by Ambere Sabo
“Have you seen this little girl before?” I ask pointing to the screen.
With a huff, he pushes off the frame coming around behind me. Placing his hands on the back of my chair he leans in, “Is that Christina?”
“The older girl is, I think she’s maybe fourteen at this time, but I’m talking about her. Is she another sister? I didn’t think Diablo had any children that young.”
“He doesn’t, not that he claims anyway, and I don’t recognize her, why?”
“Just watch,” I tell him before pushing play on the clip.
The two play together in what I can assume is Christina’s room when Diablo walks in with a smile so foreign to me that the first time, I saw it I didn’t know whether to let my heart break or throw up. He shows so much love to them. The love he never took the time to show me.
“Ah there you are,” he coos. “Are you having fun playing with your big sister Christina?” he asks as he takes the little one in his arms.
The little girl smiles up at him and nods. Placing a kiss on her forehead Diablo puts her back on the ground. Opening his arms, he waits for Christina to cross over to him, pulling her into an embrace he kisses her on the forehead as well.
“Take care of her, Christina. She’s special,” he whispers into her hair.
You can see the smile on her face falter, but she nods. Releasing her he walks back to the door turning to tell the girls, “Dinner will be ready in half an hour. I expect you both dressed and ready. Christina takes Maribel to Alma so she can get her changed.”
“Yes Papa,” they reply in unison.
Pressing pause on the footage, “See they both call him Papa,” I say turning to look up at Enterrador. The color has drained from his face but his eyes, his eyes are lit with pure rage.
“What is it?”
“Your middle name,” he growls.
With a wave of my hand, I turn my focus back to the footage, “Yeah, yeah whatever. I don’t care that she has my middle name. Why does she look so familiar?”
“Your middle name,” he repeats.
Why the hell is this such a point of contention with him. Who fucking cares?
“We named our daughter after you. Maribel Leti Ortiz. She is mine.”
Chapter 9
Snoopy
Twenty-eight days. It’s been twenty-eight fucking days since I have heard anything from Mythic. Not a single email. Four Thursdays without so much of a hi. How can she go from spilling all her secrets to me to nada? Not a peep!
I’ve run the gambit of emotions. At first, I felt like a load had been lifted off my shoulders. I could move on with my life. Leave the chaos Mythic brought with her in the past. That was week one.
Week two I started to worry. With that, the ‘what-ifs’ began. What if she was right and Diablo had finally come for her. What if helping Lilly had truly cost her, her fucking life. What if she was in trouble and needed our help? Could I truly live with myself if she needed me and I wasn’t there for her?
The third week came the anger. How fucking dare she make me worry? Who the fuck did she think she was, playing with my emotions like this? She’s the one who lied about her past. The one who played my club and me. Anything that happens to her is her own damn doing.
Now, four weeks in… I’m staring at a blank email with the devil on my shoulder telling me to close the damn tab and go have a beer. But the angel? The angel lets me know just how far this girl has gotten under my skin. After everything she laid bare for me to see could I not be bothered to send a simple fucking email making sure she’s okay.
Two words are all I can seem to put on the screen. Two. Fucking. Words.
You good?
Fuck it. Hitting send I feel like the biggest douche that walked the planet, but at least I asked. What more can she really expect from me?
I can’t handle the confinement of my lair tonight. The thoughts that race through my mind, with every shitty thing that she could be going through. I need a fucking drink.
The clubhouse is filled with my brothers, brothers who have proven their loyalty to me. Brothers I know I can trust with every piece of truth that I have, and yet I seek her out. The only one that will understand my pain tonight.
“Lil,” I say, tapping her on the shoulder.
She turns around with a smile so wide and more light in her eye’s than I’ve ever seen, and I pause for a moment. Do I have the right to dump this on her? To make her worry right along with me.
I haven’t been honest with her, not once when she’s asked have, I told her that Mythic was emailing me. I let her believe I didn’t know if her friend was living or breathing. Let her worry every day that something could’ve happened to Mythic for helping her. And now because I’m too much of a pussy to handle this on my own I want to take that light from her?
Placing a hand on my arm, she draws me back from my internal struggle. “Snoop, everything okay? Is it Mythic?”
I see that light dim just a little. See the worry take over and I just can’t. I’m a dick for even thinking about it.
Shaking my head, “Yeah, sorry everything’s good. Wanted to hit up Gunner about my bike.”
“Oh,” she says with a giggle. “Well, he’s in the garage already. Try not to keep him too late though, yeah?”
“Yeah, it can wait a day or two anyway. I think I’m going to go for a ride tonight.”
“Be safe,” she calls after me as I walk away.
She’s right, Gunner’s in the garage. He usually is when he’s not at Lil’s side. Without so much as a word about my bike, I walk her out and hit the throttle. Maybe some air will clear my head.
***
I should’ve known I’d end up here. Fuck if I know why. It's not like I can go inside. Yet here I sit. Chillin’ on my bike looking up at the Four Seasons like the building has all the answers to my problems. Like the world will just open up and spill all its secrets just because I think this is where she is.
I should’ve paid more attention. I know if Enterrador’s still here so are all his men, but I wasn’t thinking. I just drove. So here I sit with a gun at the back of my head. No clue who the hell is wielding it.
“You here to hurt her?” the man asks. I shake my head in denial, and he pulls the barrel from my skull.
“So, she’s still alive?” I ask turning to come face to face with Evaristo, Enterrador’s right-hand man.
I know the man who fucked Rose’s life forever. Made her question her sanity and ripped her children from her arms. My jaw ticks just at the sight of him but right now he has answers I need so the bastard can live.
“She is.”
“Is she in danger?”
“Just breathing puts the Princesa in danger. There are some that would kill to wear that crown.”
“Has she found what she needs? Is Alex alive?”
“That I do not know, but she is headed in the right direction.”
“What’s with all the cryptic shit,” I yell at him. “Do you know if Alex is alive?”
“I know Diablo has a secret. What that is, is still unclear but she’s getting close.”
“How the fuck do you know that?”
“I’m not the only one questioning their role as a Soldado anymore. Some are more power hungry than others. Spies are everywhere. Diablo has his, Ocho has hers. The harder they try to get near the Princesa the closer she is to finding out what they want to keep hidden.”
“La Ocho? What the fuck does she have to do with this?” I seethe.
“She held the title of Primera with pride. She is unhappy to have it taken from her.”
“She’s one of his too? You can’t be fucking serious. That’s it, she’s coming with me now.”
With a hand, he pushes me back on my bike. “Enterrador must see the light, only Lena can do this. I will keep her safe.”
Glaring up at him, I growl, “If you don’t, I’ll hunt you down. Venom and Havoc both like their torture, and I’m sure they’d enjoy taking turns in making you
scream. Havoc deserves that right after all you put his sister through. Personally, I’ll take pleasure in ending it all by putting a bullet in your head. Do you understand me?”
With a nod, he removes his hand from my shoulder and turns to walk away. Before he leaves, he looks me in my eyes, “I know it is you who hunts for mis hijos, even if she wasn’t my Princesa I would do anything you asked, anything. Please, please return them to their mother.” Looking up at the hotel before us, “They deserve more than this life.”
La fucking Ocho. I didn’t think this situation could get much worse. Goddamnit Mythic what have you gotten yourself into now?
Chapter 10
Mythic
She is mine…
Three words that shattered Enterrador’s life as he knew it. Three words that made my brother see the monster he followed. The monster he became.
I understand now why she looked so damn familiar. Those eyes are my mothers. Her nose, Alex’s. The thick brown hair that at times seems almost black, my brother’s. She truly is the perfect combination of them both.
Enterrador has become my shadow. Craving every image of his daughter we could find. Over the years she was taken to Christina's home at least a dozen times and then a little over two years ago she disappears. She can’t be more than maybe ten at her last visit to her aunts.
“Where is she, Lena?” Enterrador seethes. “Where has he taken my daughter?”
“I don’t know Enterrador?” I reply with genuine sorrow. I can only imagine what he’s going through. Thinking his daughter had died all those years ago only to find out Diablo took her as his own. And to what extent? Why did he take her?
“Do not call me that,” he screams as he launches a lamp across the room. “He told me they were dead. That my wife and child had died. I died that day! Becoming exactly who he wanted me to be and for what? Why would he do this to me?”
“I don’t know why Diablo is the way he is. Does the things he does.” I whisper. These are all questions I’ve asked myself a million times over the years. How can a father do the things he does to his children. What did I ever do to deserve to be left to die? What did my brother do to have his family stripped from him?
I fear for his sanity at this point. The more time that passes without an answer, the more irrational he gets.
“Do you think it could be true Lena. Do you truly think they’re still alive? My Alex? My Maribel?” he asks with tears brimming in his eyes.
“I don’t know,” swallowing as I find my nerve to call him something I didn’t think I could ever again, “Adan.”
Coming to my side, he kneels in front of me before taking my hands into his own.“What do you need to get into his home? What will it take? Money is not an issue. I will do whatever I can to help you.”
“What I need cannot be bought with money. I need… Snoopy.”
“He will never help me, Lena. Never. Not after all I have done,” he whispers looking at the floor.
“He will help her,” Evaristo says walking into the room.
My brother is up with his gun drawn in a blink. “What have you heard,” he demands.
Putting his hands up in the air Evaristo looks my brother directly in the eye, his face falls as he admits, “Enough to know you have finally seen the error in your ways. Just as I have. The choices we made in this life have hurt those we love the most.”
“Who else is with you?”
“No one, I am the only guard on her floor. I came when I heard the lamp,” he explains gesturing to the mess across the room.
“You think he will help me?” I ask.
With a nod he explains, “He has already been here to make sure you were safe. He will help if you ask him.”
I can’t even process what he’s just told me. He came here. When? Why? The only communication I’ve gotten from him after laying my soul bear to him was, you good? You fucking good? I didn’t even know how to respond to that, so I didn’t.
Before I can even begin to think of a response to him, Evaristo continues, “I fear you are no longer safe here. You’ve found a secret both Diablo, and La Ocho have kept for years. We need to get you back to the Sons.”
“They’ll never let me back at their compound. Not after how I deceived them,” I exclaim.
“Lilly will, she loves you. I saw that in her eyes the day you came here after me. She would do anything you asked,” Adan says quietly. “And he’s right you need to leave here, leave me. I cannot lose you again Lena.”
“But…” I start to argue.
“Please don’t make this harder for me than it needs to be. It kills me, but those bikers can protect you better than I can right now.”
Placing a palm on his cheek, “Come with me?” I plead.
“He’ll know something is wrong if I disappear. We can’t let Diablo know anything has changed. You. You have run before. It won’t be hard to convince him you’ve run again.”
With tears flowing down my cheeks I nod. My brother is returning, something I never thought possible and I have to leave him, again.
“I'll find a way to get your equipment to you, for now, I’ll send you with the money I have on hand. Will one hundred thousand be enough?”
I choke on the words, “ One hundred thousand, Adan? That’s too much. I already have equipment there at the clubhouse.”
“Nonsense I have millions hidden across the states. I've just never had a need to spend it.”
Millions… fucking millions. Jesus Christ.
“Pack what you need princesa, the sooner we leave, the better,” Evaristo says before he leaves me with my brother, shutting the door behind him.
“Can we trust him?” I whisper.
“Unfortunately, little sister, we don’t have an option not too.”
Adan helps me pack the necessities in a small roll away bag. I can’t help but take in the suite one more time before we go. Its been my home for longer than some of the other places I lived throughout my years on the run. Definitely one of the nicer ones.
In the hallway Evaristo waits, taking my bag as we join him.
“We’ll take the Lincoln up to Blue Bells. I think it would be best not to show up on their doorstep,” he tells my brother.
“Are you not coming with me?” I squeak.
“I cannot, Lena. I need them to protect you and me going into their territory is too likely to be taken as a threat. Something I can’t blame them for. Evaristo will make sure you are taken care of.” Looking to the man beside him he grits out, “Right?”
“Yes, sir. I would lay down my life for the princesa.”
There isn’t another word spoken before we get to the Towncar. Each of us stuck in our own thoughts. None of us worried about the risk we're taking outside. Who would think to attack us in broad daylight?
When the first shot rings out, I feel a sting in my shoulder, and then everything happens so fast. Evaristo has the trunk open for my bag when he hears it, moving to cover my body with his own but he isn't fast enough. One shot, two shot, three. My shoulder chest and abdomen are hit before my body drops to the ground. Evaristo takes the final bullet meant for me to the back as Adan starts firing back.
Is there one shooter or twenty? I don’t know. I can only focus on the pain. The searing heat running through my chest as I struggle to draw breath. The weight of Evaristo’s body makes it even harder. Looking down at him the color is draining from his face. I can’t tell where he’s been hit but its bad.
“Promise me you’ll help her find them, mis hijos. Promise me,” he rasps.
With tears in my eyes and a nod of my head I promise. If I make it through this hell, I will help Rose find his children.
Adan looks down and sees all the blood surrounding us and moves to pull me from under Evaristo’s now slackened body. Slamming the trunk closed he ducks beside the car as he pulls me to the back door. He tries to lift me by my injured shoulder into the car which causes me to cry out in pain.
“God Lena, fuck, I’m sorry.
”
“I can get in, just start the fucking car,” I grind out.
Crawling into the seat, I barely get the door closed as he peels out of the parking lot.
“Shit, shit, shit. We have to get you to a hospital, Lena. You're losing a lot of blood.”
Looking at him in the mirror, I shake my head, “No, take me to Lilly. It’s the only place that’s safe.”
“You need a doctor damnit,” he yells.
“They have a fucking doctor Adan, and Lilly is the best nurse I’ve ever seen. Take. Me. To. Lilly.”
“Fine,” he growls.
I don’t know how long were in the car when my eyelids start to feel heavy. I have no clue how close we are to Lilly or if I’ll die right fucking here in the back seat of my brother's town car, but I can feel my heart slowing. The cold begins to creep in, and I know it. This is the end.
I can feel my body lifted from the back seat of the car. Every muscle screams out in pain as he runs. The last thing I hear before the world fades to black, “Help her PLEASE!” Adan begs as my body drops to the ground.
God, I hope he made it to Lilly in time…
Chapter 11
Snoopy
A split second is all it takes before chaos ensues. Lil goes running towards Mythic but all Gunner can see is the woman he’s just asked to marry him running toward the man that tried to take her away from him. Grabbing her by the middle, he stops her midway to Mythic.
The brothers don’t know if they should shoot the mother fucker or help him. In the end, everyone’s running around like chickens with their heads cut off. It takes a second for me to fully understand what I'm seeing before me and then I'm in a full sprint to her. To Mythic. Because right now she’s the only thing that fucking matters.
“What happened?” I demand.
“We… we were ambushed outside of the hotel.”
“Why the fuck was she outside,” I growl as I pull her from his lap, laying her flat on the ground.
“She was coming here, Evaristo was going to bring her here,” he stutters.
