by Carmen Faye
He straddled his bike, ready to go, but he didn’t rev it to life until all eight of them were seated and had put on helmets or eye protection. “Let’s do this!” he hollered, and the reverb from the engines coming to life put a smile on his face. This was going to be fun, even if it turned out to be a duel in the end. Having this kind of crew made it all worth it.
It seemed like it had been forever since he’d ridden out in a group like this, and he’d almost forgotten the pleasure it brought. For a while, at least, he could pretend there wasn’t any grave danger, and they weren’t headed into a bad situation. He could almost forget that Maya was a prisoner, and that the Scorpions wanted him dead. It was just a ride with some of his family, and that was invigorating.
It wasn’t until they were close—about half an hour from their destination—that he started to remember their purpose fully, and it made him nervous. Vance wasn’t the type of guy who wanted to endanger others because he was on a mission or had adventure in mind. Yet, here he was, drawing seven other men into what could be a deadly situation, and he was risking Maya’s life in the process. It’s why he’d wanted to handle things alone.
When the first small caves came into view, he signaled to the others, and they slowed, all of them tuning the noise down and rolling slowly. They found a secluded place amongst the brush and between caverns to stow the bikes, leaving them a reasonable walk to the larger caves they meant to inspect. Vance led the way with Dusty just a bit behind but near his side.
As they got close enough to see the openings of the first larger caverns, he drew a gun, and he could hear the others preparing for confrontation as well. But they crept up on every cave that looked like it could hold several people as a hideout with no luck. Grimacing at the bad luck, Vance turned back and stormed toward the bikes.
“You knew we probably weren’t going to hit the lucky spot on the first try,” Dusty reminded him, as he hurried to catch up to Vance. He eyed his friend, noting that Dusty had tucked his gun away already. Vance still carried his, not sure that the Scorpions didn’t use these caves at all. He had a feeling they had product of some kind stored here, or at least used the caverns for their benefit. That meant there might be one or two Scorpions trolling around here.
“I know. That doesn’t make me any happier about it,” Vance clipped out.
Dusty grumbled something under his breath and said, “Let’s regroup by the bikes and put together a strategy for the next spot.”
Vance scoffed. “I thought you didn’t like that spot.”
“I don’t, but you’re right. It makes sense to hit it next. Let’s just get it out of the way so if your girl’s there, we get her back today, and if not, we can mark the damn location off our list and start fresh tomorrow.”
It sounded like a decent plan to Vance, and though he was still pissed at the waste of time here, he at least felt better about blasting through all the options quickly. He nodded. “Alright then. That’s what we’ll do.”
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Maya couldn’t complain about the food. Last night’s dinner had been homemade enchiladas with rice and beans, and this morning, she’d had migas with chorizo. She was eating well, not starving, and she’d been allowed to sleep in a bed last night. Even though her ankle had been cuffed to the metal bar, it had been a relief to lie down and to have the ropes off her wrists.
And the salve the old woman had put on the sores on her wrists, taken straight from aloe plants, had started to heal amazingly already. She was literally being treated more like a guest now than a prisoner, and it was nice. But it also made her feel like a pig being fattened up for the slaughter.
Now, it was closing in on lunchtime, and Maya’s stomach was growling at the thought of whatever would be delivered this time. Tres Amenazas tended to stick around for at least half of the time it took her to eat. She would likely be drawn into some sort of conversation with him. He wasn’t a bad guy as a whole, and he could be interesting to talk to. He was certainly intelligent.
But he was manipulative, and he was obviously a mortal enemy of the man she loved. She didn’t care that she couldn’t be with Vance. That didn’t affect how important his well-being was to her. She didn’t want him dead or injured, and she didn’t want him looking over his shoulder for this guy or the rest of his crew. She didn’t trust the leader of the Scorpions as far as she could throw him, and Maya was sure he had ulterior motives with her.
The suspicion was reinforced when he had shown up this morning with fresh clothes and a clock. He’d also had a box of books sent in so she had something to do, and rather than tie her up, he’d shut the door and promptly locked it up tight as a bank vault. She had to be valuable beyond a few grand for him to keep improving her living quarters. How long did he plan to have her here? Was it really going to take that long for Vance to do whatever Tres Amenazas asked?
It was almost two, and Maya was getting anxious. She was hungry, and when she was too hungry, she got angry. She paced the floor back and forth, unable to focus past her emptiness to read, and the motion reminded her how long it had been since she’d worked out. It also brought out the thought of having her hair and nails done and getting a massage to ease the tension and soreness from the abuse and discomfort of being tied up. When she got out of this mess, she fully intended to schedule an entire spa weekend to renew and rejuvenate herself.
She heard the locks on the door click, and Maya felt relief wash over her. Tres Amenazas came in with a guy who was very obviously not one of the gang, followed by a young member pushing a cart full of food. Her mouth watered at the aroma of rosemary chicken, red potatoes sautéed in some sort of lemon sauce, and what looked like a fresh spinach salad. But she didn’t have the luxury of lingering on the meal for long, feeling wary of the stranger.
The man she didn’t know immediately took a seat at the table, looking at her intensely but not speaking. Tres Amenazas approached with a smile. “Good afternoon, mujer. You seem a little agitated.”
She forced a hesitant smile, her eyes locked on the stranger. “I’m a little hungry. Otherwise, I’m fine.”
He motioned her toward the table, and she walked slowly to her usual seat, changing her mind and sitting at the opposite corner from the stranger. Tres Amenazas sat next to her, across from him, and the young Scorpion placed the food on the table. “Maya, this is Alejandro Jimenez. He is a business associate of mine whom I invited to lunch. Alejandro, this is Maya.”
“I know who she is,” the man grunted, stabbing at the chicken on his plate as if it offended him.
Of course, his tone didn’t sound all too pleasant, either, and Maya was proud of her intuition. Still, for her captor’s sake, she said, “Nice to meet you.”
He grunted again, and now, Maya didn’t like him on principle. He obviously had an issue with women, and she dealt with that at work a lot. But to be so blatantly condescending pissed her off. Alejandro shoveled in three enormous bites, barely chewing, and he spoke before he swallowed. “Are we going to talk business or what, jefe?”
Apparently, Tres Amenazas had earned the title of ‘boss’ even outside his motorcycle club. He nodded and ate in a much more civilized manner. Not wanting to lose her appetite, Maya kept her head down and her eyes on her own plate as she forked up the first taste, telling herself she wouldn’t look up at the new guy’s terrible manners. He was truly disgusting.
Finishing his bite and not taking another, Tres Amenazas responded, “You’ve seen the product. Tell me what you would pay for it, and we can perhaps negotiate from there.”
So, Alejandro was a client who bought whatever product the Scorpions traded. She still wasn’t clear on that at this point, and Maya wished she knew what the ‘product’ was, even if it was only out of morbid curiosity.
The stranger apparently didn’t know how to refrain from speaking with his mouth full, as he mumbled through the bite, “I’m still trying to determine that. It depends on how long I have to prepare for delivery, quantity,
and whether I will have to meet you somewhere to pick up the product. But if we are only talking about one unit of stellar product, I would say somewhere in the ballpark of seventy.”
Maya didn’t look at him, but she paused with a bite halfway to her mouth. Seventy thousand? Is that what he meant? And that was for a single unit of excellent…whatever. She waited as Tres Amenazas replied, “I think you are trying to cheat me, hermano. You know even the average units are worth more than that. I would have expected a better offer from you.”
“Come out with it then, cabron. How much do you want for it?”
From the corner of her eye, Maya could see her captor pushing food around on his plate while he sweated the other guy. He was calm enough, but she could almost feel excitement boiling inside him. “I think I should ask at least one-twenty.”
The newcomer nearly choked on his food, and Maya secretly celebrated his pain. “You must be kidding, old man.”
“You know you will more than double that in profit inside a week, Alejandro,” Tres Amenazas told him, sounding entirely unconcerned.
With that kind of price and resale value, Maya was more curious than ever, but she wasn’t going to ask questions in front of the potential buyer. That wouldn’t keep her in el jefe’s good graces for long. If she thought it wouldn’t upset him, she’d ask him later.
“You’re right, and I guess I could offer that. But not a single mark on it, jefe. I want it completely unharmed, no marks or dings or dents or scratches. Nothing, jefe, do you understand me?”
With a broad smile, Tres Amenazas nodded. “I’m going to take you on your word for now. But in a couple of days, I expect to shake on it. Be ready with cash, and I will deliver.” They ate in silence after that, and Maya was glad when Tres Amenazas ushered Alejandro out quickly, about fifteen minutes after they’d arrived. Now, she could really enjoy her dinner.
Boldly, Maya chanced a question. “If you can make that much money off one small sell, why aren’t you happy with the chunk of money you’ll be getting? Couldn’t you just leave Vance and his guys alone?”
He shook his head, not at all offended by the question. He leaned back in his chair and continued to eat as he gave his casual explanation. “It’s not always about dinero, you know. Sometimes, it’s principle; sometimes it’s about respect. And sometimes, it’s about opening a new door for opportunity or taking advantage of a small thing that could turn into a profitable business deal.”
“Because that’s not cryptic.” Maya shook her head. “So, basically, this is to gain respect and take advantage of some crazy opportunity.”
“You could say that, though it’s not quite true. But it’s probably the closest you can come to defining it.” Maya wanted to put a fist through the wall at his vagueness, but she let it go, just clenching her jaw instead. “Anyway, don’t worry about it. Your man, I’m sure he’s getting things done. Soon, we’ll all be better off, okay?”
He stood to leave, and Maya stayed seated, angry and refusing to move. “I guess I’ll see you later,” she sighed, not looking at him.
“Yes, and if things go well, you’ll see your man, too. Chin up, mujer, we are almost at the end of all this.” He left, closing and sealing the door behind him. It was for the best, really, since Maya was ready to bum rush him and the exit to try to escape. She swept a hand across the table, knocking everything to the ground with a growl of frustration. The cleanup crew would come eventually and get rid of the mess. Right now, Maya couldn’t care less, and that was unusual for her. She got up and stormed over to the bed, throwing herself down on her back and staring at the ceiling.
There had to be another answer. Whatever el jefe had in mind was going to get them all killed or put them in a bad situation. She could tell by his lack of desire to be honest or straightforward, two things he’d been up to this point. But that was okay. She would either drag it out of him or talk him into taking another path, one that would still lead to security for everyone involved without the danger involved in this secretive proposition.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Ready to start shooting people at random, Vance whirled and started back toward the bikes. This was the second dead end they’d checked out today, and he was tired of wasting time. They were too close to the Scorpion clubhouse, and it put them in too much danger to come out empty-handed like this.
Even Dusty didn’t try to reassure him right now, and that spoke volumes about the blackness of his mood. He needed to get on his bike and ride, and he needed to end up somewhere alone. He wasn’t safe to be around.
“Hey, boss! Wait up!” Jaybird called to him. Vance didn’t respond. The kid was fairly new, and he wouldn’t know how dangerous it was to bother Ice. Vance didn’t want to do anything stupid, so he kept walking. “Hold on, boss, I got something!” His tone was insistent, but Vance didn’t hear the words.
All he heard was someone who wouldn’t leave him alone, and he rounded on the kid as Jaybird caught up to him. He looked daggers at the kid. “If you want to come on runs like this, and you want to live, you need to learn when to shut your mouth. Caleb, get him out of my face before I plow into his.”
He turned again and was shocked to hear Jaybird argue, “I can shut up and live or I can risk your nasty temper and maybe find your girl. In the long run, I think I’d better tell you what I know.”
Vance knew he wasn’t being rational, but he saw red as he turned to look at Jaybird again. “You sure do have an attitude, kid.”
But Jaybird didn’t budge, and Vance had to admire the determine set to his jaw. “Here’s what I figure. I have something that can help. If I piss you off now, I’m in trouble. But if I don’t give you this stuff and you find out later it was a good lead, I’m probably in bigger trouble. I’d rather get pummeled now so I can start healing, if you know what I mean.”
The kid was a punk. Vance had already known that. But he had a point, and Vance reluctantly stopped fighting it. He crossed his arms and demanded, “Hurry up.”
He held up a small device about the size of a phone, and it had some sort of map on it. “Check this out. This thing is like GPS and infrared sensor and mapping tool all in one. It gets you where you want to go, but it also finds new places that aren’t mapped, either because they show up as weird structures on an elevation reading or because it shows infrared movement.” He pointed to a wavering spot right in the middle of the screen. “That’s both. It’s a structure GPS doesn’t recognize, and something human or animal is moving around inside it.”
Vance frowned at it, trying to pinpoint where this newfound location existed. “Where is it?”
Jaybird squinted and pointed southeast. “Looks like maybe a mile, just over the crest of that little hill right there.”
“Could it be a snake den?” Vance asked sarcastically. He didn’t want to raid a cave full of nasty creatures just because this techno-geek thought he might have found Maya.
“I doubt it. Snakes are cold-blooded. Coyotes, maybe, but they’d probably be sleeping, not moving around. It’s hot and sunny. I bet my life it’s people. I was sure enough to mess with you, wasn’t I?” he asked.
That was true. It took a lot of confidence and stupidity to confront Vance and do what he told him not to when he was in a mood. Jaybird had plenty of both. “Boys, get a drink. We’re hoofing it over the hill.”
To Vance’s relief, the entrance wasn’t faced directly toward them. It rose immediately over the horizon when they reached the small bump Jaybird referred to as a hill. There were two Scorpions out front, playing some strange card game on a makeshift table and a couple of trucks. He didn’t see any sign of other crew members milling around or standing guard. This could be a quick in and out job, if they played their cards right.
And based on what he saw, Vance would bet his nuts Maya was in there. It just seemed right.
It looked like little more than a shack that hid an outhouse, which was why it hadn’t shown up on the aerial map. Some things were just too small. But he had
a feeling there was a pretty vast underground network below, which likely connected to the clubhouse and a couple of other locations. That meant they needed to silence the two men above ground, go in as quiet as possible, and get Maya without attracting any attention. They didn’t need the Scorpions swarming them from all directions when they were stuck underground.
Vance’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he cursed under his breath. He couldn’t move forward without checking the message, just in case it was from Tres Amenazas. Motioning to the others to keep still and quiet, he pulled out the phone and clenched his jaw when he saw it was from Maya’s phone. He opened the text and read.
Our new ad, ese. Check out our product.
It was followed by a picture obviously taken from one of Maya’s photo shoots that read ‘Prime White Meat for Your Pleasure. Going Fast!’ The words were repeated in Spanish, and Vance gawked at the image. Was that supposed to get his goat up, or was it real?