“See? I excel in that arena, too. I can kick some ass,” Gabby said.
“Sounds like she’s more of a man than you are, Jace,” Duke said, chuckling.
“Okay. Okay. I see how it is. You and I will have words, Gabby,” Jace said.
“But on a serious note, how are the two of you doing?” Maverick asked.
“We’re doing okay. Talking. Eating chips. Generally being worried about you guys,” Leti said.
“Where are you guys right now?” I asked.
“We’re about six minutes out from your house. I’m trying to get into the wireless internet system of your home to take charge of the surveillance system you laid out for us in your layout you did for us,” Jace said.
“Would you just like the password?” I asked.
There was a beat of silence before the guys fell apart in laughter. Leti snickered at me as I shrugged my shoulders, then the two of us started laughing as well.
“The big bad hacker over here’s trying all sorts of combinations!” Maverick exclaimed.
“You’re never living this one down,” Dean said.
“Okay, assholes. Gabby, if you could be so kind as to give me the password to your internet at the house, I’d greatly appreciate it,” Jace said.
“So proper. I’ve never heard him talk to me that way,” Leti said.
And the only thing Jace responded with was a growl.
“Yep. That’s more like it,” Leti said, grinning.
“Okay, Jace. You ready?” I asked.
I rattled off the incredibly long password for him, then the guys cut the call. They promised to call back once everything was said and done, which left Leti and me in the dark for an undefined amount of time. The two of us settled onto the bed and munched on chips, sitting in silence and trying to calm our swirling minds.
“I’m really glad there’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” Leti said.
“I can only hope no one gets hurts trying to sprint to it,” I said.
“What will you do after this is all said and done?”
I got up and grabbed us more drinks, giving myself time to gather my thoughts.
“I’m honestly not sure. Maverick and I haven’t really talked about it. On the one hand, I don’t have anything. I’ve got a small savings account. Some money in my checking. But, my father also has access to my accounts. So, for all I know, I’ve got nothing,” I said.
“I’m so sorry, Gabby.”
“I don’t really know what the plan is after this, honestly. Right now, I can’t see past getting my mother and my sisters safe. But, I am glad I’m out. I’m glad I’m done with the cartel and done with all of this… shit.”
“How many sisters do you have?”
“Five,” I said breathlessly.
“Wow. It was just Nicholas and myself. I couldn’t imagine having five sisters.”
“And all of them younger, to boot.”
“Nope. That’s okay with me. Having one younger brother was enough.”
I looked over at Leti. “I’m so sorry for what they did to him.”
“You aren’t the one who owes me an apology. I killed the man who owed me one. Far as I’m concerned, that’s as good of a fate as any for someone like him.”
“And I agree with you on that,” I said.
Silence fell upon us before Leti reached over and grabbed the television remote.
“Want to find something to watch?” she asked.
“What do you like watching?”
“Honestly? I think we could all use a bit of comedy in our lives right now.”
“Then, let’s find something that’ll make us laugh,” I said.
Chapter 23
Maverick
“You get in?” Dean asked.
“Give me just a second…” Jace said.
“I still can’t believe you didn’t think to just ask Gabby in the first place,” Duke said, chuckling.
“Hey, none of you assholes thought of it, either,” Jace said.
“We can laugh and bullshit about it later, guys. Right now, we need a plan. We need to know what the hell’s going on inside that house and now,” Colt said.
“Who twisted your panties in a wad?” Jace asked.
“Don’t ever say that again. Colt in panties is a disgusting image,” Duke said.
“Never told you to envision it,” Jace said, smirking.
“Enough,” Dean said curtly.
“Okay. I’m in,” Jace said.
“What’s going on in her house?” I asked.
“Before I run through any of that, I need to disable the shit at the front gate. Give me a second,” Jace said.
His fingers typed quickly across his keyboard as green things on his screen started turning red. I made my way to the front of the truck with the rest of the guys and started suiting up for the recon mission. Bulletproof vests. Guns and ammunition on every part of my person. Mace in my back pocket. An intercom in my ear to keep in touch with the guys. I tightened my vest around me before picking up the gun I’d rush out of the truck with, then went and sat back down by Jace.
“Got anything?” I asked.
“Yep. Got the lasers timed to disable at the front gate in four minutes. Got the cameras ready to shut down one by one between five and eleven minutes. One every thirty seconds. Now, I’m surveying the grounds,” Jace said.
“Good work,” Dean said.
“I don’t see anything going on the outside of the house, but none of the cameras are pointed to the edges of the property where the woods are. Inside, however, is a different story,” Jace said.
“How so?” Colt asked.
“I’ve got each of the sisters in their rooms--.”
“There are cameras in their rooms?” I asked.
“Oh, yeah. One camera for each room. The only place I don’t see them is in the bathrooms,” Jace said.
“I’m not sure if that’s a redeeming thing or not,” Duke said.
“Okay. I’ve got each of the sisters in their rooms, but they’re tied up. Bound at the ankles and wrists. I’m flipping through the cameras, but I still don’t see him or Gabby’s mother,” Jace said.
“Well, keep looking. And quick. Because we’re only two minutes out,” Dean said.
“I got them!” Jace exclaimed.
“Where are they?” Duke asked.
“Cornered in his office. And he’s not alone. She’s in a chair, he’s got a gun pointed at the back of her head, and he’s talking with three guys,” Jace said.
“Built? Stats?” Dean asked.
“Eh, they’re taller than her father. So, I’d say the three men are between six-two and six-four. Anywhere between two hundred and two hundred and twenty pounds. They aren’t meaty like Maverick over here,” Jace said.
“Good. They’ll be easy to take down, then,” I said.
“The guys are scattering from the office, so I’m going to try and follow them. But that means we’re dealing with at least six men, not including her father,” Jace said.
“Because for every one we do see?” Dean asked.
“There’s one we don’t,” the guys responded.
“Good. Now, you guys get ready. That’s as much preparation as we get. I’m about to ease up to the gate,” Dean said.
Jace shut everything down and quickly slipped into his own tactical gear. I fitted him for his ear intercom before he chose his weapon of choice. Then, we all sat and listened. It was eerily quiet outside. And that was never good for missions like this. If people had already started shooting at us, it at least gave us directions to pinpoint with our weapons. But getting out of the back of our bulletproof van and not having any direction to use to pinpoint the threats?
That was always the more dangerous situation.
“You guys ready?” Colt asked.
Dean eased the van to a stop before I reached for the door handle. Dean looked back at me and nodded, then we tossed the doors open and silently poured out of the van. Heel-toe. Heel-t
oe. Right foot. Left foot. We fell in line and wrapped around the house, dispersing the way Dean commanded us to. He sent Jace and Duke to the front door before the rest of us wrapped around the left side of the house. He sent Colt up the fire escape Gabby, and I had used to get out the first time, then Dean and myself ended up at the back patio doors.
“On the count of three,” Dean said.
“One,” I said.
“Two,” Colt said.
“Three,” Duke said.
Crashes resounded around the house, and I heard the deafening scream of an older woman. Gunshots popped off as footsteps sounded upstairs. It was pure chaos for a brief moment as bullets riddled the walls of the home. Shrieks from the girls were heard overhead as Colt started rattling off in our ears.
“Got two men up here taken out. I’m heading into the girl’s bedrooms to untie them.”
“Good work. I don’t think her father and her mother are in the office anymore though,” Dean said.
“Nope. They’re in the kitchen. I see them,” Duke said.
“What are they doing in the kitchen?” I asked.
“Hold on. Two assailants. Give me a second,” Duke said.
“Got one of the sister’s untied. What’s the plan for when I get them free?” Colt asked.
“Keep them with you. Gather them all in one room and stay there with them,” Dean said.
“Duke, you good?” I asked.
I heard more gunshots pop off before Duke sighed in my ear.
“Two men down in the foyer,” he said.
“Gabby’s father has her mother tied to a chair in the kitchen,” Jace said.
“Dean! Look out!” I exclaimed.
He hit the floor just as a man whipped around the corner and I took aim at his head. With one shot, I put a bullet between his eyes and he hit the floor. I heard another behind me and whipped around, taking aim at his chest. I popped two off and watched him hit his knees, then his eyes went blank as he fell to the carpet.
“You good, Dean?” I asked.
“Fuck me, I’m getting old,” he said.
“Maverick? Dean? You guys okay?” Duke asked.
“Got three of the five sisters freed,” Colt said.
“Good job, Colt. Keep going. The rest of you? Get your asses to the kitchen,” Dean said.
Dean and I made our way through the house before we found the side entrance to the kitchen. Duke and Jace already had their guns trained on the man, but his hand was unwavering against his weapon. He pressed it to the back of his wife’s head, his eyes on a swivel.
And when he spotted Dean and me, we leveled our guns at him as well.
“It’s over, Alejandro,” Jace said.
“We’ve got you surrounded. Your men are down,” Duke said.
“Please help me,” Gabby’s mother whimpered.
“Shut up, you old hag,” Alejandro said.
“Got all the daughters safe and in the room closest to the back of the house. You sure you guys don’t need backup?” Colt asked.
“Stay with them and don’t you move until I say so,” Dean said.
“Stay with who?” Alejandro asked.
“None of your damn business,” I grumbled.
“Where’s Gabby? Is she okay?” her mother asked.
“I said, ‘shut up’!” Alejandro exclaimed.
He rose his hand to hit her with the butt of his gun and Dean took his chance. He took aim at the man’s moving arm and shot at his elbow, forcing him to release the weapon. It clattered to the kitchen floor and went off, shooting the man directly in his ankle.
“Whoops,” Duke said, chuckling.
“Holy shit!” Alejandro exclaimed.
“Now, Jace!” Dean called out.
In a flash, Jace lunged for the chair Gabby’s mother was in. He gripped the fabric of her dress and slid her across the floor, whipping her down the hallway. She screamed out as her chair rushed across the hardwood floors, skidding her out of harm’s way. The four of us slowly inched our way into the kitchen as Alejandro scrambled for a gun he had adhered underneath his kitchen table.
Before we knew what was happening, bullets flew, and all of us tried to get him cornered. But, he was a weaselly little guy. Even with a bum elbow and a bleeding ankle, he managed to dodge our bullets. He was sorely outnumbered, but quick on his feet. He dipped behind corners and flipped over furniture, using it to shield himself until he ran out of ammunition.
He had positioned himself next to the back patio door, right near the exit he needed.
We watched a car squeal across the back lawn, and we took aim at the tires. Alejandro jumped in through the rear window as we shot out all the tires, but they didn’t flatten. Fuck. I hated those types of tires. We had them on our own van, but it sucked when the enemy had them on their getaway vehicles. We blew out the windows, hoping to shoot Alejandro or the driver.
But the car careened itself into the woods and disappeared from sight.
“Fuck!” Dean exclaimed.
“Where are my girls!?”
The sound of Gabby’s mother’s voice ripped us all from our trance. I bolted through the kitchen and back down the hallway, then worked quickly to untie her. She had tears streaming down her cheeks. Her body shook violently from her fear and her sorrow as I pulled her up and into my arms. She sobbed into my chest. I stroked her hair and tried to calm her down, leading her around the bodies and up the stairs. I wanted her to see her daughters. I wanted her to be able to hold them.
“Colt, Maverick’s bringing the mother to you,” Dean said into the intercom.
“Roger that. What’s the status on Alejandro?” Colt asked.
“Wounded, but got away in some bullshit vehicle. He fled for the woods,” Dean said.
“One issue at a time, I guess,” Colt said.
“Where are my girls?” the mother whispered.
“They’re right here,” I said.
I rounded the corner and into the bedroom where Colt had the five sisters. And the second they saw their mother, the two of us took a step back. The reunion brought tears to my own eyes. The mother hugged her daughters and kissed their heads. She somehow had the girth to wrap all of her daughters up into her arms and hold them close. She kissed away the trails of tears on their cheeks and kept murmuring to them in Spanish. Colt and I stood at the entryway, leaning against the walls with grins on our faces.
“Thank you so much, whoever you guys are,” the mother said.
“It’s our pleasure,” I said.
“Where’s Gabby?” one of the sisters asked.
I looked over at Colt before I drew in a deep breath.
“She’s safe, just like you guys are. And you won’t have to be afraid of your father or the cartel any longer,” I said.
“She… is with you?” the mother asked.
“She is. She’s back at a bar we own in a back room. Safe and sound,” I said.
“Oh, thank God,” the mother said.
“Do you want to go see her?” I asked.
“They can all come, as far as I’m concerned,” Dean said into the intercom.
“Yeah. This house is going to definitely need some cleanup. Let’s get all of them out of here,” Duke said.
“Read you loud and clear,” Colt said.
“What?” the mother asked.
“Why don’t you all come with us? You can see Gabby, get some food. All on us, of course. The house needs some repairs, and there’s no use in you guys staying here for now,” I said.
“You’ll take us to Gabby?” the mother asked.
“Can we, Mom? Please?” one of the sisters asked.
The mother looked over at me as tears rose again in her eyes. She pulled her daughters close and kissed them one last time, then ushered them towards us. We guided them down the stairs, steering them around the blood and mayhem.
“We’re taking them out to the van. No use in bringing them through the house,” Colt said.
“We’ll meet you guys out t
here,” Dean said.
“We’re going to need a bigger vehicle to transport everyone,” Duke said.
“Yeah, we won’t all fit in the van,” Jace said.
“Mrs. Martinez?” I asked.
“Yes?”
“Do you have a vehicle we could borrow by any chance? The van we have won’t transport all of us,” I said.
And the sly grin that spread across her face reminded me precisely of Gabby. I saw, in that very moment, where she got her fire. Her strength. Her sass. The mother rushed back into the house before coming out with a pair of keys and a garage door opener in her hand, and soon a whirring sound caught my ear. The guys poured out of the house as my eyes fell upon the garage door that was opening behind our van. And the second the vehicle hit my eyes, I threw my head back and laughed.
“Even a woman has to have her toys,” Gabby’s mother said.
“A blacked-out Lincoln Navigator. Nice,” Colt said.
“My kind of woman,” Dean said, grinning.
“Down boy,” I said playfully.
“Will this vehicle do?” she asked.
All of us looked at one another before I nodded my head.
“Yes, ma’am. That vehicle will do just fine.”
Chapter 24
Gabriela
Thunk.
Hissssssss.
“What was that noise?” I asked.
“I think the door’s opening,” Leti said.
“Is that supposed to happen? Weren’t the guys supposed to let us know when that was going to happen?”
I looked over at Leti before the two of us scurried into the corner. She picked up a book and held it over her head while I grabbed a butter knife from the silverware pile. It wasn’t much, but it was something. Because I had no idea what was about to come through that door. The two of us stood next to one another as the door slowly opened, hissing and groaning like it had been locked tight for ages. Leti and I slowly backed our backs against the cold metal wall. I looked around the room for any sort of emergency button I could find.
“Gabriela?”
“Mom?” I asked.
I looked over at Leti as my heart stopped in my chest. I saw the smallest shadow move before a figure stood in the doorway, then the butter knife fell from my hand and clattered onto the floor. I took off running. I darted through the panic room and held my arms out, tears flooding my eyes. I’d know that voice anywhere. That figure anywhere. That shadow anywhere.
Maverick (The Black Hornets MC Book 2) Page 14