Then, I heard a yelp. It was muffled, and it was shrouded, but it was there. My eyes widened. My heart stopped in my chest. I looked up and around the room at the guys, and the look on their faces told me they had heard the exact same sound. Maverick’s hand stopped moving around on my back. He stepped up beside me, his hands pressed into the table. Listening carefully for any other sounds.
“What was that, Daddy?” I asked.
“Gabby, run!” my mother exclaimed.
Then, I heard the yelp again. The muffled yelp that shocked my heart back to life.
“Mom!?” I asked.
“You have no idea what you’ve done, princess. What you’ve compromised. What position you’ve put me in. You’re a selfish, spoiled little child. And something in me told me you’d throw it back in my face. You’ll never take the seat of this family. Not after the betrayal you’ve brought down upon me. But if you come home, we can talk about this. And maybe, just maybe, we can work this out.”
“There isn’t a damn thing in the world that will bring me back to that house, Dad. Nothing. And if I have anything to do with it, I’m getting my sisters out of there as well.”
His chuckle sent my stomach tumbling in on itself.
“Nothing, huh? You think you don’t have a price? Everyone has a price, Gabriela. The cartel taught me that. Hell, I’ve leveraged that moot point in order to make my millions. Everyone has a price, even if that price isn’t monetary. I have a price. Your sisters have a price. And you have a price.”
“I’m not coming back home, Daddy.”
“Not even to save your mother’s and your sisters?”
I felt my world shut down. I felt my body swaying on its feet. I heard my mother whimpering and trying to call out for me in the background. My father’s chuckle was cold. Calculating. Psychopathic. Where were my sisters? What was he doing to my mother? I felt a pair of strong hands come down onto me before my ass hit a chair that seemingly materialized. I felt something cold on the back of my neck as a small bottle of water was placed in my hand. I looked down at it. Like that damn bottle of water was supposed to save my mother. Or make me feel better. Or generally, soothe the swirling nonsense rolling around in my mind.
“Your arrival home for your mother’s and sister’s lives, that’s my deal. And you only get one, Gabby. Everyone I do business with only gets one deal,” my father said.
Then, the line went dead.
Chapter 21
Maverick
I watched the panic flood Gabby’s features. I watched her eyes glaze over. I watched her entire world come crashing down onto her shoulders in that very moment. Her body teetered, and she swayed on her feet, which was enough to jump all of the guys into action.
Even Jace.
“I’ll get her a wet cloth and some water,” he said.
“Gabby, come on. Let me sit you down,” I said.
“Do you think she’ll eat something if I get it for her?” Duke said.
“I think we need to talk about what the hell we’re gonna do about this,” Colt said.
I gripped Gabby’s forearms and steadied her body. I helped lower her into the chair as Jace came striding back with a wet cloth and a small bottle of water. He handed it to me before I pressed it against the nape of her neck, and Dean reached over to smooth her hair out of the way. Jace cracked the bottle of water open and brandished a straw, then stuck it into the bottle and held it to Gabby’s lips.
“Drink. It’s going to make you feel better,” he said.
“Do you guys believe me now?” I asked as I looked around.
All of the guys nodded their heads at me as I looked at them, one by one. And when my eyes fell down to Jace--who was crouched in front of Gabby--he nodded his head as well. Finally, we were all fucking onboard with what the hell was going on. Then, I grew more concerned about Gabby. She was shaking. Almost violently. Her hands kept rubbing up and down her thighs like she was trying to massage the evil out of her life. She stopped drinking the water and started slowly shaking her head. I blew on the nape of her neck, cooling the cloth and watching her body react to the sensation.
Goosebumps trickled down her arms as Jace drew in a breath to speak.
“We need to get to her mother,” he said.
“And she can’t come with us,” Dean said.
“Trust me, I agree. But we’ve got no idea what we’re walking into,” I said.
“Plus, we need Gabby to talk us through the layout of her house. We don’t have time to do recon or any of the other things we’re used to doing,” Colt said.
“She could stay here at the bar. Back in the lockdown room,” Duke said.
“I can get Leti to come to keep her company if she doesn’t want to be alone,” Jace said.
“That’s a good idea, actually. Since we don’t know who knows how much about the group. Leti would be safe back there as well,” Duke said.
“She didn’t give any of that information to her family,” I said curtly.
“But if she can get her hands on it, we have to assume anyone can. It’s only precautionary,” Colt said.
“My home has seven bedrooms and seven and a half baths,” Gabby said weakly.
All of us stopped talking and turned our gazes to watch her.
“The driveway is going to leave you completely in the open. My father mowed down most of the trees on the property, so once you reach them you’re out in the open on all sides of the house,” Gabby said.
“What is the layout of the inside? You don’t have to worry about us getting to your front door,” Dean said.
“There’s a sliding back patio door and a front door. There’s also a fire escape ladder that drops from the second floor on the left-hand side if you’re staring at the front of the house,” she said.
“That’s good. How’s the inside laid out?” Colt asked.
“You walk in through the front door, and it’s a massive open foyer. An onyx chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Straight back is the kitchen. The door to your right is my father’s office. The archway to your left leads you into the living room,” she said.
“What about the second floor?” Dean asked.
“Two staircases line the opposite walls of the foyer. They lead up to the second floor that has three distinct hallways. It’s easier to describe if I draw you a picture of it,” she said.
I looked over at Duke, and he dashed off for a pen and a sheet of paper. The map she drew was crude, but it got the point across. Dean set off to get our tactical van while Colt pulled the guys aside and started walking through possible plans of entry.
And me?
Well, I crouched down in front of Gabby and took her hands within mine.
“Okay. Here’s how this is going to go down. You’re going to stay here with Leti in a panic room we’ve got it back. You’ll be safe there, and once we’re done we’ll come to get you both,” I said.
“None of the guys will stay behind with us?” she asked.
“Some of our club members will come to fill the bar, yes. Duke’s calling a couple of them that we know will keep an eye out for things. But once we open the bar, as usual, it’ll be full of our guys. The two of you will be beyond safe in there. I promise.”
“Please get my mother out,” she whispered.
I brought her hands to my lips to kiss before nodding my head against them.
“I promise we will do everything to get her back,” I said.
“My sisters. I have no idea what he’s done to them.”
“The goal is for us to get him away from them. Not the other way around. Focusing on taking away one person is easier than focusing on removing and protecting six. But I promise you, if we can get them safe, we will. No matter the cost.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
I rose up and kissed her lips. “We will get all of them safe. No matter the cost.”
“Then what?” she whispered.
I grinned down at her before pressing a kiss to the top o
f her head. “Then, we move forward. Together.”
I watched a small smile appear on her cheeks. And just as quickly as it had formed, it disappeared. But the point of my statement wasn’t to get her to smile. It was to reassure her that things hadn’t changed. That her father hadn’t ruined anything. The guys were on her side now. They didn’t offer to help people unless they knew there was danger looming. It would take some time for her to be accepted. But for now, she was protected.
And that was the most important thing.
“Come on. Let’s get you set up in the panic room so we can take care of this,” I said.
“Aren’t we supposed to be waiting for Leti?” she asked.
“I’m here! I’m here. Hey guys. How’s it going?” Leti asked.
Gabby whipped her head around and looked at the woman approaching us. I reached my arm out and hugged Leti with it, then Jace and I led the girls back behind the bar. We led them through the kitchen and down a small hallway, then Jace began punching a code into the keypad on the wall. The panic room door popped open, and the lights came on, exposing the entire back room we had outfitted for instances just like this one.
“It has beds,” Gabby said.
“That, it does. Very comfortable beds, too. There’s a fridge in the corner, and its stocked with things to eat and drink. We’ll keep in touch via the intercom system in the room, and the television in the corner is loaded with movies and such. You two make yourselves comfortable,” Jace said.
“How long can we expect to be in here?” Leti asked.
“Once we’ve got everything secured, we can remotely unlock the door for you guys. So, you won’t have to wait for us to get back,” I said.
Gabby nodded her head but didn’t speak.
“You okay?” Jace asked.
Gabby slowly panned her gaze over to him before she drew in a deep breath.
“I need you guys to be okay. I don’t need any more blood on my hands,” she said.
Then, Jace stepped up to the plate.
“The only person in your family with blood on their hands is your father. None of this is your responsibility. You aren’t the one holding your mother hostage. He is. We’ll do everything we can to get your mother and the rest of your family safe. And until we do, you and my fiancé are staying here,” Jace said.
“Wait a second. Fiancé?” I asked.
Jace grinned as I looked over at Leti, who was practically all smiles.
“Holy shit, man. Congratulations,” I said.
“We’ll celebrate when this stuff is wrapped up. Leti?” Jace asked.
“Yes… fiancé?” she asked coyly.
“Take care of the new girl. She’s one of us now,” he said.
“Will do, love. We’ll binge-watch movies and eat up all the food,” Leti said.
“Sounds like a good time. Can I join when we get back?” I asked.
“You better come back,” Gabby said.
I cupped her cheek and brought her in for a kiss as Jace and Leti grinned at us both.
“I promise you, I’m coming back,” I said.
Chapter 22
Gabriela
The door to the room closed and I listened as it sealed us in. The lights stayed on, and the air source kicked in, leaving Leti and myself alone. Together. I slowly turned her way as she shoved her hand into the pocket of her pants. She pulled out the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen before slipping it onto her left ring finger as a smile overtook her face.
“Jace was wary about telling everyone so soon,” she said.
“Why?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve found that he worries about a lot of things he shouldn’t.”
“Do you… know who I am?”
Leti nodded. “I do. Jace talked me through all of it before I came here.”
“So, you know who my father is.”
“I do, yes.”
“And you don’t… want to kill me?” I asked.
“Why would I want to kill you? You’re not the one who kidnapped and gave the order to kill my brother.”
Tears rose to my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Leti.”
“Like I said, not your problem.”
“You can yell and scream at me, you know.”
The truth was, I had braced for it. I prepared myself for it. The second I was told she was coming to be contained in this room with me, I knew I’d have to fight for my own life. Hell, if I were in her position, I’d want to kill me, too. But instead of yelling and screaming and attacking me, she merely held out her hand.
“Why don’t we sit down for this? Maybe get a snack, too. I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry,” she said.
“Well, you are eating for two. It doesn’t shock me in the slightest,” I said.
Leti winced, and I bit down onto my cheek to keep from speaking any more.
“You really did your research,” she said flatly.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“You and Jace might get along in that regard. He’s the information digger-upper of the group, too.”
“He is?”
“Mhm. Your man’s good with numbers and calculations. Plans and things like that. But Jace? He’s the tech guru. I mean, he used to be a paramedic, but what he really enjoys doing is hacking and finding information.”
The two of us went over to the refrigerator and pulled out some fruit juice and opened a bag of chips. We sat it between the two of us as we flopped down onto a bed, covering ourselves with blankets and things. It felt like a pow-wow. Like a teenage slumber party.
Not like we were hiding for our lives.
“Why aren’t you yelling at me?” I asked.
Leti wiped her hand off before she reached out and took mine. “Because the Roja Diablos Cartel are evil people, Gabby. They’re professionals at manipulating those around them. I should know. They did it to me for months. These people know how to get exactly what they want, and they don’t care about the collateral damage.”
“But I willingly helped my father.”
“Because he convinced you there was some throne to take over. Because he led you to believe that the business he did with these people was legitimate and above-board. He manipulated you, Gabriela. Just like Sebastian manipulated me.”
Tears rose to my eyes at that name. “He was my uncle, you know.”
Leti cocked her head. “The two of you were related?”
“Not by blood. But, he was close with my family. Came for every holiday. Stopped by randomly to see how we were all doing. We called him ‘Uncle Sebastian’ because of how close he was to my father. But when I found out what he did--.”
I swallowed hard as she squeezed my hand.
“I’m so sorry, Leti,” I said breathlessly.
“You have no reason to be sorry. You were deceived, just like me. You wanted to make someone happy and for me? That someone was my brother. For you? It was your father. Hell, I would’ve done anything my father asked of me growing up if it meant making him proud. In a heartbeat.”
“I should’ve known he was lying.”
“You were a child, Gabby. In some ways, we’re all still children. I don’t blame you for this situation at all. I need you to understand that.”
I nodded as I pulled my hand from hers and wiped at my eyes. I took a few more bites of the food in front of me, then guzzled down the fruit juice. I wondered how the guys were doing. Where they were and what they were up to. I laid back on the bed as Leti spread out on the other end, our bodies covered in the blankets that kept us warm.
“I’m so happy all of this is almost over,” Leti said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to tell you, but I know the guys are trying to push the cartel out of the town. From the way Jace talks about it, they’ve got a hefty plan in place.”
“What are they planning on doing?” I asked.
“Don’t take it personally when I refuse to tell you. The only reason I
’m not is because I’m not technically supposed to know,” she said, chuckling.
I grinned. “I suppose that is official club business or whatever.”
“I do think it’s silly sometimes, though. You know, how secretive they are.”
“And how much their leather cuts match.”
Leti and I giggled together. It felt good, talking with someone like her. I didn’t have many friends. Hell, I didn’t have any friends at all. This was the closest I’d ever come to having a friend that was a girl, and it felt nice.
“You think after all of this is said and done, we could go get some ice cream or something?” I asked.
“You asking me out on a date?”
I laughed out loud. “A girl date, yes.”
“I can get behind some ice cream. But only if I drench it in caramel.”
“And peanuts.”
“Oh, you’re my kind of woman.”
“Jace better watch out. I can give a mean back massage,” I said.
“That’s it. I’m leaving him. Hello, Gabby. How are you today?” she asked.
The two of us fell apart in laughter before I heard a clicking sound fill the corners of the panic room.
“What are the two of you going on about?” Jace asked.
“Jace?” Leti asked.
“Don’t stop laughing on our account,” Maverick said.
“Ah, the intercom system,” I said.
“Now I really want to know what they were giggling about,” Dean said.
“Can all of you hear us?” Leti asked.
“Unfortunately,” Colt said.
The two of us laughed again as we sat up on the bed.
“So, what’s so funny?” Jace asked.
“I’m leaving you for Gabby and her taste in ice cream,” Leti said.
“And my back massages,” I said.
“She does give great ones. You’re in trouble,” Maverick said.
“Well, it was nice knowing you, Leti. I get the weekends with the kid,” Jace said.
“Oh, how nice of you to fight for me,” Leti said flatly.
Maverick (The Black Hornets MC Book 2) Page 13