of us.
Life is about making mistakes and learning from them. This is the sole reason I wrote Amara’s story, because she was either very loved or very hated. She is just as human as you and I are in our decision making.
You are worthy of redemption, even if people say you aren’t.
If you’re doubting that right now, I hope this book will change your mind.
‘Cause I wrote this book for you.
Glossary/Definitions
Capos— highest position of the drug cartel.
Tenientes— second highest position of the cartel.
Sicarios— armed group within the cartel.
Halcones— eyes and ears of the streets.
Prologue
Even the Devil was once an angel.
~ Unknown
Amara
One Year Ago . . .
My back burns from the nape down to my lumbar. Lucien dragging me against the floor pulled my shirt up, but the rough flooring scraped against my skin. Even now I know it’s only the first of many wounds I’ll have, thanks to the man who took me.
I’m on my back, unable to move an inch. Hell, I can’t even move my fucking hand. He jabbed a syringe filled with something in my arm after he slapped me around back at the warehouse. I had managed to stand up, but sadly it didn’t do me any good. I fought as much as I could given the zip ties restraining me. If they hadn’t been on I’m sure I would’ve had a chance. Within a moment of injecting the liquid it was like my body became dead weight, and I staggered to the ground.
When he saw I was down for the count, Lucien was sneering down at me, mocking the fact I couldn’t move an inch. He made it a point to tell me exactly what he’d be doing, carting my body across the border to Mexico which leads me to my current predicament.
I’m in the trunk of a sedan. I’m not sure of the make or model, but I was shoved underneath where the tire usually is. It’s typically carved out specifically for the tire, but not this time. It was almost molded for a human body.
Lucien tossed my body in the alloted area, fastened the liner over me and locked it somehow. Now I’m hearing Santana’s albums play on repeat, blasting through his radio. It’s so loud I can barely even think.
I’ve tried to hum, to speak, though nothing I’m trying is working. In my head I’ve been counting the seconds I’ve been in the back of this car. I’ve just counted to 4,325, which translates to a little over 72 minutes. Over an hour into this t
rip and depending on his route we could be there in five hours or eight. I have no idea which way he’s using to get across the border.
Counting might be useless, yet I know it’s the only thing assisting in helping keep my sanity. I can hope and pray the brothers will come for me, but with the way I pissed Damon off he might just say fuck it. I’m his sister, but . . . I really know how to push the man’s buttons.
If they do try to find me I don’t know where they’d start. It’s not like our father was close with his family, the Ramírezes. As a precaution most members of the Cartel had a GPS tracking chip inserted in their forearm somewhere. I know my uncle Alejandro had one inserted, yet my uncle Rafael had his cut out if I remember the story correctly. My father is Roman Raines, the half-brother to the Ramírez familia.
We were never too involved with our uncles, although my father was particular in that decision. He ended up admitting he didn’t want us around our uncle Rafael, but it’s only because he was the most corrupt and vile man on the planet. Thankfully, he met his maker a couple years ago. I have no doubt the world is a much better place with his passing.
I’m trying so desperately to think of anything to keep my mind focused. I don’t want to feel the beads of sweat on my forehead, the heaviness in my chest that somehow slowly crawls up my throat and makes me feel like I’m choking. To be honest, I’m terrified because I have no control of the situation at hand.
I can’t even open my mouth to speak, or clear my throat. I’m here, but I’m not here. I don’t know the woman taking control of my mind right now. Actually, that’s a lie. I haven’t seen this woman in years, since I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life that cost me so much. I lost my best friend because I was stricken with fear and sought comfort in the wrong person’s arms.
I’m not a good person, in fact, I’m the one people don’t want to be around. No one makes a choice to put themselves in the position to be in my company, and I can’t blame them. I’m the bitch. I’m the cruel one. I’m so many things rolled into one, but I’ve accepted it. I’ve accepted my fate because my decisions are what brought me here.
Maybe this is my penance for the things I’ve done. I could try to list them from worst to the most miniscule of my mistakes, but I know what’s put me here. I was the other woman. I was the one who tore a family apart, not knowing it at the time.
Sometimes before I drift off to sleep I wonder if I kept Widow and Melody apart. Internally, I debate on whether or not they would’ve been together, or if their break-up was inevitable. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter, because I was the one who ruined it. I suppose I’m good at fucking things up.
If they don’t come for me, I wouldn’t blame them. How could I? Not with everything I’ve done.
I hurt far too many people and I’ll continue to be a black cloud on others’ lives for the rest of my life— no matter if I have three hours or three years.
No matter what happens, I need to make peace with it.
I’m Amara Raines, and I’m no angel.
Chapter One
Choke them on the ashes of the dreams they burned
~ Unknown
Dante
Present Day . . .
“Hard to believe it’s Independence Day, no?” Gia slurrs, stalking towards me. She’s on her third or fourth drink. To be honest, I’ve lost count.
“No, I simply pay attention to the calendar. Unlike you.” I retort.
“Oh stop being a party pooper, hermano.” Gia whines, switching from our second language to our native tongue.
“I’m not, simply being accurate.” I attempt to poke the bear, making my way toward the balcony of the new home I’ve purchased here in Chihuahua. Our father had acquired a home here a couple years ago, then underwent the legal ways to make it his and sold it for an incredible profit. Though, he resides in Mexico City and wants a liaison here. I offered to stay behind and so I’ve purchased this lovely abode.
My younger sister Gia lives in Las Vegas most of the time because she’s the owner of a multi-million dollar company called Crave, LLC. She owns it with a few of her close friends. That being said, she isn’t one to discuss familia business.
“Why do you always have to be a dick whenever I come to visit you, hmm?”
I turn to face her head on and cock a brow. “You don’t come here to visit me. You only want the free drinks down in the city!” I hiss.
My dear sister and I were so close growing up, but over the last ten years or so we’ve both lost touch. It was my fault. Ten years ago I decided to support my father in his cause to get Rafael Ramírez out of the Capo seat. He was the corrupt individual in charge of leading the entire industry. Thankfully, he’s been removed from his duties for a couple years now. We had some help with a few allies and were successful. Now my father has gone above and beyond to right the wrongs of his predecessor.
Now don’t get me wrong. We’re not angels. We’re very much involved in drugs, murder, and much more . . . however, we don’t cross lines unless we have to. Rafael would slaughter children in front of their parents for fun. He didn’t give a flying fuck what he did, and faced no repercussions for it.
There’s only one reason a man like that is successful in keeping their power— he strikes so much fear into everyone under his reign that they never doubt him. They never have the courage to rise up against him.
My familia does things differently. While my father isn’t a man to fuck with, he will instill fear and respect into his subjects. My father is the leader of the Mexican Cartel, however, everyone believes our cousin Eduardo Lopez is running things while my father runs for governor of Mexico City. His goal is to become the President of Mexico and after his term is up, put someone within the Cartel in higher positions of the government. It’s a good plan considering it’ll take many of our problems away.
My cousins, Eduardo, Juan and Daniel as well as myself are my father’s highest level Capos. We have other Capos in charge of other territories of Mexico, however we don’t hold the same amount of trust in them. We make up the inner circle so to speak. My father and Eduardo have been doing a great job at their charade, but all good things must come to an end eventually.
“Alright, but I do come to see you too. I may live in Las Vegas but it doesn’t mean I can frolic around and do whatever I want. I work, and I work hard.” Gia explains. She must know how proud I am of her for paving her own way in life. She didn’t take a hand out from our father, when most mafia princesas would.
“I know you do, Gia. I know.” I confess, wrapping my arms around the bull-headed brat. I hold her close, showing her some sort of affection. As children we hardly got a hug or a kiss. I can’t even count the times our parents expressed their love to us, because there weren’t any.
“I don’t complain about the amount I work very often, but I’m growing so tired of the way I’ve lived my life. I’m twenty-eight and . . . I’m nowhere near anyone else my age.” She explains, speaking into my chest.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask as I break our embrace and take a seat on one of the lounge chairs. Gia takes a seat in the one beside me.
“Most women my age are finding their prince charming, having babies, doing all of that domestic shit.”
I crane my neck, knowing I’ve had this conversation with her at least once before. “Gia,” I pause for a moment, needing to think of the right way to say this. Otherwise I’ll come off as a dick. “You aren’t a normal woman, and you don’t live an ordinary life. You’re a mafia princesa. You’re the daughter of Francisco Lopez, ruler of the Mexican Cartel. Hell, you own a company that literally sells sex.”
“We don’t sell sex.” Again, she shuts me down. She can keep saying she doesn’t, but we all know the truth.
I pick up the glass of tequila I set on the table between the chairs a while ago. The heat from this day has melted the ice and I’m positive my drink is now a watered down version of the strong liquor I prefer. After looking at it for a moment,
I decide to down the rest of the drink. I’m not a man who has many pet peeves, but watered down alcohol is one of them. “You do, Gia. You own clubs where your members come to have sex. You have that weird online chat platform, and what’s the other thing you offer . . . rent-a-girlfriend?” Now I’m enjoying fucking with her, especially as her face flushes bright red like our mother’s did when she was alive.
“It’s . . . dios mio! You’re doing this on purpose. Aren’t you? Culo!” She stands up suddenly and splashes her drink straight in my face.
I blink a couple of times, taken aback, but I have the perfect comment to throw her over the edge. “Watching telenovelas to get ideas again?”
As dramatically as I saw in my head she opens her mouth widely, looking as pissed as a raging bull. “You are just as bad as father! I don’t even know why I try with you!”
She’s barely finished berating me when my alarm system beeps, signaling someone’s just walked onto my property. Gia draws her eyes together. “Are you expecting someone?”
Sliding my arm from under my chair, I pull out my custom made gold plated Colt and pull back my safety. I shake my head, while instructing her. “No, only you. There’s another hidden behind the plant. Go fetch it.”
Mayhem: A Reapers MC Boxset Page 30