He brushed his hand down his jeans. “You don’t have any proof.” His cocksure attitude was back as he jutted out his pointy chin.
Jade shuddered as she tossed a look over her shoulder at Mallory and held out her hand.
30
Jade
My hands shook as I unfolded Savannah’s letter. I’d gotten lucky that Tito was even there. The only reason I was at The Monarch was to ask Duke where Denim was meeting Tito. I hadn’t even been sure Duke was part of that meeting.
Nevertheless, I was ready to see Tito suffer long and hard. Mallory had tried to stop me, but I was too far gone to listen to her or anyone. I had one mission—get revenge for Savannah.
Tito watched me, unmoving, with dots of fear in his dark eyes. He better not move. I was ready to shoot him dead with the gun I’d taken from Duke’s bedroom. The guards hadn’t frisked me. One had tried until I kneed him in the groin, so the other one had backed off.
I’d never had the urge to hurt another human being, but I itched to do something to this man who was evil and didn’t deserve to live.
The club was deathly quiet except for the rustling of the paper and the pounding of my pulse in my ears.
I skimmed down to the lines I wanted Tito to hear and started to read aloud.
“The two women in the gang who beat me were Greta Sanchez and Louise Collier. They were operating on orders from Tito Alvarez. I don’t know how he found out I knew about him being at Hector’s. I never told a soul except Duke.”
I held up the letter in front of Tito. “Be a man and take charge of your actions.”
He cocked his head, and blood trickled down his upper lip. “Those girls won’t talk.”
An odd sound erupted from me. Tito was going to come clean before we left this club, before he had a chance to run or disappear, and before he had a chance to kill me or Denim.
I checked on Duke, who was standing as stoic as ever. If he weren’t standing, I would’ve bet the man didn’t have a heartbeat. “Did you throw Savannah under the bus? Did you have a hand in her death?”
Denim, who was slightly behind me and off to the side, sucked in a sharp breath.
“He probably did,” a short, freaky-looking older man said. He was glaring at me, or maybe he was in awe of me. Whatever. He gave me the creeps.
I made a mental note to thank Denim for breaking up with me. He was spot-on. I didn’t want to be with a criminal, not ever. If Denim had any ideas of joining Duke in his business—whatever that was—I was walking away and not looking back.
“Well?” I asked Duke again. “Are you and this thug in bed together?”
Shockingly, a laugh rumbled out of Duke. “Fuck no.”
It was then that I finally looked at the man who had my heart in the palm of his hand, the man who had been imprisoned for a wrong he didn’t commit.
Denim was tense, his jaw was set, and he also appeared ready to hurt someone. A sharp pain gripped my chest. The man had lost six years of his fucking life.
“Look.” Tito’s voice scraped my nerves, sending raging chills down my spine.
With the letter in one hand, I dipped my free hand in my coat pocket and wrapped my fingers around the handle of the gun. I wasn’t a killer. Yet if he didn’t come clean, I was ready to take the law into my own hands.
I regarded Tito with my hackles raised.
One side of lips curled, and he puffed out his chest as if he’d won this battle, which was laughable. He hadn’t won anything. “You have nothing but your sister’s word.”
“Do you want to hear more of my sister’s words?” Even though it was a question, I wasn’t asking.
I read another part to him.
“I’d just entered Hector’s building when a gun went off. Scared, I ran out and hid in the shadows across the street. But Denim didn’t come out of the building that night. Tito Alvarez did. I don’t know what happened. But the next thing I knew, Denim was getting arrested. I never had a chance to talk to him.
“You’re wondering why I didn’t go to the police. Oh, I thought about it and decided I should do the right thing. But after Hector’s neighbor gave her statement to the police and disappeared shortly after, I clammed up. I didn’t want to face the same fate as the neighbor, and I would’ve if Tito ever found out I saw him. He’s a monster, sis. He has no regard for human life.”
The gun in my pocket felt heavy and exhilarating at the same time. I lifted my eyes to stare at Tito. “Last chance.”
Tito looked at the short, creepy guy as though he could save Tito. Then his attention swung to Duke and Denim. None of them were bouncing on their feet to help. He set his dark eyes on me. “Or what?”
I swallowed an elephant and pulled out the gun, aiming it at Tito’s heart. I had no idea if I could successfully shoot him since I’d never shot a gun before. “Or I shoot.”
“Jade.” Denim’s husky voice drew closer. “Don’t. He’s not worth it.” He touched my trembling arm gently. “Angel, lower the gun.”
A tear slid down my cheek, burning a path until the salty tear was sliding into my mouth. “He is worth it. For Savannah. For you. Don’t you want him to pay?”
His hand inched down my arm. “He will pay.”
More tears clouded my vision, and I shook my head. “No.”
“You’re not a killer.” Denim’s hand was on my wrist. “Give me the gun.”
All I saw was my sister fighting to stay alive. All I saw in front of me was the thug who had stolen six years of Denim’s life.
Tito stared at me, his dark eyes pleading. “Hart, you better get that out of her hands.”
His grating voice seemed to blast in the deadly quiet room, and in that moment, I didn’t think. I closed my eyes and squeeze the trigger.
The blast hurt my ears, and I practically fell into Denim.
Mallory screamed.
Before I could open my eyes, Denim had the gun out of my hand. “Duke, take Jade, please.”
My heart punched my ribs, trying to get out of my chest. To my dismay, Tito was still standing without a scratch on him with a smile that reminded me of the Joker in Batman.
My nostrils flared as Mallory rushed to my side. “Come on. You don’t need to go to jail for that asshole.”
Duke was behind me. “Mallory’s right.” His voice was tender, causing me to falter.
“I’m staying right by Denim’s side.” I narrowed my eyes at the man I was helplessly in love with. “I’m not a weakling. Tito is going to confess, or I’m going to beat him senseless.”
Tito laughed like a madman.
The creepy guy said, “Boss, let’s get out of here.”
Denim trained the gun on Tito then Lou. “Neither of you are going anywhere until we finish our business. Now, Lou, I suggest you sit your ass back down.”
Lou obeyed like a good little soldier.
Denim swung his arm and aimed the gun at Tito. “Talk, or I will shoot, and you know I won’t miss.”
“Hart.” Tito’s bravado was gone, and in its place was the fear I’d seen on him earlier. “You’re not a killer.”
“But you are.” Denim had both arms outstretched, holding the gun like a trained cop. “Talk, motherfucker.”
“You’re not going to shoot me,” Tito retorted.
Before I took a breath, another loud boom rebounded around the club.
I flinched, my heart in overdrive.
Mallory let out a squeal, and Duke ushered her to the bar.
Tito shrieked as he stammered, clutching his knee. “Fucking bastard. I’m going to end you once and for all.”
Denim cocked his head, pointing the gun at Tito. “Not the words I want to hear. One more chance, or I will put a bullet in your skull.”
Oh my God!
Instantly, the cloud of rage in my head vanished. Maybe it was the blood soaking Tito’s jeans or the notion that Denim could go back to prison for good. Whatever was making me see clearly, I couldn’t let him go back to prison if he killed Tito.<
br />
I lightly placed my hand on Denim’s back. “Denim, we’re both not thinking straight.”
Denim inched closer to Tito. “Last chance.”
Tito raised his hands, wincing, sweat glistening on his face. “Okay. Put the gun down. I didn’t mean to kill Hector.” Defeat threaded through Tito’s words. “It was an accident. We got into an argument over a supplier, and he wouldn’t listen to me. The next thing I knew, I had his gun in my hands, and he was dead.”
Denim took another step closer to Tito. “Then what? You dumped the gun in my backpack?”
Tito nodded, pain etched on his ugly face.
“Say it,” Denim said through gritted teeth.
“I did,” Tito whispered. “I knew that was your backpack. I couldn’t let my family find out what I’d done. Hector was the prodigal son.”
Every ounce of air in my lungs escaped in a loud rushing sound, and I faltered. That cloud of rage was back, and before I could stop myself, I lunged at Tito, tackling him to the floor.
His back hit the ground with a thud as his hands went around my neck. “Savannah deserved to die,” Tito snarled.
I sank my teeth into his hand.
He cried out. “Bitch.”
Strong hands gripped my arms. “Angel,” Denim said.
I wasn’t an angel. I was the devil at that moment. I wanted Tito to suffer for what he’d done.
Denim pried me off Tito, and once I was on two feet, I spat in Tito’s face. “You are a monster, just like my sister said.” Tears burned my eyes, but I wasn’t going to cry. Not yet. I wasn’t sure Savannah’s written confession or Tito’s verbal one was enough to put him away. It was his word against ours, and Savannah wasn’t there to tell her side of the story.
You have more evidence to put him away than the police had for Denim when the jury convicted him. And you have witnesses. Tito will pay in prison.
“Why did you kill Savannah?” I asked. I knew why. I just wanted to hear him say it. “She never did anything to you. She kept your secret for years while Denim paid for your actions.”
Duke was at my side. “Answer her. Or you’ll feel my wrath next.”
Tito stumbled to his feet, his eyes widening at Duke.
With Duke as scary as he was on one side of me and Denim with a gun on the other side of me, Tito should be scared, although I didn’t see the gun in Denim’s hand anymore.
Tito’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “One of my girls overheard her talking to Duke.” He spat blood on the floor. “I couldn’t let her live.”
Duke took one step toward Tito when an army of law enforcement surrounded us with guns at the ready.
Duke and Denim raised their arms up in the air as though they’d made that very move a million times.
Tito didn’t move.
I snarled at Tito. “I hope you rot in prison for the rest of your life.”
A man behind me with a baritone voice said, “He will.”
As if those two words were a balm to my severed heart, I sagged in relief.
31
Denim
A cop frisked me, removed the gun from the back of my jeans, then cuffed me. Other cops did the same to Duke, Lou, Tito, Mallory, and Jade.
God. Jade.
The bravery she had exhibited when she’d walked in was gone. In its place was fear.
A pang of hurt spread through my chest. The last thing I ever wanted to see was her in cuffs.
Officer Ted Hughes, tall and mean as fuck, helped Jade to the table. “Sit here.” His tone permitted no argument.
Another officer did the same with Mallory, Lou, and Duke.
Then Ted Hughes waltzed up to me and sized me up with a snarl that made the hairs on his mustache twitch. “Denim Hart. I was surprised to hear you got parole.”
“I’m surprised you showed up today,” I said in a nice tone. The last thing I wanted to do was piss off the man. With my luck, he was still going to lock me up for shooting Tito, but honestly, I didn’t give a rat’s ass. I would gladly spend time in jail as long as Jade didn’t. She wouldn’t survive in jail, nor would she have forgiven herself if she had shot Tito dead.
“Dillon is a good friend,” Hughes said.
“Where are the Feds?” They were the ones who’d put a wire on me. They were the ones taping everything.
“I’m right here.” Travers strutted in, scanning the club with his normal scowl.
“Did you get everything on tape?” I asked Travers.
“You fucker. You set me up?” Tito’s voice cracked.
I gave him a crisp nod as a weight was lifted off my shoulders. “You’re lucky I didn’t kill you.”
“You’re dead, Hart.” He flicked his chin at Duke. “Both of you.”
Duke’s nostrils flared. “Careful, Alvarez. You’re incriminating yourself in front of the law.”
A cop escorted Tito and Lou out of the club.
Hughes smoothed his fingers over his salt-and-pepper mustache. The man had gone a bit gray in the six years since he’d arrested me. “We have enough to put him away for life.”
Jade sobbed, and my heart splintered.
“Can you take the cuffs off me?” I asked Hughes. “Unless you’re taking me to jail.”
“You did shoot someone intentionally, and he was unarmed,” Hughes said as a matter of fact.
I would’ve kept shooting Tito until he came clean, but I didn’t say that. “I didn’t kill him. Besides, don’t I get a pat on the back for taking a true murderer off the streets?”
“Hughes,” Travers said, “we agreed I could have my go at Denim before you take him in. We have some unfinished business.”
I should’ve been worried, but I wasn’t. Tito had confessed, and while I hadn’t gotten him to give up a time and location on his gun shipment, I didn’t need the FBI anymore.
Hughes pinched his chin. “When you’re done with Duke and Denim, let me know. I need to question the others anyway.” He sauntered off toward Jade.
I glanced over my shoulder at my girl and mouthed, “I love you.”
She smiled weakly. I was sure she was worried about whether or not she was going to spend some time behind bars. But she didn’t have to worry. She hadn’t done a thing but bring the gun. If she hadn’t, I wasn’t sure Tito would’ve talked.
I cleared my throat. “Are you going to say something, Agent Travers?”
He briefly closed his eyes, no doubt trying to temper his anger, which was evident with the muscle ticking along his jaw. “You didn’t get me what I wanted.”
“I tried.” I packed as much sincerity in those two words as I could. Because I had tried.
Duke stood by me and listened.
An exaggerated sigh escaped Travers. “I should penalize your girl for interrupting things.”
I growled low, grinding my teeth together. “Careful, Travers. I wouldn’t want to have my lawyer contact your superior for harassment.”
He laughed. “I like you, Denim.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
“I’ll get what I want.” He glanced at Duke. “It’s only a matter of time before your brother fucks up.”
Duke kept his mouth shut even though I could detect an air of smugness around him.
I shrugged. “Not my business.” I had other unpleasant words to fire at Travers, but we were ending on a good note, so I zipped my lips.
“Ted,” Travers shouted. “He’s all yours.” Then Travers said to Duke, “A word alone.”
My brother didn’t protest as he followed Travers to a quiet spot away from the traffic.
My pulse sped up as worry cinched my gut. I couldn’t remember if Duke had said anything to incriminate himself before Jade stormed in. Then again, Duke had been well aware of the consequences.
Dillon came out of nowhere. “Hey.”
“How did you get in?” I imagined the club had cops everywhere outside.
He flicked his chin at Ted. “It helps to know the man in charge. You okay?”
A slow smile emerged as my muscles loosened. “Never better. I owe you, bro.”
“You don’t owe me shit. It was easy to get Ted on board. He and his gang unit have been wanting to take down Alvarez for a long time. And Agent Travers didn’t protest either. What do you think he’s saying to Duke now?”
Travers looked as though he were reading Duke the riot act, and my brother wasn’t showing any signs he was the least bit frightened.
“He’s throwing out threat after threat after threat,” I said. After all, that was Travers’s MO. Jade was still immersed in conversation with Ted, as was Mallory. I scratched my wrists. The fucking cuffs were irritating my skin. “You think Jade will spend the night in jail?”
Dillon lifted a shoulder. “Not sure. But if I know Ted, unless there’s a good reason to bring her or any of you in, then he won’t waste his time. He hates paperwork.”
“Can you call Kelton just in case?”
Dillon nodded as Duke sauntered up, hands still in cuffs, while Travers stormed out.
“That went well,” Duke said, not fazed in the least about his conversation with Travers. “How does it feel to have your life back?” he asked me.
“It’s sinking in slowly.” Once I had a place of my own, a job, and Jade on my arm, then I would feel more of a sense of peace.
As if he knew what I was thinking, Duke said, “I want you and Jade to take the penthouse.”
Dillon’s jaw came unhinged.
Mine did as well. “I don’t want handouts, man.” I got the vibe he was feeling guilty.
“This isn’t a handout,” he said. “You need a place of your own until you can get on your feet.”
“He’s staying with me,” Dillon said.
I liked crashing at Dillon’s, but he was getting married, and I couldn’t impose too much longer. I could stay with Jade, or we could get our own place. “Why are you suddenly offering?”
Duke’s chest heaved. “I didn’t help you when you went to prison. I didn’t visit you. I’m sorry about that. I want to show you I’m not a complete asshole.”
Hart of Vengeance: The Hart Series Page 23