“Stop it. I’m going to be fine. I’m not letting anyone take you from me, so get that out of your head. I want you to snack away and maybe watch a cute, funny movie. Think about what I’m going to do to you when I get you naked and then get some rest. Remember you have my little girl in there to protect.” He rubs my belly, kisses my throat and then sets me on my feet.
“I will. Please return to me.”
“I promise. Nothing will stop me.” He pulls me in and crushes his lips to mine, pulling back too quickly for my liking.
He walks me out to their SUV and then steals another kiss. When he pulls away I stare at him once more before he closes the door. My window is already lowered, so I mutter, “Fine, go, but hurry back.”
He turns to me with a smirk and says, “This time I know where to find you.”
I hold back the tears because I’ve missed him beyond measure and I hate that he can’t trust that I won’t leave. It’s my fault and I know it, but it doesn’t make it easier to swallow.
“So Phoenix, I understand you and I’ve been in the same position before,” Ghost says. I don’t know anything about him other than hearing he was a cop.
“Oh really?”
“Yes, I was an undercover agent working in the cartels when I was ratted out by one of my own and they tried to kill me. This beautiful woman and her father saved my life.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, he was in a coma for a month and I fell in love with him as he lay there. It’s crazy, but we understand more than anyone what you went through.”
“If you need to talk, we’re both here.”
“Thank you.” I feel better knowing I’m in good company. I rest my head and try to let the stress wash away.
Chapter Sixteen
Cowboy
Two hellish days.
I’ve been away from Phoenix for two days. I’ve spoken to her several times, but I have to keep my location a secret, so I’m careful. We’re hunting like in the old days, but instead of the middle of a war in the Middle East, we’re in the Midwest. I’ve found my pieces of shit, huddling up, running scared now that they know she’s alive and well. Although, my guys have managed to round up another piece of shit I called my friend all this damn time.
“Are we ready to talk, boys?” I ask the men chained to the wall. It really does help to know the right kind of people. Boss’s nephew managed to hook us up with a good location.
“We didn’t touch her.”
“Don’t say shit,” Moreno says.
“It’s funny that you hate me that much you’d go through so much effort to destroy me. I haven’t figured out why. We’ve never met before, so there’s no fucking past history. This is all about Phoenix and that pisses me off more than you know. It’s one thing to come after me for your imaginary relationship with my woman, but it’s another thing to come after her and my unborn child.”
“It’s not just her. You have more than any of us could have imagined. There’s oil under the land.”
“Oh, we know. You’re a fool because even if I died those rights would have never been yours,” I informed them.
“The rights are shared between Mr. Williams and me,” Boomer says. “Now, I’m pissed that you’ve taken me away from my family right now when I should be snuggling up with my newborn and lovely wife and it’s all for nothing.”
“You should have looked into it before you let that venom in your heart deepen.” I wink before sending my blade into his chest. “Let’s clean up our mess and go home. I still have one son of a bitch to deal with before my future wife is safe.” We take care of the bodies, leaving enough evidence to blame the cartel on this one. Revenge is sweet, but by the time they find the bodies there might not be enough of them for a true cause of death.
“Yeah you need to get a ring on that finger as well,” Boomer reminds me, but I haven’t forgotten.
The ring has been locked up tight for months. “Tell me about it.”
****
We returned to the clubhouse only to have a special guest there for me to greet. It looks like the guys got started for me, tying him to a chair partially dressed. Blade is smiling because he’s in the mood for revenge these days. His woman is now safe, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t felt the burning need to stick it to those who betray us.
I grip his hair and toss his head back hard. “Well, well, well. All these years, Jose. All these years. Why?”