by Tillie Cole
I could hear his reluctant footsteps fall into line behind me. And I could also hear my heartbeat echo loudly in my ears.
It was beating way too fast.
Chapter Three
Tanner
“Do not fuck this up for us. We need this deal. If we are to realize the future we’ve worked all these years to make a reality, we need cash. A lot of it. This deal with Quintana can give us that. Do as he says when we’re there. And don’t you fucking dare fuck this up for me.”
My father’s words circled in my head as Adelita Quintana walked ahead of me through the grounds. I gripped my smoke so hard that I crushed the tobacco in my grip. Curling my lip, I threw it to the floor. As Adelita turned a corner, smiling wide at some suited-up guard I could easily snap in two, I told myself to calm the fuck down. Like she’d touched me with fire, I could still feel the touch of her hand on my chest.
Her dress fell to mid-thigh, showing her long legs. Her almost-black hair fell down her back. As if she could hear my thoughts, she turned to look at me over her shoulder and gave me a wide smile, her whore-red painted lips making her look like a cheap slut.
And her smile at me was completely fake, I was sure.
My stomach tightened at the sight of that fucking smile. She thought herself so important. But I knew better. I knew where we all stood in life.
The dick she’d been talking to suddenly got in my path. I stopped dead, towering over the douche with slicked-back black hair and a black suit. He glared at me, then dropped his eyes and ran them down my bare arms. My lip lifted in amusement as he studied each one of my tattoos. That’s right, bitch, I thought. You’re looking at the fucking future.
“Vincente,” Quintana’s daughter said. Her hand went to the dick’s arm. She said something to him in Spanish I didn’t understand. Her nails were long and painted red too. Did this bitch not know how to wear any other color?
The guard stepped back, but not without showing me the gun he was packing in his holster. I gritted my teeth, pissed off at these fuckers even more—if that was possible. Quintana made me give up my guns at the door. Said it would show trust. The cocksucker just wanted to see us submit. I knew the truth. He was scared of us. Scared of what we were capable of.
But my father had made me lose my weapons. Told me we had to choose our battles if we were to win the upcoming race war. Use our enemies until we crush them in the streets.
“Come,” Adelita said to me and waved her hand. She turned down a graveled path that led to a massive garden. There were flowers and bushes everywhere. Hearing footsteps behind me, I looked back. The guard—Vincente—was following us. He kept far enough back that he was out of earshot, but I didn’t like that fucker being anywhere near me.
“So, Tanner Ayers.” Adelita’s heavily accented voice pulled my attention back to her. She smiled at me, but I saw straight through that smile. She disliked me as much as I disliked her.
Good. At least we both knew where we stood.
I couldn’t get my eyes off her. Her lips were too full and her teeth were too white. Her eyelashes were too long and that red lipstick was pissing me the fuck off.
“How are you enjoying my lovely country?” I glared at her, refusing to play her fucking game. Adelita ran her hand over the leaves from a low-hanging tree branch. She smiled wider.
The bitch was enjoying this.
She stopped. So did I. She walked to me and stood her ground—too close to me, again. All I could smell was her shitty perfume—it was too strong, fucking darting up my nose. It smelled of flowers and fruit and other crap that I’d never be able to clear my nose of. Her too-big brown eyes locked on mine. They were so dark you could barely see the pupil. “Cat clawed your lips?” she said and tipped her head to the side.
Annoyance sliced through me. I leaned down, got right in her face. “It’s ‘cat got your tongue.’” Her hair blew past my face and touched the stubble on my cheek. It smelled of coconut. My teeth gritted together. “If you’re gonna try to speak English, get it right.”
“I got it wrong?” Her smile dropped, only for her eyes to spark with something I couldn’t read. She stepped closer. So close that her big tits brushed against my chest. “I’m just a lowly Mexican woman. I no speak English that well.” Her lip twitched, then she resumed walking. Looking over her shoulder, she said, “Come, Tanner Ayers, White Prince of the Ku Klux Klan. We shall continue with the tour.”
I tensed. Her thick accent had dropped; perfect English fell from her lips. My fists balled at my sides when I heard the prick behind us snicker. I started walking, wiping sweat from my head. “Too hot, señor?” Adelita asked.
“I’m Texan. I fucking know heat,” I hissed. Adelita fell into step beside me. My fists clenched tighter at her closeness. The bitch was doing it on purpose to rile me.
Amusement flashed on her face, but she quickly schooled her features. Her daddy had taught her well. She was a good little cartel princess. Not letting her emotions rule her. Not letting her “enemies” best her. “This way, Tanner Ayers. I have more of my country to show you. In fact, I have planned many days for us just like this. I’m sure you’re going to very much enjoy it . . . you will adore Mexico before you leave.”
My hands shook with anger. But I had to play the game for the sake of the cause. Then she’d be sorry. They would all be sorry when we prevailed . . .
I woke, still feeling the heat of that day on my skin, and rubbed my hands over my eyes. I could still feel Adelita standing close to me. Still feel the annoyance in my bones when she stood so close . . . still smell her perfume that I’d never been able to forget, the coconut scent of her hair . . . still see the red of her lips, her long lashes, her brown eyes . . .
The banging on my door ripped me from being lost inside my head. The door opened and Tank stepped through. “Church. The Diablos are here.”
“Why?” I got up from my bed. I slept like shit. I threw on my jeans, a black shirt, and my cut.
“Chavez and Shadow are here. Got some intel on Quintana.” Tank’s face frosted over. “Shadow heard whispers that the fuckers are planning to come at us strong.” I nodded my head. Grabbing the bottle of whiskey off my table, I took a mouthful. “You good?” Tank asked.
I nodded again. Truth was, Tank didn’t know it was Quintana’s daughter I was fucked over, just some cartel princess. I was waiting for him to put together the pieces. Her name being Adelita. The Klan in business with Quintana. It wouldn’t be hard to figure out. Only one person knew the truth—Hush. I fucked up and told him one night. Had too much fucking whiskey and told him. I knew he hated me. I’d wanted to show him I didn’t hate him. That I wasn’t the White Prince no more. I didn’t know if he’d told anyone. Didn’t know if Styx knew.
“You sure?”
I nodded again, then followed Tank to church. As always the place was crammed. I stood at the back, ignoring the few stares that came my way after yesterday’s shitshow. I felt someone come up next to me. Rudge crossed his arms over his chest and smiled. “Alright, mate,” he said, his British accent instantly annoying me. I narrowed my eyes at him. “Slept off the Nazi shit from yesterday?”
“Fuck off, Rudge.”
The room fell quiet as Styx and Ky walked in with Chavez, the president of the Diablos, and Shadow, the ex-Quintana cartel member that got Sia and Cowboy out of Mexico a while back.
Styx sat down; Ky sat beside him. The prez immediately started signing. Ky spoke aloud. “Shadow got word that Quintana is planning on taking us out in a month.” I tensed. The temperature in the room instantly dropped. “A planned attack that’s aimed on sending most of us to Hades.”
“Why a month? Why so far away?” AK asked.
“There’s a wedding,” Ky said, this time speaking for himself. My blood, which had been running hot in my veins, turned to ice. Styx looked to Chavez.
Chavez nodded. “Quintana’s cousin has a daughter. She’s getting married in a few weeks in his estate. After that, the cartel are
moving in. Joining the war.” Chavez nudged his chin to Shadow to take over.
I sagged against the wall in relief. It was Adelita’s cousin. My heart was a fucking bass drum in my chest as it recovered from thinking it was her. Feeling someone’s eyes on me, I looked up. Hush was staring at me from across the room. I quickly looked the fuck away. What the hell had I been thinking, telling him about Adelita? I had no fucking idea. I’d lost my mind.
It’s not Adelita getting hitched, I told myself again. Calm the fuck down. It ain’t her. A surge of pure rage swept through me, lighting me the hell up. She wouldn’t do that to me. I was coming back for her. I’d told her so. Made her a promise.
The thought that she’d go against that . . . that she’d fucking take someone else between her legs—
“Quintana has men coming to Texas. Men who are planning to take y’all out. Specialist men. Men that don’t fail. I don’t know much more than that, but they’re coming after the wedding. And they’re coming in strong. Klan have been flying solo until now . . . That’s all about to change.” I breathed out through my nose, trying to stop the fire that was burning through my veins at the thought that I could have lost her. That, after all the planning and shit it had taken me to get to a place where I’d be able to go get her, bring her the fuck home to me, she’d throw it away by marrying someone else. After I’d left the Klan for her, my damn family, after I’d got into a club that could protect her, keep her safe . . .
It wasn’t her.
Styx raised his hands, his body so tense it looked like he was about to snap. “So we’re going in first.” Energy buzzed through the room like wildfire. Styx’s eyes were hard, the Hangmen Mute in full control. My pulse started racing in my neck. “Those assholes think they can touch us. Touch our fucking bitches and land and unborn kids . . .” He gritted his teeth. “They can think again. We’re gonna own those fuckers. Gonna go in before they come for us.”
“We’re getting leverage,” Ky said. He smiled at each of us, a sadistic fucking smile. “We’re taking the motherfucking bride.”
My racing pulse stilled. Adelita didn’t have many friends or family members—Daddy had kept her locked away out of sight apart from to mix with the locals, win them over so they were always loyal. I didn’t know if she was close to this cousin. I didn’t know if it would hurt Adelita if she was taken. I didn’t know shit.
I closed my eyes and took a long breath. I couldn’t keep doing this. I was a motherfucking Hangman. I knew the cartel, and I knew what Quintana was capable of. That sadistic fucker would kill us. And he’d enjoy doing it. I had to push these feelings away. I had to get on board and figure shit out on the fly like I’d always done.
“Tanner?” I looked up. All eyes were on me. My eyes narrowed as I tried to work out what had been said. Ky was speaking for Styx, the prez’s suspicious gaze locked on me. I’d fucking zoned out. Tank shifted beside me. I knew he’d be wondering what was wrong with me. I was fucking up lately. I knew it.
Styx’s hands moved. “We need you on the Klan’s plans,” Ky said. “Tell us where they’ll be and when. Don’t wanna have to deal with them too. Get word out we’ll be on the road that day. Perfect bait for the Nazis to come hunting us.” I nodded. Styx pointed at Shadow. “Shadow will be covering the cartel side of things.”
“I just gotta get plans of Quintana’s place. I never worked with him. I was one of Garcia’s men, not high enough up to meet the man himself.” Shadow cracked his knuckles, lost in thought. “The wedding is on his property. It’s a fucking fortress. Quintana’s being smart. No fucker would dare infiltrate that place. Even the people who live in the villages around there are loyal to him. He gives them food and clean water, helps them be safe. They’d die to protect him and his family. With the war, it’ll be the best fucking protected place in all of Mexico.”
My lips twitched as I fought a war inside me. I squeezed my eyes shut. Saw Adelita’s face beside me on the pillow. Her perfect brown eyes and lashes and perfect lips . . . her hand holding mine.
“Do you trust me?” I asked.
“Si, mi amor. I trust you with my whole heart.”
“I know the place.” Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes and saw the entire room turning their heads my way. None more so than Styx. I stood off the wall, fucking showing my six-four height and two-hundred-and-fifty-pound weight. “I’ve been there. Stayed there on and off for a few months a few years back.”
“And you just thought to tell us this now?” Ky asked.
“There was no plan to go into his place until now. No mention of going onto Quintana’s turf.” The rage from only a few minutes ago flared inside me. “I was the fucking heir to the Klan. I went with my old man on most things. The fucker didn’t let me in to most of what was happening. But yeah, I’ve been to Quintana’s place. Been to a shit-ton of the Klan’s associates’ places.”
“You know him personally?” Shadow asked.
“A little.” I folded my arms across my chest.
“You knew about the trafficking?” This came from Cowboy. I got it. His bitch was taken.
“No.” My jaw clenched. “My old man kept that shit close to his chest. Seemed he had Meister for that. We were drugs and guns. That and preparing for the race war.” A few snickers followed. I gritted my teeth.
“You can draw up the plans of his estate?” Shadow asked.
I pushed Adelita from my mind, her voice telling me not to betray her papa, to betray her, and nodded. “I can do better than that.” Tanner . . . I heard Adelita’s panicked voice sound in my head. No, mi amor . . . But what the fuck was I meant to do? The cartel was on us if we didn’t strike first. I had to keep her safe. I’d fucking make sure they didn’t harm her cousin. If this meant saving Adelita . . . I’d do it. I’d have to figure out a way of making her understand.
I gotta, princess, I said in my head. For us.
The room was waiting for me to speak. Exhaling, I said, “I can tell you the hidden passages.” Shadow raised his eyebrow in surprise. “Quintana’s place is full of them. They lead out to an exit that isn’t as closely guarded. Of course, it might be on that day. But it’s gonna be the only way you’ll get in and out. If you succeed at all.” My neck ached with the tension in my muscles.
“How do you know these passages so intimately?” Ky asked. I could tell by his face he was trying to work it out. When I caught sight of Styx’s dark expression, I was sure he’d already worked it out.
The room was fucking silent. My head told me to keep my mouth shut. But the time had come. The fucking time had come to speak the truth. I kept Adelita’s face in my mind. “The bitch I fell for . . . the one I left the Klan for . . .” I swallowed back the betrayal I felt, choking my throat. “It was Adelita . . . Adelita Quintana. Alfonso Quintana’s daughter.”
I tilted my chin and met Styx’s eyes straight on. I wouldn’t be ashamed. I owned that bitch.
“Shit,” Tank hissed. I turned to Tank to see shock on his face. Shock and then sympathy. “Tann . . .” He would understand. He would understand why it was as fucked-up a situation as a Klansman could get himself into.
Before anyone could speak, I said, “She doesn’t have anything to do with the cartel life. Her old man keeps her the fuck out of the business. She isn’t a threat to us. To anyone. She’s just caught up in the shitshow.” Tank put his hand on my arm, silently telling to shut the fuck up.
“She know you’re with us now?” AK asked, eyes narrowed.
I shrugged. “Don’t know. Don’t know what she knows anymore.” I rocked on my feet. “She’s young. Only twenty-two. Sheltered. She’ll have no fucking idea of the danger she’s in.” My stomach tightened at that fact.
“Nice!” Vike said. “Younger woman. Tighter pussy. I get ya, man. Good choice.” The fucker winked.
“We’re at war with your family. And now your old lady,” Ky said, trailing off. He met my eyes, a question hanging in the air.
“Fuck my family,” I spat. “They ca
n all have their throats slit for all I care.”
“And the bitch?” Bull asked.
“I’m a Hangman. I won’t jeopardize that. Take the fucking cousin. I don’t care.” I was sure the brothers heard the bullshit in my voice. Because nothing or no one was hurting Adelita. I just had to think of a fucking plan. Something to keep her safe. Someway to get her out and make her understand everything I’ve done. “But at some point, I’m getting her. I’m getting her the fuck out of Mexico and having her by my side.”
Styx looked at me. I dared him—any of them—to argue. But he just pointed at Shadow. “You get him the plans. Make sure they’re right.” Styx looked around the room, focusing on some of the brothers. “AK, Smiler, you’re going.” They nodded, excitement sparking in their eyes. “Crow, you too.” Crow smiled wide and bowed his head once. “Need someone to discreetly take out as many of these fuckers as possible.” Styx looked at Edge. “You go too.”
“Say no more,” Edge replied.
“We plan for this. We plan fucking hard. And we don’t fail. We’ve got too much to lose. We take one of theirs, we can negotiate. We don’t get leverage? We all stand a chance of going to the boatman.” Styx slammed the gavel down, and the brothers started leaving the room.
As I went to leave, Tank pulled me back. When the room was empty, he said, “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?”
I pulled my arm back from him. “I had to keep her safe.”
Tank was pissed. I saw it in his eyes. “You still could’ve told me. We could’ve told Styx and Ky together. Figured something out. Planned to get her out.” He shook his head. “You know how that looked, just dropping a bomb like that? Quintana’s daughter, Tann?” I didn’t speak. Tank stepped closer to me. “It made you look guilty of something.”
“I don’t give a fuck.” Tank ran his hands down his face. “Never thought we’d go to war with Quintana. Never thought Adelita would ever be on the Hangmen radar. But here we fucking are. And I still intend to get her back. When this shit is all over. I’m getting her back. That’ll never change.” I didn’t wanna talk anymore. I was fucking done. “I need a smoke.”