Undone

by Brook Wilder

“We take Herrera instead. He’s going into the guest house to sleep off his shift. And he’s unprotected.” Noah was still whispering, but his tone was excited. “He’ll know all of Ruiz’s secrets?”

  “Let’s hope so,” I grunted. “Because I want to disembowel Ruiz. Very slowly.”

  “Get in line,” Mason muttered. “You go with Noah and get him out. We’ll get set up to take him away. And don’t be afraid to use violence. Herrera is a martial artist, so he’s going to put up a fight.”

  I put my hand to my gun. “He won’t fight once I’m done with him.”

  “Well, I don’t want to take that chance.” Noah knocked his fist on my shoulder. “Let’s go. Follow me.”

  We skirted the perimeter of the grounds until we reached a thicket of trees. Noah ducked into them, and I quickly followed. We ran silently through the trees, coming out on the edge of the yard to the guest house. There was a light on up on the second floor, right above us. Then it went out. Noah touched my arm and pointed towards the back. I signed the all-clear and he crept towards the back door. There was no one around, just a small light on over the door.

  I tried the door, and it opened without issue. It hadn’t been locked. Drawing my gun, I stepped inside into what could only be the kitchen. For a kitchen, the place was spotless. Almost like there was nobody living there. The only signs of life were the magazines on the kitchen table.

  I headed into the living room, which showed several ashtrays with cigarette butts littering them. Beer bottles were on the coffee table, and a tray of something I couldn’t recognize in the dark on the edge. It was dotted with powder.

  Moving through the lounge and finding no one, I entered the hall and found Noah coming out of a room opposite. Noah held a finger to his lips and pointed towards the stairs, telling me that he was going first. I bit back a scowl and nodded. I wanted to go first, but I was worried that if I did, I wouldn’t be able to hold myself back. Noah was the steadier hand right now. He was thinking clearly.

  I wished I could go back to that. It felt like a long time ago since I had been able to think clearly.

  Noah padded up the stairs first, I following close behind. Between us, we methodically checked all the other rooms. There was no one in there, just Herrera in his room at the end of the hall. There was the sound of gentle snoring coming through the partially-open door.

  Noah went in first, while I hanged back at the doorway. I saw Herrera in a bed, shirtless, with the duvet down around his waist. Already dead to the world, his snoring was significantly louder. Noah reached the bed and pressed his gun into Herrera’s jaw.

  “Rise and shine, Carlos.”

  It was like a switch had been thrown. Herrera grabbed at the gun, tugged Noah towards him and punched him in the face. Then he swiveled around and kicked Noah in the stomach. Noah let out a cry and stumbled back against the wall. Goddamn it, Noah!

  Herrera sprang from his bed, and then he caught sight of me. Even in just his boxers, he looked very formidable.

  I pointed my gun at his face. “Don’t even think about it.”

  Herrera hesitated, but then he raised Noah’s gun at my face. I dropped to one knee and fired. Herrera’s knee exploded, and he dropped with a scream, clutching at his knee as he rolled around. I scrambled over and grabbed at the gun, hurrying over to Noah.

  “You okay?”

  “I’m fine. Just a bit winded.” Noah grimaced as he stood, rubbing at his belly. “Let’s get him out of here before they come to see what the noise was about. We must have raised the dead.”

  I was in mind to say I was staying. I was spoiling for a fight. But I bit my tongue and reached for the pillow, taking off the pillowslip.

  Chapter Twenty Five

  Diesel

  Carlos Herrera was a stubborn bugger. Even with his knee shot to pieces, almost naked and tied up, being submitted to several torture techniques, he refused to say a word about the cartel, except to taunt me, which just pissed me off even more. The bastard wouldn’t give in, and normally I had prisoners talking very quickly.

  We had managed to get him back to my house, as the best place for an interrogation, and stuck him in the basement. Somehow, we hadn’t managed to wake up Amber, who had gone back to sleep, and the walls were very thick below the house. She wouldn’t be able to hear anything. I didn’t want her interfering.

  I spent the rest of the night trying to get Herrera to give me something. And Herrera simply toyed with me. I wanted to go for my gun several times, but that would have meant nothing. We needed Herrera alive, for now.

  It was shortly before eight the next morning when I, exhausted and craving something to drink, left the basement and went upstairs to the washroom. My hands were stained with Herrera’s blood, and I was covered in sweat. Stripping off my t-shirt, I tossed it into the washing machine before washing my hands. The blood trickled down my fingers and into the basin. The room was starting to spin a little.

  I needed sleep. And a lot of it. But I wasn’t about to rest until Herrera had given me what I wanted.

  “How’s it going?”

  I spun around. I had forgotten that Noah had stayed behind, planning to take over once I had exhausted everything. Noah stood in the doorway to the washroom, a spare t-shirt in his hand. I took it and shrugged it on.

  “Fucker’s stubborn,” I grumbled, tugging my head through the neck hole. “He seems to be enjoying himself.”

  “I’m not surprised.” Noah said. “From what I could find about him, he’s ex-Mexican Marine. Three tours fighting the cartels before joining them. He’d be able to withstand this.”

  I growled. “I wish you’d told me before. Now we’re going to have to change how we do things.”

  “Well, while I sort that out, you’d better go and see to your guest.”

  “Guest?”

  Noah nodded towards the front door.

  “I saw Fiona’s car coming down the drive. She said at the intercom you were expecting her.”

  I had almost forgotten about Fiona. I had called her on the way back home, and Fiona had promised to come over the next day. Sighing, I stepped past Noah and headed towards the front door.

  A tall buxom woman, wearing a dark-blue tunic and matching trousers, was getting out of a little Ford Fiesta. Her auburn hair was cut short in a pixie style, curling about the nape of her neck. Freckles dotted across her face, and her blue eyes sparkled. She smiled as she approached me.

  “Hey, Diesel.”

  “Fiona.” I hugged her. “Thanks for coming.”

  “Of course. I always will.” Fiona drew back and raised her eyebrows. “Although I’m a little surprised that it’s you who’s becoming a dad. I never thought I’d see it happen.”

  “I’m full of surprises.” I grunted. “Amber’s in my bedroom. Upstairs, second door on the left. I don’t know if she’s awake yet.”

  “That’s okay. It’ll give me time to bring my things in.” Fiona folded her arms. “How far along is she?”

  “We’re not sure. Can’t be out of the first trimester yet.” I felt a twist of nerves in my gut, and I pushed itaway. “She’s been having twinges the last couple of days, so Amber wants to know things are going to be okay.”

  Fiona’s smile faded, her eyes growing concerned. She nodded.

  “It shouldn’t be anything, but I’ll do my best. I’ve got what I need to do an ultrasound, but this should be done in a hospital.”

  I was shaking my head almost before she had finished speaking.

  “No. No hospitals. Not with everything going on right now. Amber needs to be kept safe, and I can’t guarantee it in a hospital.”

  From the look on Fiona’s face, she wanted to argue. But she thought better of it and took a deep breath.

  “Okay. I’ll do what I can. Just don’t blame me if anything happens.”

  “I’m not planning to.”

  Fiona grunted and headed into the house. I followed her, pointing towards the stairs.

  “You just go up
there and…”

  My voice was drowned out when a loud scream emanated through the house. It was coming from the direction of the basement. Then I saw that the door was partially open. Goddamn it Noah.

  “What the…?” Fiona started, but I hurried over and shut the door.

  “Don’t ask. It’s best you don’t know.”

  I knew Fiona had found out a lot about the bikers, but she had turned a blind eye. It was best she didn’t know the true extent of what went on. Fiona shook her head in slight wonder.

  “I sometimes wonder why I do this for the Ghost Riders.”

  “Because you love Mason.”

  “Sadly. My cousin is very persuasive.”

  I chuckled. “That I do know.” I nodded towards the stairs. “You go on up.”

  Fiona went up the stairs, and I ducked through the basement door, shutting it quickly behind me. There was silence now, almost eerily silent. Then I heard low voices, Herrera’s switching between English and Spanish. Noah’s voice was even, calm. Just hearing him like that was unnerving. Noah had been a tough, ruthless man before he had gone to prison, but something had changed him. He was different, more dangerous. And certainly more protective.

  I reached the door as it opened, and Noah came out into the hall. The front of his shirt was soaking wet, as were his jeans. His hair was plastered to his head, Noah wiping water away with a bandanna. But his eyes were shining.

  “We’ve got something.”

  I cocked an eyebrow. “Really? The best things always happen when I’m not there.”

  “Herrera says Ruiz has made a deal with Torchev to transfer some heavy weaponry. The cartel has the weapons, and Torchev will pay for them. In bulk.”

  Now this was something. I pricked up my ears. “How much weaponry?”

  “Just a lot, and heavy-style, according to Herrera.”

  “And what does he know about Khloe’s business deal?”

  Noah sighed. “Ruiz is changing the deal right now to accommodate. Apparently, he’s working very closely with Khloe. Torchev isn’t going to be happy about it, but as long as he gets the girls he wants among the ones Khloe sells to him, he should be happy.”

  “There’s a specific girl he wants?”

  “Yes. I couldn’t get who it was out of him, but Herrera says he’ll give us information on where the cartel will be before the Russians meet up with them. The only condition was we stopped trying to drown him.”

  At least something was working. I yawned loudly and rubbed at my eyes. Maybe we could finally get some sleep after all this war. I was looking forward to spending time in bed, preferably with Amber. Hopefully, things would be a lot quieter. I was startled to realize I was getting too old for this.

  “If we can get those weapons, we would have heavier artillery.”

  “And it would show the cartel to be unreliable to the Russians if they can’t deliver the goods.” Noah added. “That should work in our favor.”

  “So, who’s going to tell Mason about all this?”

  “I’ll call Mason.” Noah shut the door and locked it, hanging the key on the hook by the door. “You check on Amber. She needs you now.”

  I grunted. “You think I don’t know that? And why do you keep pushing me towards her?”

  Noah’s response was a sad smile.

  “I missed the chance to be there for Hunter and see his milestones. I wasn’t there when he was born. You don’t want to miss that, trust me.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that.

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Amber

  Fiona sat back and picked up her notebook, which she scribbled in as Amber sat up and tugged her sweatshirt down.

  “Okay, sweetie, everything’s looking good. From the dates you gave me and from the ultrasound, I’d say you’re about seven-to-eight weeks along.”

  “Eight weeks?” I murmured. My hand drifted to my belly as I stared in wonder. “Wow!”

  “Is it still sinking in?”

  I nodded slowly. “Now you’ve told me there really is a baby in there, it is.”

  And the ultrasound. I had almost burst into tears when I saw the little body-mass in my womb, and heard the heartbeat when Fiona put the heart monitor on my tummy. It was surreal. Seeing the positive test in my hand was one thing, but to have it confirmed was something else. Now I could really believe I was about to become a mother.

  At least that was some good news. I had spent most of the night awake and pacing around, waiting to see if Diesel would come back. He hadn’t said when he could be back, and I had worried the whole time he was away. Finally, exhaustion had taken over and I fell into a fitful sleep on the couch with the TV still blaring.

  It wasn’t until Noah gently shook me awake that I realized Diesel was back. I wanted to see him, make sure he still had all his limbs, but Noah urged me to get to bed and rest. He was very persuasive about it, and I was too tired to argue. I allowed him to take me through and up to Diesel’s bedroom, tucking me in like a child. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had tucked me into bed.

  The Ghost Riders confused me. They were ruthless, occasionally heartless, and sometimes straight-up criminals. But there was also a softer, tender side to them that barely anyone got to see. I had seen it, and I found it endearing as well as unnerving. Criminals having a softer side? I didn’t think it was possible, not after growing up around heartless bastards.

  But Diesel was a good man. Deep down, underneath his gruff exterior and his heavy-handed way, there was a man who could be a good person. He didn’t show it often, but I saw it. It was humbling to know that a side that Diesel kept secret was being shown to me.

  A loyal man to a fault. He was loyal to Mason, to the bikers. I wondered if I would ever get a man as loyal as Diesel in my life again. And I wasn’t sure of the answer.

  Fiona finished writing in her notepad, closed it, and began putting her belongings into the various bags she had carried into the room.

  “You’ll need another ultrasound about eleven to twelve weeks to see when your due date will be and to measure the baby, just to make sure it’s growing as it should.”

  “Is that normal?”

  “Of course. Everyone has them. We want to make sure it’s not an ectopic pregnancy or anything just as bad.” Fiona smiled at me. “I’d get Diesel to pick up some folic acid and some pregnancy vitamins. Those you can get over-the-counter. And I’ll leave you some leaflets that will give you more information on your pregnancy. Diet, hospital check-ups, the whole nine yards.”

  That sounded like a lot to take in. I was beginning to feel very out of my depth.

  “And that will help the baby?” I asked.

  “If you enforce them now, yes.”

  That was something. But, even then, I was still worried. I drew my legs up and wrapped my arms around them, resting my chin on my knees.

  “I was given something to knock me out when I was taken,” I said quietly. “Cassie said it might have been ketamine. Would that have harmed the baby?”

  Fiona frowned.

  “We won’t know unless we do a test on your blood, and the ketamine would be out of your system by now. Ketamine can be harmful to the baby, but you should be okay as long as you don’t take it regularly.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Good girl. If you and Diesel are okay with it, I’ll keep a close eye on you over the next few days. If you feel sick to the point you’re passing out or start bleeding, call 911. In the meantime, I want you to rest as much as you can.”

  Amber snorted. “Easier said than done.”

  “I know, but I have to say it.” Fiona finished packing. “The twinges can be normal, especially in first-time pregnancies, as the body adjusts, but we need to be cautious. Get Diesel to wait on you. Have him make you breakfast in bed.”

  A chuckle came from the doorway, causing me to jump. Diesel was leaning against the doorway with his arms folded. He had changed his shirt since coming back, and he looked like he had been ru
nning a marathon, with sweat on his forehead and red cheeks.

  “Breakfast in bed?” Diesel laughed. “That’ll only happen if Amber likes eating black toast, and she certainly hates that.”

  “Oh?”

  I giggled and explained. “He’s a terrible cook. He can’t even boil an egg.”

  Fiona rolled her eyes. “Why am I not surprised?” She stood and picked up her belongings. “Don’t make her move around unless she absolutely has to, Diesel.”

  “You got it.” Diesel entered the room and hoisted the bag that held the ultrasound machine onto his shoulder. “I’ll walk you out.”