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I contemplated calling him, but I didn’t know what I would have done if he’d ignored me. While we weren’t in communication, I could pretend that this was just a silly argument. A blip that we would get over in no time at all.
A short time later, Lucia and I were climbing into the armored SUV with Hugo and Hank, as well as our new driver, George. Alejandro insisted that if we must leave the house, we do so with armed guards and in the safest vehicle.
We were just pulling out of the parking lot and toward the intersection when I heard Hugo shout to George in Spanish. I couldn’t understand what he said and before I had time to ask, or react, the whole car shook and shuddered and I was thrown forward, my seatbelt cutting into my neck as the sound of crunching metal and smashed glass filled my ears.
I grabbed hold of Lucia’s hand as the car skidded along the road. My ears were ringing and my head spun. I heard shouting and gunshots and then nothing.
CHAPTER 39
ALEJANDRO
I looked at my watch. It was a little after eleven am. I’d been woken by Jax at six because he had a lead for me to chase.
Five hours later, we were at yet another dead end. I couldn’t understand how nobody seemed to know who was responsible for my father’s shooting. It didn’t make any sense that at least one person hadn’t cracked by now.
I had intended to go home as soon as I’d woken up and apologize to Alana. I hadn’t even had a chance to call her yet. I knew she was accompanying Lucia to her doctor’s appointment this morning. If I left for home now, I could be waiting for her as soon as she got back. Fuck the dead end leads I kept chasing, I was going take her to bed for the rest of the day and show her how much I needed her.
I was walking to my car when I felt a hand on my shoulder. ‘Alejandro,’ I heard Jax’s familiar voice in my ear. ‘Something’s happened.’
I spun on my heel. ‘Whatever it is, it can wait,’ I frowned.
He shook his head and I knew instinctively that he was about to blow my world apart.
‘Alana and Lucia have been taken,’ he said.
I stared at him as my heart threatened to explode out of my chest. ‘No.’ I shook my head. ‘It’s a mistake.’
‘I’m sorry, amigo. Another SUV plowed into theirs while they were on their way back from the doctor’s office. Hank and George are dead. Hugo has been taken to County General. They’re not sure if he’ll pull through. But the girls were taken alive. Our friends in the LAPD are keeping a lid on it for us for now, but it was a well-planned and orchestrated hit, Alejandro.’
He continued talking but his words were drowned out by blood thundering in my ears. I had felt fear many times in my life but this was nothing like I had ever experienced before. I was paralyzed. My future flashed before my eyes — a future without her.
It was incomprehensible.
I had to get a grip on myself. I had to focus on the only emotion that would get me through this. The only emotion I could control.
My anger.
‘Speak to our friends in LAPD again and get me everything on the incident, and I mean everything, Jax. Pull every man off every single job we have and get them on this. I don’t care how many people we have to step on to get information, just find out whoever has them.’ I swallowed the emotion down and concentrated on the rage inside me.
‘I’m already on it, amigo,’ he said as he placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. ‘We’ll get them back. I promise.’
‘We’d better, Jax. Because if we don’t, I will burn this city and everyone in it to the ground!’
CHAPTER 40
ALANA
I opened my eyes and tried to swallow but my mouth was completely devoid of any saliva. I blinked in the bright light of the room and looked around me. It looked like we were in a basement of a house. Lucia was sitting across from me. She was unconscious but she was breathing and she was tied to a chair. Instinctively, I pulled my arms and legs and realized I was bound too.
I couldn’t see Hugo, or George or Hank and my heart sank in my chest. What had happened to them? Were they still alive? God, what I wouldn’t give to see them right now, even Hank’s grumpy face would be a welcome sight.
‘Good afternoon, sleeping beauty,’ I heard a low, raspy voice beside me.
I turned my head to see two large men dressed entirely in black. One of them was sitting on a sofa and the other stood near a small table.
‘I’ve been waiting for you to wake up,’ he leered at me as he crossed the room until he was standing right in front of me. He reached out and ran a calloused fingertip down my cheekbone. ‘So fucking sweet,’ he hissed. ‘I’m looking forward to making you scream.’ He started to laugh and his accomplice on the sofa joined in.
I felt bile burning the back of my throat, but I swallowed it back down. I remembered what Alejandro had told me. Don’t ask questions. Be silent for as long as you can — and listen.
