I nod and turn back toward the door. My heart is heavy. When we arrived, Hawk was at my side. Now, I feel like I’m leaving him behind. I look back a moment.If only we could turn back the clock.
Chapter 1
Sainte
“Are you ready for this?” Ricco asks me through the speaker. I’m in Ice’s office on speakerphone with Michael, Ricco, Alex, and Sal, and we are discussing Romeo’s demise.
“Hell yeah, I’m ready,” I reply. What a stupid question to ask me. When have I not been ready for a retaliation mission? Why, fuck, they are the best ones.
“And you know what you need to do?” Michael asks.
What does he think, that my brain has gone soft since I joined the MC? “Michael, yes, I know,” I say, exasperated.
“Tell me again, just so I know we got it down,” Michael says.
I clear my throat. “Me and my guys go in. We get the wife and niece out. We get the money, and we get the fuck out of there.”
“Okay. Are you sure you and your two guys can handle this?”
“Michael, I’ve been doing this shit for a long time now. I got this.”
“Ice, you cool with all this?”
“Yes, I’m good, but I’ve got one question. When do we take the fucker Romeo out?”
“All in good time, Ice. All in good time. There are things about Gallardi you don’t know yet. I will share, but I need to get the women out first. Then we can go after Romeo.”
“I’m running out of patience, Michael. I just fucking lost my best friend because of Gallardi. I don’t know how much longer I can wait.”
“I get it. I promise I will tell you once the women are safe. You have my word.” He’s quiet for a minute and then says, “Sainte, I’ve arranged transport for you into Mexico, but once you are there, you and your men are on your own. Your return transport leaves at approximately eleven p.m., two days after you arrive. I’m expecting you to report back as soon as you can.”
“Got it, Michael. I won’t let you down,” I assure him.
“Okay, I think we’re done here. Ice, we’ll talk soon.”
“Count on it,” he replies and disconnects the line.
“I’m going with you!” Ice demands.
I shake my head. “No, it has to be my men.”
He laughs. “Haven’t you learned by now that telling me no is never an option?”
Fuck!
“So no more arguments. Got it?”
“Yeah, I got it.” And quietly, I say, “But Michael isn’t gonna like it.”
“I’ll deal with Michael,” he says, snapping back. “Now, let’s go and give Hawk the funeral he deserves.”
Chapter 2
Honey
I am so done with everything and everyone. I fucking hate funerals. People pass on their condolences to me as if I were his old lady. They believe I am grieving because I loved him. Yeah, I loved him, but not in the way they are implying. These fucking people. They are so fucking clueless.
Hawk is dead.I still can’t believe he’s gone.He’s gone.
