“Can’t die on me,” I teased. “This is our beginning.”
It was and I couldn’t wait to see what the future held for us.
Chapter Fifteen
Javier
I sat in my downstairs office as Aurelio entered.
“Jefe, you looked relaxed.”
I smiled. “Got a woman who is strong enough to put a knife to my neck and a daughter more beautiful than any woman in the world. I’m blessed.”
“Family looks good on you,” he told me with a proud smile.
Things were going well. My business was strong, steady, and under control. My life was full with Mari in my bed and Yesnia in our home. Our family may not be normal, but it was ours.
It was strong.
“You need a woman, Aurelio.”
He laughed. “I have my work. Not everyone can be so lucky as you, Jefe.”
I didn’t argue his point. I was a lucky man. Mari walked in the office and I felt the smile build on my face.
“And now I’ll leave you two. I’m headed to Juarez tomorrow, Jefe. When I return we should have sorted the distribution issues and missing money.”
I nodded. “I trust you to handle it.”
He left and Mari looked at me curiously. “Not sure those are conversations I should hear.”
When she reached me I pulled her to my lap. “You once said you were the cartel’s bitch. I disagree. You’re my queen. The cartel’s queen. I won’t hide my work from you. I won’t hide anything from you. I won’t risk what we’ve built together. I won’t lose what we’ve been given a second chance to have.”
“I love you, Javier Almanza.”
I pressed my lips to hers. “I love you, Mari Belle Dominguez-Almanza.”
She pulled back. “I don’t have your name.”
Reaching into the drawer of my desk, I pulled out the small black box. “You don’t have it yet, but it would be my honor to give it to you.” I opened the top revealing a full two-carat emerald cut solitaire.
“I give you my life, my love, my world. I give you me. I give you family. Mari Belle there isn’t a woman strong enough to stand beside a man like me, except you. You’re my gift and I will treasure you with every breath I take. Say the word and let me give you a name and a future with me always and forever.”
Tears ran down her face.
“I give you my life, my love, and my world. I trust you with my heart and our daughter. You are my past and Javier, you are my future. I look forward to growing old with you.”
The past was behind us and the future was unknown. We were linked together in pain and in happiness. She wasn’t a cartel bitch.
She was my queen.
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Mari Belle
The ivory lace fit my body like a second skin. The satin underlay was soft and smooth against the flesh of my body as the dress covered me to the floor with just the slightest of flares at the bottom. The top dipped into a scoop neck where the material stopped at my shoulders leaving me full lace sleeves that went all the way down my arms. The off-white shade was a perfect accent to my naturally tan skin. My shoes were dyed in a deep red to match the roses in my bouquet. They had enough of a heel to make my legs work with every step, but not enough to throw me off balance.
I felt sexy.
I felt on top of the world.
Today was our day. Our family day. It was better than any fairytale or dream I ever had.
This was Javi and me, one love that would last a lifetime together. One love that could withstand distance, time, and every attack imaginable.
Yesnia stood in front of me with her long hair half clipped back with a rose clip on the side. She wore a deep red dress that was sleeveless and went all the way to the floor. The lace overlay was died the same color as her dress but the pattern matched mine.
“Mamá, you’re so beautiful. You’re glowing,” she praised as she reached up and clipped in my veil.
It was cathedral length tulle with antique lace trim covering the edge. Lining it up with my hair line, she pinned it in place. It didn’t cover my face, but my head and all the way down my back covering far behind me.
Everything was this classic elegance I had always dreamed of.
With my long hair flowing down my back in soft waves, I kept my makeup simple with just eyeliner with a smoky eye-shadow and red lipstick that matched the color of a deep red rose.
I was comfortable, confident, and at peace with how far we had come. It was time I gave myself completely to the man I loved my entire life.
I reached out and cupped my daughter’s chin tilting her face to look at mine. “I love you, Yesnia. I love you more anything in this world. I need you more than I need my next breath.” The emotions got too be too much as I fought back tears. “Having experienced life without you was the worst pain I ever had. Today when I walk down the aisle and commit my life to your father, I also commit myself to you. I’ll always be your mom, your best friend. I’ll always love you more than myself. I’ll always do whatever I can to give you a life of love and happiness. Now, though, I promise to do everything I can to keep you safe.”
Tears ran down her face. “Mamá, you always kept me safe. I never felt unloved. Yes, Tio hurt me, but that’s on him, not you and not my dad. Today is a happy day, Mamá, let’s enjoy it.”
She leaned in and kissed my cheek.
I was surrounded by love.
The door to the room we were sequestered opened and Estella entered. She aged beautifully. Her long dark hair was pinned back, her gown in a deep red that her lipstick matched. Immediately, her eyes met mine and tears filled them.
“I have waited my lifetime for today, hija. I can die at peace that my hijo will not be alone.”
I blew out a breath fighting my emotions. “No dying. Our family had enough loss, today we go forward with nothing bad touching us again.”
With a kiss to my cheek and tears rolling down her face, she stood back and appreciated me. “Tan Hermosa, hija,” she whispered. “Today is the second biggest day of your life, the first being the day you became a mother.” She looked to Yesnia and smiled softly. “Thank you, hija for your power of forgiveness of an old woman and her son. Thank you for giving our family the blessing of this beautiful girl, Yesnia. Thank you for not giving up on us, on this. Today you become Mrs. Javier Almanza. You will make the name proud, hija. You are strong, beautiful, and powerful. Let him fill your heart the way you have mine and his.”
“I love you, Estella,” I choked out as my emotions were becoming too much.
Yesnia stepped up and Estella reached out holding my daughter’s hand and then mine. “Things may not have been how you thought so many years ago. The plans and dreams may have changed but the love and family are still the same.”
I nodded thinking back to the many times I dreamed of this day and the future I thought I would have with Javi.
Yesnia broke the embrace to grab a napkin. We each cleaned our faces from crying as a knock came to the door. Anna entered first wearing the same dress as Yesnia.
“Tia, it’s time. Tio is anxiously waiting for you,” Luciana’s daughter told me with such excitement.
Luciana stepped in the room behind her beaming with pride and happiness.
“It’s time,” she whispered as she leaned down to place a soft kiss on my cheek. She wore a floor length dress in the same deep red and lace overlay as the girls. The only difference was hers had full sleeves. “It’s an honor to stand up for you and my brother today.”
I nodded as the tears threatened to spill over.
“I prayed for a sister and God gave me you,” she continued. “I love you, Mari. I’m so happy to share this day with you and my brother.”
“I can’t believe it’s really happening,” I told everyone in the room.
Anna clapped her hands excitedly. “It’s destiny. I hope that one day I can find a love to withstand all the odds.”
She was beautiful and
so full of life. She would be returning to Charlotte for school tomorrow and Yesnia would certainly be missing her new friend, but made promises to visit soon. I was thankful the girls bonded so quickly. With everything Yesnia hasn’t had in life, I want her future to be full of all things good and wonderful, like having a cousin who was also a good friend.
We all smiled as I blew out a breath and made my way to the hallway. Just a few feet down the way was the entrance to the sanctuary. I was about to have my dream wedding for my dream life with a love I never thought would come again.
This was beyond happiness. I thought I was happy with Javi before. But to have known loss, to known love, and to equally known hate, to have found love again, I treasured it even more.
Time passed slowly but quickly all at once as I made my way to stand in front of the doors to the sanctuary of the church. The very same place I sat in a mass saying goodbye to my daughter with the very same priest, would now be a place I filled with happy memories and new beginnings.
I was born to be Mrs. Javier Almanza. Today we became one. Today we committed our lives to each other before God and our family.
Javi and I had love, family and happily ever after. This was just the beginning of it all.
For today, I officially became his queen.
You made it to the end!
I hope you enjoyed Cartel Queen! I would love to hear what you thought about Cartel Queen. If you have a few moments to leave a review, I’d be very grateful. The conclusion to Javi and Mari’s story was emotional to write for sure.
Don’t want to miss a single release or update to my schedule? Sign up for my newsletter here! I promise I won’t spam you. I send out a monthly update on my release schedule and a quarterly Steals and Deals email full of bargain books waiting to fill your library.
If you loved this dark underworld, be sure to check out the Power Chain series for more anti-hero books. Did you wonder about Rowdy, Trapper, and the Devil’s Due MC? Well, pick up the series today for your next binge read.
Want to know more about Anna, Luciana, and their life in America? Wondering what happened with Aurelio and the missing money he was looking for? Check out A.F. Crowell’s O’Loughlin Brothers Series. *Characters from this book will crossover into Adoring Ashton, coming soon, so check her work out!
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Chelsea Camaron is a small town Carolina girl with a big imagination. She’s a wife and mom, chasing her dreams. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and romance thrillers. She loves to write about blue-collar men who have real problems with a fictional twist. From mechanics, bikers, oil riggers, smokejumpers, bar owners, and beyond, she loves a strong hero who works hard and plays harder.
Chelsea can be found on social media at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorchelseacamaron
Twitter: @chelseacamaron
Instagram: @chelseacamaron
Website: www.authorchelseacamaron.com
Email [email protected]
Subscribe to Chelsea’s newsletter here: http://bit.ly/2khmTzR
Join Chelsea’s reader group here: http://bit.ly/2BzvTa4
Other works by Chelsea Camaron
Love and Repair Series:
Crash and Burn
Restore My Heart
Salvaged
Full Throttle
Beyond Repair
Stalled
Box Set Available
Hellions Ride Series:
One Ride
Forever Ride
Merciless Ride
Eternal Ride
Innocent Ride
Simple Ride
Heated Ride
Ride with Me (Hellions MC and Ravage MC Duel with Ryan Michele)
Originals Ride
Final Ride
Roughneck Series:
Maverick
Heath
Lance
Wendol
Reese
Box Set Available
Devil’s Due MC Series:
Serving My Soldier
Crossover
In The Red
Below The Line
Close The Tab
Day Of Reckoning
Paid In Full
Bottom Line
Almanza Crime Family Duet
Cartel Bitch
Cartel Queen
Romantic Thriller Series:
Stay
Seeking Solace: Angelina’s Restoration
Claiming Retribution: Fallyn’s Revenge
Stand Alone Reads:
Romance – Moments In Time Anthology
Mother Trucker
Panty Snatcher
Beer Goggles Anthology
Santa, Bring Me a Biker!
The following series are co-written
The Fire Inside Series:
(co-written by Theresa Marguerite Hewitt)
Kale
Regulators MC Series:
(co-written by Jessie Lane)
Ice
Hammer
Coal
Summer of Sin Series:
(co-written with Ripp Baker, Daryl Banner, Angelica Chase, MJ Fields, MX King)
Original Sin
Caldwell Brothers Series:
(co-written by USA Today Bestselling Author MJ Fields)
Hendrix
Morrison
Jagger
Stand Alone Romance:
(co-written with USA Today Bestselling Author MJ Fields)
Visibly Broken
Use Me
Ruthless Rebels MC Series:
(co-written with Ryan Michele)
Shamed
Scorned
Scarred
Schooled
Box Set Available
Power Chain Series:
(co-written with Ryan Michele)
Power Chain FREE ebook
PowerHouse
Power Player
Powerless
OverPowered
PowerHouse
Power Chain Book One
Written By
Chelsea Camaron
And
Ryan Michele
Copyright © Chelsea Camaron & Ryan Michele 2018
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of Chelsea Camaron and Ryan Michele, except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976.
This is a work of fiction. All character, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
1st edition published: Feb 20, 2018
Editing by:
Asli Fratarcangeli and Silla Webb
Cover Design by: Cassy Roop of Pink Ink Designs
Cover Picture: Jake Wilson taken by Golden Czermak of Furious Fotog
Thank you for purchasing this book. This book and its contents are the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied, and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes.
This book contains mature content not suitable for those under the age of 18. Content involves strong language, violence, and sexual situations. All parties portrayed in sexual situations are over the age of 18. All characters are a work of fiction.
This book is not meant to be an exact depiction of life in an underworld crime organization, but rather a work of fiction meant to entertain.
*** Warning: This book contains graphic situations that may be a trigger for some readers. Please understand this is a work of fiction and not meant to offend or misrepresent any situations. There is quite a bit of violence, so if that’s not what you’re looking for, then please don’t read. ***
If this was the diary of a mad man, my road to Hell would be a dark and twisted one.
I am Onyx B
lake.
I lived my life by a code with no loyalties and no fucks to give about anyone but myself and my business.
Welcome to the depths of power…
Power Chain Series
Authors Chelsea Camaron and Ryan Michele team up to push beyond the boundaries, crossing a line into a deep, dangerous, and forbidden world. One where no one escapes, even if they beg to.
This is the Power Chain Series—a series of interconnected stand-alone romances.
Power House (Power Chain Book One)
No one denies me. Especially her.
She dismissed me.
That was her first mistake.
She thought I was a nice guy.
That was her second.
She had hope.
That was the final straw.
I am Onyx Blake.
I’m a powerhouse in an ugly underworld only found in her nightmares.
She’s going to learn quickly, I’m not the man to let anything go…
Including her.
Chapter One
Onyx
Absently, I flipped the zippo lighter in my fingers, open and shut, open and shut…waiting, listening to the sound of the click each time. I fucking hated waiting.
I looked at my shiny silver watch seeing each second tick by. Eighteen-oh-three. Jacob was three minutes late. Three minutes of my time wasted. One hundred and eighty seconds passed without my employee here.
Timeliness was a particular thing for me. An associate being late was an agitation I didn’t need. It showed their lack of respect for me, and that wouldn’t be tolerated under any circumstances. I ran the show. They were on my schedule, not the other way around.
Cartel Queen Page 11
