by Faith Gibson
“I’m happy for you.” Liar. Then again, the larger the cartel, the more he was on the radar of the authorities. Maybe this was a good thing. Maybe he’d piss someone off and… No. If he pissed someone off, things could go sideways. Another leader could take over Juan’s business and everything that came with it, including her and Mateo. Better the devil you know, as her mama used to say. Now Mercedes understood. She had once asked her mother why she didn’t leave Ricardo, and that would be her answer right after she exclaimed how the church didn’t believe in divorce, citing for better or worse. Having grown up Catholic, Mercedes had read the Bible. All of it. Mercedes argued those vows were nowhere in the Bible. She’d even looked them up on the internet back then.
“I have to go away for a while. I’ll have more men on the house while I’m gone, so you and Mateo will be safe.”
“Are you taking Antonia with you?”
Juan scowled. Shit. “I was planning on it. Do you not want her to go?”
“Yes,” Mercedes responded too quickly. Calm down. “I was just curious. When do you leave?”
“In the morning. I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone, but I’m only a phone call away.” Juan stepped around Mercedes and pushed her hair to the side so he could get to her zipper. Slowly, he lowered it, trailing his fingers along her skin as he went. Mercedes shivered, and Juan chuckled low. He thought his touch affected her in a good way.
As he did every time they were alone, Juan lowered the dress inch by inch, his fingers skimming her skin. The man was twenty years her senior, but he had the sexual appetite of someone much younger. At least that’s what she’d read in one of her magazines. It was the only outside source of information he allowed her. She could watch certain videos but no television where she had access to the news. The only computer in the house was in his office, and she wasn’t allowed to go in there. Even when he left the estate, Mercedes didn’t dare step foot into her husband’s domain. His men were loyal to him, and they would tell him if she were to trespass.
What started out as gentle lovemaking got rougher as the night went on. By the time he allowed her to sleep, her body ached, and she would have bruises from the tight grip he’d kept on her hips. Red marks would cover her breasts and stomach where he bit and sucked. There would be no bikini for her in the next few days. She would never allow her son to see the marks his father left when he was in one of his moods.
When Mercedes woke the next morning, she was alone. Most nights, he sent her back to her room, but he had been in a good mood the night before. The sheets on Juan’s side of the bed were cool. It amazed her how hard she slept knowing she shared a bed with a monster. Then again, said monster did keep her up most of the night. Mercedes slipped from the bed and retreated to the bathroom. She turned the water on in the shower as hot as she could stand it. While it heated, she brushed her teeth. Her birth control was back in her bathroom. It surprised her when Juan presented the pills to her after Mateo was born. She figured he would keep her pregnant so he could have many children, but she never questioned it. She was perfectly happy only having one child to worry about. She hated Juan. Hated he was Mateo’s father. But she would never resent having her son in her life. He was the only thing that kept her going.
After bathing, Mercedes grabbed one of the more comfortable dresses she kept in his closet for the walk back to her side of the house. The tight red number she had on the night before would be cleaned and returned to her closet. When she reached her suite, Mercedes bristled when she saw who was in her room.
“What are you doing in here?” Mercedes strode to the sofa where her son was eating a pastry while Antonia was sipping coffee next to him.
“Waiting on your lazy ass to wake up.” Antonia stood and ruffled Mateo’s hair. What the fuck was going on? Antonia was never nice to Mateo.
“Where’s Ana Maria?”
“She had work to do, so I offered to sit with the boy.”
“I thought you were going with Juan.”
“You shouldn’t think. It’ll tax your brain.”
Bitch. “Well, I’m here now, so you can go.” Mercedes sat down next to Mateo who was watching the two women like a tennis match.
“Watch yourself, Mercedes. You wouldn’t like me when I’m mad.”
“I don’t like you anyway,” Mercedes said before she could catch herself. Antonia’s grin was feral.
“Feeling’s mutual, Perra.” With that, the woman casually strolled to the door. When she opened it, she turned back to Mateo. “Remember what I said.”
“What did she say?” Mercedes asked her son when the woman closed the door.
Mateo’s eyes watered. “Que ya no debo hablar ingles.”
“Why aren’t you supposed to speak English, Mijo? And tell me in English.”
“Because it makes Papá mad.”
Mercedes pulled her son onto her lap and hugged him close. “Oh, Mijo. Your papá adores you. Has he told you not to speak English?” Mateo shook his head. “Then don’t worry about it until he tells you otherwise, okay?”
Mercedes didn’t know how, but one day, she was going to kill that bitch.
Chapter Three
Hayden
Hayden took a couple steps back from the bike and smiled. It was the best work he’d ever done, and that was saying something. It wasn’t conceit to make him feel that way. The awards he had stashed around the shop and his home were proof he was one of the best in the country. But damn.
“Holy shit.”
Hayden turned toward Ryker who had walked into the shop with Spyder behind him. Ryker circled the bike, and Spyder squatted to get a better look at the paint job.
“I second the sentiment, Havyk. This is unbelievable.” Spyder stood and held out his hand for a knuckle bump. “It’s amazing.”
“I’m proud of you, Havyk. If this wasn’t a personal job, I’d tell you to enter it in the East Coast show coming up. You’d definitely win top prize.” Ryker squeezed Hayden’s shoulder, smiling. It was odd seeing his oldest brother without a scowl on his face and more open with his affection.
“Thank you. I don’t think the owner is going to ride it, but even if he does, he could enter it himself in the Southwest show. He’d get the win, but my name would be listed as designer. It’d be a win-win.” Hayden walked over to the small refrigerator and grabbed a beer. He deserved it after spending all day working. “Beer?” he asked, holding the bottle out.
Both Hounds took one, and Ryker held his out. “Cheers to the best bike builder in the world.” Hayden and Spyder clanked their bottles to Ryker’s and chugged.
“What brings you two by?” Hayden tossed his empty in the recycle bin before snagging another full bottle.
“Quinn sent a job over, and I wanted to talk to you about it. It’s a big hit, down in Mexico, just across the border. I figured since you’re going to be down there anyway when you deliver the bike, you might want to take it. But, like I said, it’s a big one, and it’s going to be a two-man job. That’s why Spyder’s here.”
“So, Spyder’s taking lead and I’m backup?”
“No. If you agree, this will be yours, and he’ll be providing support.”
“You think I’m ready for something of this caliber?”
“Don’t you?” Ryker tossed his bottle in the bin, then crossed his arms over his muscled chest.
“I don’t even know what the job is, but yeah, I’m ready.” Hayden wasn’t joking. He had been on enough solos he felt he was ready for something on a larger scale. Especially if Spyder would be there to guide him. That was the nice thing about working with other Hounds. There was no ego involved. No one-upmanship. Spyder would take a secondary role, and he would follow Hayden’s lead. If Hayden needed advice, he would ask. He wasn’t too cocky to think he had everything figured out when it came to their mercenary work.
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” Ryker pulled a set of papers out of his back pocket and handed them over. “Spyder’s already looked over the contra
ct, so I’ll leave the two of you alone to hash out a plan. I know you’re planning on visiting the girls while you’re in Texas, and I think you should still do so. It’ll make a good cover for the two of you being in the area.”
“Thanks, Ryot. I won’t let you down.”
Ryker gave Hayden a side hug. “I know you won’t.” Ryker bumped Spyder’s knuckles as he strode out of the garage.
Hayden looked over the contract, his heart speeding up the more he read. Fuck, this wasn’t big – it was fucking huge. For a split second, Hayden wondered if he could pull it off, even with Spyder’s help.
We’ve got this.
Yeah, we do.
His Gryphon was always there, ready to give him a boost when he doubted himself, which wasn’t often.
The rumble of a couple bikes had Hayden looking toward the parking lot of the clubhouse. Mayhem and War pulled in and parked. Two little helmets bobbed and weaved as they climbed from their sidecar attached to Maveryck’s bike. Marshall waited for his dad, but Major took off running toward Hayden and Spyder.
“Hey, Hay.” Major was furiously working the strap of his helmet while trying to navigate around Hayden’s toolbox. Spyder was there to intercept the boy so he didn’t hurt himself.
Hayden tried not to laugh at his nephew, but the kid was so fucking cute. “Hey, Little Dude. What’s shaking?”
“My dang head. Get this thing off me,” Major grumbled. Hayden and Spyder burst out laughing, and Spyder unhooked the chin strap. Major jerked the helmet off his head and shook his blond hair. “Thanks, Spiderman.”
“You’re welcome, Major Tom.”
“My name’s not Tom.”
“And my name’s not man.” Spyder ruffled Major’s hair earning a big grin. Spyder had taken a liking to the twins when they all went camping, and Major was smitten with Spyder and his long hair. The oldest twin was letting his hair grow out instead of keeping it short like Marshall’s.
Marshall walked up to Hayden and held out his little fist for a bump. “‘Sup, other Little Dude?”
“Daddo said you’re leaving. We came to say bye.” Marshall was just as cute as his brother, but he was definitely more laidback.
“And we wanted to see the finished bike before you hauled it off to Texas.” Maveryck walked up with War, his own twin, in tow.
“Where’re your mates?” Hayden rarely saw his brothers without Kerrigan and Natalia.
War crouched beside the tribute bike, studying the artwork. “We dropped them off at Ryker’s. They’re hanging out with Rhi and Mac today.”
“What’s Eli doing with a house full of females?” Hayden asked. Elijah, McKenzie’s boyfriend, was still getting used to life outside the cult he was rescued from.
“He rode with Pop to talk to a couple boys who were rescued from The Sanctuary. The brothers are having a tough time being on the outside, and Sutton thought Eli could help them.” Maveryck leaned against a toolbox with Marshall tucked against his side. “When are you headed out?”
“I’d planned on leaving first thing in the morning.” Hayden turned to Spyder. “That okay with you?”
“Yep. As soon as Ryot showed me the contract, I went home and did laundry.”
“Contract?” War asked as he stood and joined the rest of the Hounds.
“Yeah. Cartel crossing over from Nuevo Laredo. The leader’s expanding, and his new product is the live version,” Hayden explained cryptically so the younger twins didn’t know he was talking about human trafficking.
“Isn’t that a bit above your expertise?” War asked.
Hayden bristled. He knew his brother had his best interest at heart, but it still pissed him off. “No, it’s not. This is a two-man job, and Spyder’s going with.”
Warryck turned to Spyder who held his hand up. “Save it, War. I’ve got Havyk’s back.”
“What’s wrong with Hay’s back?” Major asked. The little boy walked around behind Hayden and looked him over. “I don’t see nothin’.”
Hay turned around and grabbed Major, picking him up like a sack of potatoes. “It means he’s my buddy and will watch out for me.”
“Oh. He’s got your six. Why didn’t he say that?” Major asked, hanging over Hayden’s shoulder, slapping Hay’s back like he was playing the drums.
“Where’d you learn that?” Hayden asked, setting the boy on his feet.
“From Lollipop when me and Marsh went to the doctor for a shot. I told her I didn’t want to get shot at, and she said not to worry. She had my six. The stupid doctor still shot me.”
Maveryck rolled his eyes. “The doctor gave you a shot; he didn’t shoot you. Big difference, kiddo.”
“Nuh uh. It hurt like shiitake.”
Hayden and the other Hounds laughed at the boy trying to stay out of trouble. Major was a sponge, and he repeated everything his dad said until Rory threatened to wash his mouth out with soap. Natalia was teaching the boys creative words so they didn’t get in trouble.
“Shiitakes are gross. They’re squishy and taste like dirt,” Marshall said. “I like dirt. Playing in it. Not eating it. Rhi Rhi lets me help her.”
Rhiannon, Ryker’s mate, was a pagan with a special gift. She was in tune with nature and loved spending her spare time growing all types of plants and herbs.
After Maveryck took his turn gushing over the tribute bike, he corralled the twins. “All right. We’ll get out of your hair. Tell the girls we said hello and we love them.” He hugged Hayden, then he and Spyder knocked forearms. The younger twins gave their uncle and Spyder fist bumps and took off out the door like their asses were on fire. Their father and War followed at a slower pace.
“I want one,” Spyder muttered, watching the boys go.
“I hear you. Those two are something else. Now, let’s sit down and talk about this contract.” Hayden was younger and less experienced, and he felt it best to have some type of plan in place before hitting Texas. He and Spyder spent a couple hours going over everything they knew, and they tossed about ideas of things that could potentially go wrong considering who their mark was. It would take quite a bit of recon before they could approach the drug lord. After Spyder left for home and some sleep, Hayden memorized the photos of the mark and the guards he kept with him anytime he left his compound. There was no photo of the wife.
Hayden stopped and picked up Spyder at his home early the next morning so Spyder’s bike would be safe in his garage. They left New Troy and headed south, settling in for a long drive. Fifteen hours later, Hayden pulled off a busy exit and navigated to the hotel they were staying in that night. They were at the halfway mark between New Troy and New Victoria. Poppy and Holly, the older twins, lived three hours out from New Laredo where Hayden’s customer was. He and Spyder had switched out driving several hours ago, but Hay was still ready to be out of the SUV. As he did every time they stopped, Hayden opened the trailer door and checked on the bike. Spyder didn’t give him shit for doing so because he understood what this bike meant to both Hayden and the customer. It wasn’t just an investment of time and money; it was in honor of someone Dominic had lost – his younger sister. Being the baby, Hayden didn’t know what it was like to love a younger sibling, but he did know how he would feel if he lost any one of his older brothers or sisters in such a traumatic way. Disappearing never to be heard from again.
Spyder had his arms stretched high overhead, twisting at his waist. The pops of his spine cracking were loud in the late night. “I’m hungry.” Spyder looked around and pointed across the street to a popular chain restaurant. “If you want to check us in, I’ll head over there and grab some grub.”
“Sounds good. Just get me a couple double cheeseburgers and a large fry.”
Hayden locked the trailer, satisfied the bike hadn’t shifted during the drive, grabbed their duffels, then went inside and got their door cards. He texted Spyder the number after letting himself in the room. Since they were just there to sleep a few hours, Hayden hadn’t sprung for a suite. They could manage w
ith two double beds for one night.
Spyder knocked, and Hayden let him in. Spyder divvied up the food, and they sat on their beds, leaning against the headboards to eat. Hayden hadn’t spent a lot of one-on-one time with the other Hound, but they’d talked quite a bit on the drive down. Jude “Spyder” Sterling wasn’t as tall as Hay and his brothers, but he was built. And he had attitude for days. The male was funny, confident, and had plenty of stories to tell, keeping the conversation flowing all day. The male had already lived a full life, even without having found a mate. Hayden had admitted he was ready to settle down and have a few kids.
After they ate, they both settled in for a few hours’ sleep. Being Gryphons, they didn’t require much, but Hayden liked feeling refreshed. He liked how his mind could settle for a few hours without thinking. Because when he was awake, all he focused on was how lonely he was. It hadn’t really hit him until his brothers began finding mates again. The three of them had been lucky early on. Younger than Hayden was now. Hayden prayed that once he found his mate, Zeus allowed her a long life, and Hayden wouldn’t endure the same heartache as his brothers.
The next day was the same as the one before with a long drive. By the time they rolled into New Victoria, Hayden was ready to shift into his Eagle and spread his wings. He knew that wasn’t a probability, not when he had to deliver the bike, then spend time with his sisters while he and Spyder prepared for the job they were on. The plan was to find their mark and follow him for at least a week. Find out what his schedule was. Who he had surrounding him. Hayden had no problem taking someone out, but there had been two names on the contract. Husband and wife. Hayden had never killed a woman, and he wasn’t sure he had it in him to do so now. Not unless he was one hundred percent sure she was as guilty as her husband. If she was? Maybe Spyder could take the female.