“Mom!”
“Gabriela!”
I rushed into her arms and buried my face into the crook of her neck. I felt someone brush by me before footsteps sounded, and then Leti and Jace murmuring emanated behind me. My mother sobbed into my hair. She rocked me side to side before I felt a hand come down onto my shoulder. A large, steady hand. One that I’d felt so many times over the past weeks.
Maverick was leading us out of the panic room.
All of us made our way out to the bar. And just like the guys had said, it was full of burly, brawny men. Clad in leather cuts with the Black Hornets logo, they all sipped beers, ate food, and generally had their eyes opened and peeled. There I was, standing in the middle of a smoky, greasy-smelling bar, holding my mother close.
“Oh my god, you’re alive,” I whispered.
“My beautiful daughter, I’m so sorry. I cannot believe I let this happen. Please forgive me, I’m so sorry.”
“Sh sh sh sh. It’s okay, Mom. I’ve got you. You have nothing to be sorry for. It’s okay.”
“Gabby!”
“Sis!”
“What the hell is going on with you!?”
I peeked up from my mother’s shoulder and saw Dean standing at the front door of the bar. All of the men in the bar turned their eyes over towards the door, and I watched my sisters all file in. One by one, until all five of them, charged me and our mother standing in the middle of the room. I saw Dean pan his eyes around the room before he nodded his head, and like lightning, the men of the room were up onto their feet. They went and stood against the windows, their eyes looking out beyond the bar. They all had their hands clasped in front of them, ready to move at a second’s notice.
The Black Hornets.
Watching the horizon so we didn’t have to.
I hugged all of my sisters and allowed the tears to fall. I couldn’t believe they were all alive. I didn’t know how they did it, and I had no idea where my father was, but I didn’t care. I cried the hardest I’d ever cried in my life as my mother wrapped us up in her arms.
I peeked over at the guys and nodded my head. I thanked them as much as I could with my eyes and my mouth, even though I couldn’t speak. All of us talked and cried on one another’s shoulders, trying to settle ourselves down from the evenings of the day. Then, I turned my attention to my mother.
“Did you have any idea what Dad was really wrapped up in?” I asked.
“I knew to an extent,” my mother said.
“What all did you know?” one of my sisters asked.
My mother looked down at her and cupped her cheek. “I knew your father was in charge of ‘operations.’ I knew he dealt with ports. Planes. Transportation. Things like that. But I didn’t know about any of the--.”
I reached up and wiped my mother’s tears away, trying to be strong for her. She’d been strong for us for so many years. She’d shielded us from so much. Preserved so much of a childhood that should have been eaten up by this lifestyle.
“I guess I stayed blissfully ignorant because your father did take care of us. And well,” she said breathlessly.
“Mom, none of this is your fault,” I said.
“Oh, but I feel so responsible, Gabby. I should have known better than to give my approval for him to allow you to take his job whenever he passed it on. He always kept saying it was a man’s job, but that he had the strongest daughter any man could have. But, there was a moment a few months ago that started my gears turning.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Yeah, Mom. What are you talking about?” another one of my sisters asked.
“Well, I was having a conversation with your father. He was talking about all of the things he still had to teach you how to do before you could be in the running to take his seat at the head of the family, Gabriela. He said you were intelligent, but not lethal. He had to teach you how to be lethal.”
“What?” I asked breathlessly.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“He said that?”
“He did. And even though I didn’t know why it rubbed me the wrong way, it did. So, I started in on my own sort of plan.”
I cocked my head. “Mom, what did you do?”
“I had the wool pulled over my eyes for far too long. I had many moments in my marriage to your father where I could have pulled the plug because of things he said. Little moments where he said just a little too much. Moments where I was set just a little more on edge than I wanted to be.”
“What did you do, Mommy?” one of my sisters asked.
My mother smiled weakly at me. “I opened up my own personal bank account. For the first time in my life.”
“What did you do with it?”
My mother grinned. “Turns out, when someone’s raking in millions of dollars a year, ten thousand here and ten thousand there doesn’t really register on the radar.”
“You stole money from Dad?” I asked.
“Stole? I was married to that man for thirty-nine years, Gabriela. That money is rightfully mine. Sweetheart, I never saw the true extent of your father until today. Until he had me tied down to a chair in the kitchen.”
“He what?” I asked as tears rose to my eyes.
“Sh sh sh sh. It’s done and over now. I’m okay. I promise.”
“He did that to you?”
“We don’t need to waste any other time talking about it. What I want you to know is that over the past few months, I’ve built up a nice little nest egg for myself. Even if things happen to our financial accounts, I’ll still be able to live.”
I threw my arms around my mother and held her close, feeling her finally unleash. Years of pain and sorrow. Years of lies and deceit. She sobbed into my shoulder as I pressed my cheek against the top of her head, running my fingers through her soft hair. It was brown and shoulder length, just like mine. She’d always worn it that way, and I always thought it had looked beautiful on her. Just long enough to put it up but short enough to easily manage.
“I should have never let you work for him,” my mother cried out.
“I’m okay, Mom. We’re out now. All of us. And now that we’re out, there’s someone I really want you to meet,” I said.
I reached my hand out to Maverick, wiggling my fingers at him. He looked around at the guys before he pushed off the wall, making his way for all of us. My sisters gasped as he came into the light. I slowly stepped away from my mother and wiped at her tears. I turned her around to take in the behemoth of a man standing in front of us, then I took his hand and threaded our fingers together.
I stepped beside him and turned to face my mother, feeling the biggest smile alive cross my cheeks.
“Mom. Sisters. This is Maverick,” I said.
“It’s nice to meet you all,” he said.
“This is one of the men that saved me,” my mother said.
“Yes. It is. He’s also the man I love,” I said.
“No way,” one of my sisters said.
“Oh, he’s hot,” another one said.
“How long have you two been together?” yet another one asked.
I giggled as my mother started giving him the eye. I called it ‘the Spanish eye.’ In our culture, the father was the one that intimidated the men. Made it known that if they toyed with their daughters, there would be hell to pay. But the mothers? They had the last say. If mothers didn’t enjoy the men their daughters were with, all they had to do was wave their hand, and they’d be gone. The patriarchs made it known what would happen to the younger men if they hurt the women of their family. But the matriarchs?
They had the last say in whether or not a man could enter the family in the first place.
“Do you love my daughter?” she asked.
“I do, Mrs. Martinez. A great deal,” Maverick said.
“Do you love him?” she asked.
“I do, Mom. A great deal,” I said.
“Mhm…”
She ran her eyes up and down Maverick one
more time before she rose her finger and poked his chest.
“Mom,” I said, giggling.
“Just wanted to see how sturdy he was,” she said, grinning.
“I’m pretty sturdy. It takes a lot to knock me down,” Maverick said, chuckling.
“I want you to know that I’m grateful for what you did for me today. What you did for my daughters. What you’ve done for Gabriela. But, it doesn’t give you a free pass with her heart,” my mother said.
“I’d never assume such a thing,” Maverick said.
“If you hurt her, in any way, I will come after you,” my mother said.
“He’ll have to get through us first,” Dean said.
I looked back behind us as the guys stepped up. Jace, Leti, Colt, Duke, and Dean. They all stood around us as the men standing at the windows slowly returned back to their seats, resuming their eating and drinking. Maverick’s lips came down onto the top of my head and kissed me, and I watched my sisters swoon. I giggled and shook my head before I brought Maverick’s hands to my lips, then returned the kiss in kind.
“Thank you for saving my daughter,” my mother said.
“I will always keep her safe, Mrs. Martinez,” Maverick said.
“And on that note, I want you guys to know that all of us will keep you safe as well,” Dean said.
My mother turned her gaze to the older gentleman with the gray in his hair. “What do you mean?”
“Your husband, Mrs. Martinez, is a higher-up in the cartel that has flooded this down,” Dean said.
“I don’t think she needs to hear this right now,” Maverick said.
My mother put up her hand. “While I appreciate it, I’ve been in the dark long enough.”
“Can I continue now, Your Majesty?” Dean said mockingly.
“I like this man,” my mother said coyly.
“Down girl,” Dean said, grinning.
“Okay. So, what is this about my slimy, good-for-nothing husband?” my mother asked.
“He wasn’t a grunt in the cartel. Rumor on the street is that he works alongside the head honcho. Which is who we’re trying to get at. They’ve filtered drugs into our town once. A very long time ago. I pushed them out then, and I intend to do it now. But it’s going to get much worse before it gets better,” Dean said.
“What he’s trying to say is that, until this is all said and done, you have the full and unfettered protection of our club,” Duke said.
“You and all of your daughters,” Colt said.
“All we ask is that you keep us updated. On where you are. On what you’re doing. Wherever you end up settling down with your daughters, we want to know about it so we can set up a shift schedule with some of the guys. I want one of our men with you at all times,” Dean said.
“I’ll have to take some time to figure out where to take all of us, but when I do I’ll certainly let you guys know,” my mother said.
“You can’t go to any of the properties. Dad’s purchased over the years. Those will be the first places they look,” I said.
“I know, sweetheart. I learned a great deal under your father, whether I want to acknowledge it or not. But wherever we do end up, I promise to let all of you know,” my mother said.
“Where will you be?” one of my sisters asked.
“Yeah. Where are you going to go? Are you coming with us?” another one asked.
I peeked up at Maverick and smiled before he released my hand and slipped it around my waist.
“I believe she’s coming with me,” he said.
“Then I want that address. You know so I can come, cook,” my mother said.
And that small statement trickled a low rumble of laughter throughout the entire bar.
Chapter 25
Gabriela
A week later
“Please let your President know that my daughters and I really appreciate this,” my mother said.
“It’s really not a big deal. We’ve got these safe houses for a reason,” Maverick said.
“Will we be able to go back to school in a few months?” one of my sisters asked.
“The club is doing their best to make sure this is resolved and that lives can resume as normal as quickly as possible,” I said.
“Gabby, will you stay with us for a bit?” another one asked.
“I’m coming back tomorrow. Right now, I want you guys to settle in. I’m still settling in myself a little bit at Maverick’s, and I’ve got some things I have to do in terms of my finances,” I said.
“Then, will you come back and visit?” my mother asked.
“What kind of question is that? Once the dust settles, you’ll be lucky to get rid of me,” I said.
I wrapped my arms around my mother’s neck before saying goodbye to my sisters. I knew the safe house the club had for them would be cramped since my family was used to having their individual rooms. But, it would have to do until the Black Hornets could settle things down. Maverick took care of some last-minute details before running down the rules of the place. No cell phones. No electronics. There was television, but there were no streaming services allowed. He told them to make sure the alarm system was always set and that the windows and doors always stayed locked.
And last, but not least, they couldn’t contact friends in any way and tell them what was going on.
My sisters weren’t happy about it, but they knew the kind of trouble they were in. It broke my heart that they were familiar with it, but this wasn’t the first time our family had to go on lockdown. We said our goodbyes before Maverick and myself hopped onto his bike, and neither of us said a word until we got back to his place.
“So, what is this stuff you have to do with your finances?” he asked.
“Maverick. You deal with enough numbers. You don’t have to deal with mine,” I said.
“What? I want to help. I know you don’t have a job right now, and I know you can’t get a job until all of this is settled. Let me help you maximize your budget.”
“You sound like a financial specialist.”
“Well, I am good with numbers. And the stock market. Why do you think the club has as much money as they do?”
“A motorcycle club that invests?”
“What!? It’s a sound decision. We have futures, too.”
I threw my head back and laughed as I flopped down onto the couch. He sat down beside me and threaded his arm around my back, gripping my waist. I fell into the crook of his body and closed my eyes, reveling in the feel of his pulse against my cheek. I slid my leg over his and curled into me, allowing him to pull me all the way into his lap. The back of my head fell against his shoulder as his lips lowered to my neck, and I giggled with every small kiss he dealt to my skin.
“What’s really on your mind?” he asked.
I sighed as I turned my nose towards him to nuzzle his skin.
“The cartel’s still out there,” I said.
“They are.”
“And now that my father is in the wind, who knows what will happen to my family and me.”
“Nothing will happen to them. I made you a promise, remember?” he asked.
“It doesn’t stop me from worrying.”
“Look at me, Gabby.”
I panned my eyes up to his as his lips hovered over mine.
“I promised you that I would protect you with my life. And I intend on doing that. The club? They’ve got your family. They’re being watched by a couple of guys right now. But you? I’ve got you. With everything I am. And so long as I’m breathing, nothing will happen to you.”
I rose my hand up and cupped Maverick’s cheek. I brought his lips to mine to kiss, relishing in the warmth that cascaded throughout my body. I turned around into his lap and straddled him. I threaded my arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss. Our tongue collided and his body came alive between my thighs, and soon the only sounds that filled his townhouse were the sounds of me begging him to let me come.
He took me on every piece of furniture
that living room had to offer. The couch. The chair. The damn coffee table. We didn’t stop until the entire place smelled like us. Until I was dripping sweat, buck naked, and aching from the pleasure that forced its way through my body.
“I love you, Gabriela.”
Our bodies settled onto the carpeted floor as Maverick’s fingers brushed my sweaty hair from my forehead.
“I love you too, Maverick.”
“I don’t want you worrying about anything, okay?” he asked.
“You know I’ll worry until this is all resolved.”
“I meant about small things. Like clothes. And food. And money.”
“So, I see I couldn’t take your mind off those numbers,” I said, grinning.
“This is all I’m going to say, and then I’ll leave it at that. What I have is yours. The food in this house. The bed in my room. The shower in my bathroom. Hell, the furniture I just painted in your scent. It’s all yours. When I love someone, it isn’t half-assed, Gabby. You’re in this, whether you want to be or not.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. “Trust me, I want to be.”
“So, do whatever it is you feel you need to so with your money. But, know that it’s inconsequential in the long run. I’m providing for you. One hundred percent. So, whatever you have? It’s icing on the cake.”
“I want to have my own money, Maverick.”
“And that’s fine. When this is all said and done, you can do anything you want. You can leave. Get your own place. Go back to school. Start your own company. I don’t care. Just as long as you take me beside you for the ride.”
I scooted closer to him, then reached behind him for a blanket. I slid my leg between his as I tugged the blanket from the couch, then pulled it across our bodies. Maverick wrapped his arm around me, and I snuggled close. I allowed my body to fill his strong divots as my curves spilled over onto his god-like form. I laid my head down onto his chiseled muscles. I gazed into his beautiful blue eyes. I reached forward and kissed the tip of his nose, allowing my body to process what he had just said.
Maverick (The Black Hornets MC Book 2) Page 15