by A. L Inman
Lil-J lets out a scream that would mimic a hurt animal, making the guard at the door take a step towards our car. Archer pulls him back into the car window, so they are nose to nose.
I wonder if Arch can smell Lil-J's vile breath in his nose like I did when he accosted me in the bathroom.
Speaking in a calculated tone Archer tells Lil-J in Spanish, a language that he will understand and that won't leave Archer’s words to be misinterpreted.
“Esa es mi cuñada, perra. Muestra algo de respeto. Será mejor que nunca más te vea mirar o hablar con ella otra vez. Voy a. Fin. Tú.” (That's my sister-in-law, Bitch. Show some respect. I better not ever see you look or talk to her again. I. Will. End. You.)
Releasing Lil-J’s hand, Archer pushes him slightly back, causing him to stumble. Archer rolls up the window before pushing his glasses up on his nose.
Every one of us in the back seat are sitting with shocked expressions. Now I know that Archer would have my back tonight and any day. There's no doubt in my mind.
Jaxon gives me a wink in the rearview mirror. For the first time since I was told what tonight would entail, do I realize a shocking revelation- I’m not scared when I'm with these guys.
I would protect these guys any way I can, just like apparently they would me. If the only way I can do that tonight is by playing ignorant and ignoring my morals for a little while, turning a blind eye to the illegal activity, I’d do it with bells on.
ASHER- Chapter 29
I'm so thankful Arch got a chance to express to Lil-J the mutual feelings every one of us in the car had towards him, before we entered into Emilio's compound.
If I would've got Lil-J alone tonight, someone may have found him dead in the bathroom with a bullet between his eyes. That's the side of me I try to conceal from Abby.
I don't want her to misinterpret what kind of monster I am. I do the things I do to protect the ones I love and the less fortunate. Sometimes I get paid to do those things, a lot of times I don't. I'm an everyday vigilante.
I'm the guy who won't think twice about pulling a drunk from a bar and kicking his ass after he's aggressively grabs a woman. I'm also the same guy who will bust in a guy's face if he disrespects me, my brother, or any women in my presence.
Archer is the type of guy who will follow the idiot home and leave him on his front step for his roommate to find, after he's beaten him unconscious in an alleyway. I know this because it’s happened before.
That's why I'm surprised he even spoke to Lil-J. Public confrontation isn't his usual game.
I imagine some of it was a show for me and Abby. A show that he did have her back, no matter what. It also let Lil-J know that Archer is a calculating son of a bitch, and he won't hesitate to kill him in regards to Abby.
I'm hoping this move hasn't put a target on Abby's back tonight, I'm hoping it has deterred anyone who was thinking about trying to mess with her.
Abby is beaming as we roll through the compound gate, and I know that even though she doesn’t know what he said, it's because she is thrilled Archer had her back.
Not that he didn't before, but now it is known to her, and everyone else.
Her smile quickly fades into an expression of awe when her eyes take in the scene in front of us. The large stucco Spanish style home is beautiful, for lack of better words.
The house sits two stories high, unlike a regular Spanish home, making the house seem miles tall. The burnt orange color of the stucco contrasts beautifully against the cotton candy colored sky.
The statues in front of the home are probably worth millions; decadent and hand crafted. A lot of time high end drug cartels will invest their money in art rather than keeping their assets in paper form.
Someone is less likely to steal a two-ton statue compared to a suitcase full of hundred-dollar bills.
Plus, they can't exactly keep their money in legitimate bank accounts when a lot of their funds are a result of money laundering and illegal activities.
Before getting out of the car we each check where we have our pieces on our bodies.
Abby has hers strapped to her inner thigh, right above where her dress ends. It isn’t conventional in a dress that short for a thigh strap but we didn’t have a lot of choices.
Her handbag isn’t quite big enough to conceal that she has a weapon in it, and we didn’t want anyone to know easily that she was packing. We wanted the element of surprise should she need to pull it.
“Okay guys- the sole purpose of being here tonight is to show face. We originally weren’t going to all come tonight but since Emilio requested Asher to bring Abby, its best we’re all here. Our goal is to get in and get out with as little ripples as possible. We have exactly one week before the bust from the DEA, we need to keep our heads down as best as possible. Two hours tops, that’s all we have to stay before I make an excuse for us to bail. Okay?” Jaxon reiterates yet again.
He is truly worried I'm going to go off script, guns blazing, and bust Lil-J’s head. Then our investigation and hard work will also be busted wide open.
I can’t say I’m not tempted, but any irrational moves will unnecessarily put Abby in more danger.
Getting out of the car I help Abby down, where she latches on to my hand like a lifeline. Walking towards the entrance, I’m a little amused how we’ve instinctively surrounded Abby.
Jaxon is leading, as always, Archer and I are on each side of her and Brayden is walking pretty close behind her. That’s one thing I won’t have to worry about, Brayden will be on her back like white on rice tonight.
One of my informants is at the door checking IDs and I know that passing our fakes through here won’t be any problem.
Felix has worked for Emilio for years, but he also works for the DEA- and he’s worked for them longer. Felix is 6 foot 5 and all beast.
He originally entered the program to be an informant when he got busted working in the Russian mafia as a hired gun. When the mafia thought he turned on them, they put a price on his and his wife's head.
He agreed to be an informant so his wife and kids could enter witness protection. He once told me he hadn't seen them in years, but when you love someone you make sacrifices for them… even if it means never seeing them again.
He barely skims over our IDs that identify us as: Jaxon, Brayden, Archer and Asher Butcher. We have completely made up identities for this case and if Emilio were to run our names through a system, he would see an extensive, believable, and fake record for all of us.
Felix opens the French double doors for us to enter, letting us into a swirl of chaos. From the outside this looks like a normal house, with normal occupants. The inside shows an entirely different, and scary story.
ABBY- Chapter 30
Walking into Emilio’s massive home, I’m already on edge. The guy at the door seems to be on our team so to speak, but holy hell that was one heck of a man.
His thick black hair falls shoulder length against his dark skin. His black eyes shine with ruthlessness and his lips stayed stamped closed.
He has a scar that runs from his left ear to right under his chin and it's not lost to me that this man has seen death.
Participated in handing out numbers for people to meet their makers. Made a line for these people and then disposed of them. He's probably almost met expiration a time or two himself.
Even with the ruthless exterior I did see the skin around his eyes soften when he saw the boys. It's apparent they’ve spent time together before and he has a soft spot for them.
I'll have to ask Asher later for that story.
Surveying the room for the first time, I’m astounded by the beauty it entails. The walls are a pale blue, which is pretty basic, but the art work adorning those basic walls are anything but. The way the paint on the walls allows for the pictures to pop really is a brilliant design style.
There are men and women in serving outfits walking with trays of decant treats and flutes of champagne.
All the men and women servin
g these items are in neatly pressed white button up shirts and solid black pants. Not one smiles or makes eye contact with the guests though. It’s very clear they are just “the help".
Continuing my survey of the room I suddenly feel nauseated. What. In. The. Hell.
There are tables of men playing poker, all the men are dressed to the nines and looking every bit of dangerous that I’m sure they are. But that’s not what bothers me.
No, what bothers me is every man at the tables has a naked woman lying on the floor beside their feet, wearing honest to God shock dog collars. Like they’re some type of fucking dog.
I feel my face flush as my anger courses through me. Instinctively I go to take a step to help them, but Asher puts his hand on my bicep. He doesn’t grab me to hurt me but it’s forceful enough to give me pause.
He slightly shakes his head telling me not to lose it right now and I have to reign myself in before I make a drastic move.
“We’ll get them out baby. Just be patient.”
Patient? Really?
“Would you be patient if that was me on the floor?” I ask simply out of curiosity on how much he looks over on these jobs and what his boundaries are.
His face flushes with anger and the skin around his lips tighten as he purses them. The muscle in his jaw steady ticking as he shakes his head no.
I know what would happen if I was on that floor playing bitch to one of those men. They would all be dead and we’d be going home right now. That doesn't sound that bad right now actually.
Just as I go to speak, the room gets silent noticing our arrival. A large man is sitting at the head of a table and I don’t know how, but I just know that he's Emilio Esteban.
Like a king sitting on his throne, he has a leg thrown lazily over his knee and his hands laced behind his head. Like he doesn’t have a care in the world. I guess he doesn't; from where I'm standing the man has the world at his fingers.
I assess him quickly. There's no denying he’s a handsome man, probably in his early 30’s with thick black hair.
His hair would probably skim his jaw if it wasn’t gelled back. He has no tattoos or piercings visible, and that surprises me for some reason. I guess I assumed he would look like his henchmen.
His eyes twinkle a jade color and I know with his unique eye color and his lighter complexion skin he adorns, he must have one Caucasian parent.
There's a venomous smile playing on his lips as he takes me in. Standing between Asher and Archer doesn’t make me feel safe, so I instinctively take a step back allowing them to cover me some.
With that move, Emilio sends a brilliant smile our way and I kick myself because he thinks that by me stepping back that I submitted to him. This is not going to bode well if he decides to make a comment on what he thinks he figured out about me.
I take a step forward and put my arm around Asher’s waist. He pulls me into his side further. We're showing Emilio that we are a united front. I can tell it makes Emilio’s uneasy because his smile falters. I feel a little victorious.
“¡Hola mis amigos, únete a mí!” (Hello my friends, join me!)
Asher looks over to Jax, who gives a nod of his head in approval for everyone to join Emilio at the table.
As we make our way over to the table, the men who are sitting there flee quickly, leaving five chairs open. Since there is six of us, I have a bad feeling how this is going to play out.
Asher pulls a chair out and I go to sit but pause when I hear someone tsk-ing me. Looking up I see that predatory smile again flash across Emilio's face.
“Ah, mi amigo ¿Permites que tu perra se siente en la mesa? No, no, no. Las perras se sientan en el piso.” (Ah, my friend. You allow your bitch to sit at the table? No, no, no. Bitches sit on the floor.)
I’m not 100% in what Emilio said but I know enough to get the jest of the conversation. He thinks I should sit on the floor like Asher’s dog.
I don’t move, because it really needs to be the guys call on how we play this. I was warned ahead of time of there being unsavory actions, and although my inner-feminist is screaming for me to cock punch the bastard, I stand waiting.
Asher’s face is ten shades darker red then I’ve ever witnessed it and I know he’s already toting a very thin line of self- restraint.
Surprisingly though Jaxon is the one who answers Emilio, “No, ella está sentada en la mesa. Emilio, no jodas con nosotros esta noche. Abby ya ha sido lastimada por uno de los tuyos. Estamos en una delgada línea de autocontrol, mi amigo.” (No, she is sitting at the table. Emilio, don't fuck with us tonight. Abby has already been hurt at the hands of one of yours. We're on a thin line of self- restraint, my friend.)
He says mi amigo with such distaste I know he definitely doesn’t mean it.
Emilio looks at Jax with a steely gaze. Jax just told him no, in his house... in front of his soldiers and guests. I’m ready for the outburst, but then I see a spark in his green eyes that makes me a little nervous.
He belly laughs and everyone in the room releases the breath they were holding from Jaxon’s confrontation.
“Bien, bien. Multa. Ella se sienta con los hombres esta noche. Pero ella se sienta a mi lado. Ven aquí pequeña princesa.” (Okay, Okay. Fine. She sits with the men tonight. But she sits beside me. Come here little princess.)
He beckons me with his finger and I look to Jax who nods his head in confirmation that I can join Emilio. I have to pry Asher's hand from my shoulder so I can walk around the large round table. Pulling out the chair, I slide in beside Emilio.
With a look of triumph, Emilio nods to the other chairs and all the boys sit, minus Archer. He comes around the table and stands with his hands on my chair.
I know he came to stand because he has the most level head and lack of emotion out of all of the boys. Jax also told me earlier that Arch makes Emilio uncomfortable.
Emilio raises an eyebrow in confusion, obviously wondering if I’m with both brothers, but he doesn’t say anything when Archer sends him a look that I can only interpret as “Shut the hell up”.
Emilio slides his hand onto my knee speaking to me directly, “Princesa, gracias por acompañarme esta noche. Eres una verdadera imagen de la belleza.” (Princess, thank you for joining me tonight. You are a true image of beauty.)
I shudder from the contact and as I make eyes over the table to Asher, I’m sure he is fixing to come over the table and show Emilio what he thinks about him calling me Princess. All of the boys are tense waiting to see what Emilio will do next and I know it could easily get very ugly.
As much as I hate placating the man, I pull out some very rusty Spanish and try anyways.
“Tu casa es hermosa Gracias por tenerme“(Your house is beautiful. Thank you for having me.) I tell him as I slowly remove his hand off my knee. Making great effort not to gag as I do so.
Only the boys at the table see the move and I can see Emilio’s ears turn red. Either with embarrassment or anger, I’m not sure. He is most likely not used to a woman telling him no.
Clearing his throat, he pegs Asher with a stare, “Now, what do I hear about you talking business in front of your lady.” And he speaks it in perfect, crisp, English.
Oh. Shit.
ASHER- Chapter 31
I was naïve to think that Emilio would forget about what he was told by Lil-J and Pato. So, clearing my throat I go to explain my poor choices.
Jax cuts in though with an authoritative voice before I have time to speak, “Emilio- Abby is a silent partner in our operation. Vet her if you must, but it’s not necessary.” He leaves no room for argument or disagreement,
All of our heads whip around towards his chair but he remains stoic. We never discussed how we would describe allowing Abby in our group, but it seems he has a plan.
Would’ve been nice for the bastard to maybe, I don’t know, inform his team... and Abby’s boyfriend.
Emilio nods before turning to face Abby again.
“We’ll speak in English, Princess. Your Span
ish is.... less than par.” He tells her chuckling.
Abby shoots him a look that says “Fuck off” and I smirk because, there’s my girl. Not even batting an eyelash at the biggest gun in the cartel industry right now. God, she’s hot.
My eyes volley back and forth between the two as he asks questions and she answers them all, with no hesitation. Every answer is a lie and I’m slightly nervous at how well she lies on the spot.
“Princess, how old are you?”
“23”
“I don’t know if I believe you, let me see your id.” He tells her. I hold my breath because I know he’s fixing to catch her in a lie.
With pure confidence, Abby slides her ID out of her clutch and into Emilio’s waiting hand. He inspects it and I notice I’m holding my breath.
“Hmm, seems you are right. Abigail Elizabeth Jenkins. 23. Date of Birth- June 17th, 1994. Eyes- green, hair color- blonde.... Okay, princess, I believe you.”
Here I am, shocked... she has a fake ID. When did that happen? It must be all over my face because Jax sends me a fierce look that tells me to fix my shocked expression.
Abby slides the ID back in her clutch as she raises her eyebrows waiting for more questions. Emilio sends me a wink, and I know this next question is going to rile me up.
“Tell me Princess, have you ever been with a man?”
ABBY- Chapter 32
“...Tell me Princess, have you ever been with a man?” Emilio asks me. It’s the first question that semi- catches me off guard. Jax told me to be prepared for anything.
This is when my acting is supposed to be coming into play. Before I sat at the table, Abby Jacobs transformed into her badass alter ego, Abby Jenkins.
Abby Jenkins gives no fucks. Well, at least that’s what Jax told me.
So, I do what I’ve been doing all evening and I play the part. Leaning over allows some of my cleavage to spill out of my dress, drawing his attention from my face to my girls.
“I’ve only been with one that is worth a damn,” I tell him in a whisper letting him know that he will never meet my expectations.
Emilio cocks an eyebrow at me, sending the brow straight into his hairline, before he leans over to place his mouth beside my ear.