by Wilder, L.
“I’ll figure something out, but for now, I’ve gotta find Navarro.”
“Do what you gotta do, but just remember,” he stood up and added, “the last time you put off seeing her, it cost you over two years without her. You wait this time, you might lose her for good.”
With that, he turned and walked out the door, leaving me to contend with a raging storm of doubts inside my head. I had no idea where I truly stood with Reece. For all I knew, she hadn’t given me a second thought, and I was wasting my time even thinking about her. That wasn’t enough to stop the burning need I felt to see her again. For reasons I didn’t understand, this woman had made a mark on me, and I couldn’t get her out of my head. I still wanted her, and even though I knew Blaze was right about going after her, it didn’t change the fact that I had a job to do. No matter what the circumstance, the club came first. It was a motto we all lived by, because when it came down to it, the brothers of Satan’s Fury weren’t just the members of some club. We were family, and we’d stop at nothing to keep our loved ones safe. I knew I could be sacrificing whatever chance I might have with Reece, but there was no other choice. I was stuck.
4
Reece
I was just about to turn sixteen when my mother received news of her sister’s death. Until then, I had never known just how much my mother despised my Uncle Rodrigo. I knew she wasn’t crazy about him. I’d heard the way she spoke about him. Her tone was always filled with animosity whenever she mentioned his name, especially when she was talking to my Aunt Camilla. No matter what was going on, my aunt always defended my uncle, blaming the negative things that were going on in their marriage on their cultural differences. Mom never bought into her excuses. She hated how controlling he was, especially where my aunt and cousin, Alejandra, were concerned, and she was quick to let my aunt know that his behavior was simply unacceptable. My mother worried that her brutal honesty would put a strain on their relationship, but thankfully, it never did. While she never said the words, Aunt Camilla knew she was right but never did anything about it. Instead, she tried her hardest to make the best of the situation. They spoke on the phone several times a week, sharing all aspects of their lives with one another, and Camilla would come to visit whenever Uncle Rodrigo would allow it. Mom knew something was wrong when my aunt’s calls stopped coming, but she couldn’t get anything out of Uncle Rodrigo. It wasn’t until weeks later that he finally told her that Aunt Camilla had been killed in an accident.
Mom knew in her heart he wasn’t telling her the truth, especially after she learned that the police were investigating him. When they finally filed charges against him, we were all hopeful that justice would be carried out, but sadly, the charges were quickly dropped for lack of evidence. My mom knew he was involved and was determined to prove it, but the second she started asking questions, she was warned to back off. She was informed that my uncle was involved with a dangerous cartel in Mexico, and if she didn’t stop digging for answers, she and her family would suffer the consequences. Fearing for her life and ours, she did the only thing she could—she backed off. As difficult as it was, she had to accept that there was nothing she could do to bring her sister back. It wasn’t easy, especially when my uncle completely cut ties with my family and wouldn’t let any of us speak to Alejandra, much less see her. My mother was heartbroken. Even though there was nothing she could’ve done to save Camilla or her daughter, the guilt of not being there for them weighed on her, and she was never the same—and neither was I.
I hated seeing the pain in my mother’s eyes, and I wanted to make my uncle pay for putting it there. I’d heard her say that he was a member of the Mexican cartel, so I started there. I researched how they worked, who they killed, where they were located, and everything in between. I’d hoped it would be useful when I became a big, tough lawyer, but just as I was about to start my second semester, my entire world was turned upside down. Having no other choice, I dropped out of law school and got a job at our local newspaper. While I was disappointed that things in my life hadn’t gone as planned, I hadn’t forgotten about my uncle, so I decided to use my writing as my way of exposing all the horrible things he’d done. I had already gathered a great deal of research and had a good foundation for my article, but I needed something more—something that would make everyone see them for the monsters they really were. I thought I’d finally gotten the break I was looking for, but after talking to Myles, I was beginning to have my doubts.
Since he was in the area, he offered to pick me up from the office so we could discuss things on the way to the diner. I was so eager to get his take on things, that as soon as we got in his car, I turned to him and said, “So … like I told you on the phone earlier, I’ve been working on this article about the Cartel.”
“Yeah?”
“Well, my source came through for me today.”
His eyes narrowed as he turned to me and asked, “And what does that have to do with me?”
“He gave me an address to check out,” I could feel the heat of my humiliation creeping over my face as I continued, “and Graves won’t give me his approval to move forward with it unless you agreed to go with me.”
“So, why is this address so important?”
“Rodrigo Navarro was spotted there less than a week ago, and I thought—”
“Hold up.” My heart literally stopped beating in my chest when he said, “Are you talking about the Rodrigo Navarro who died a few days back?”
I could barely manage to ask, “Died? What are you talking about?”
“The cops found his body, or what was left of it, in an old warehouse in Little Rock, Arkansas. There were several other bodies there along with his and a shit-ton of weapons, so they think it was some kind of drug deal gone bad. Since it was in Little Rock, I’d say it was probably gang related.” After a brief pause, he looked over to me and his voice was dripping with sarcasm when he said, “It was just a couple of days ago. I thought you’d been keeping track of what was going on with these guys.”
“I have, but this week has been …” I started to explain but stopped. Even though things had been crazy at home, and I’d been working nonstop on that stupid round-about article, I knew there was no excuse for me not to know that my own uncle had been murdered. I was embarrassed beyond belief as I continued, “It doesn’t matter. You’re right. I should’ve known about it.”
Myles pulled up into the diner parking lot, and once he’d turned off the car, he looked over to me and said, “We all have our days, Reece. Don’t let this stop you from going after your lead.”
“What’s the point? It’s not like it’s going to help me now. He’s dead.”
“Don’t give up just yet.” He sounded hopeful as he suggested, “We can still look into the lead with the apartment. Maybe someone there knows something or saw something that might be useful. If the trail dies there, we can head over to Little Rock. Check things out there. The story only dies if you let it.”
“You’d be willing to help me do that?” I asked, sounding a bit more surprised than I’d intended.
“Sure. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I know you’re busy with your own work. I hate for you to have to waste your time with mine.”
“I wouldn’t be wasting my time, Reece. In fact, I’d be honored to help out a reporter with your kind of potential.”
“Well, thank you. That means a great deal coming from you.”
I was about to ask him if he’d read any of my work when he glanced over at Daisy’s. “Let’s go in, and we can forge a plan while we eat.”
I couldn’t have been more excited. “That would be awesome.”
We got out of the car, and I was walking on cloud nine as we approached the diner. That feeling quickly faded when I tried to open the front door only to find that it was locked. While I’d never actually eaten at Daisy’s, I was surprised that such a popular restaurant was closed so early on a week night. I had just passed some motorcycles and SUVs parked out front,
so I stepped closer to the glass and glanced inside. When I saw several bikers sitting up at the counter, I thought I must’ve done something wrong and pulled at the door handle again, causing a few of the bikers to turn their attention to the door. I was about to turn and leave when I saw him—Jackson Reed, the man who’d broken my heart, shattered my dreams, and given me my greatest treasure. I thought I would never come face to face with him again, or maybe a part of me simply hoped that I wouldn’t. Either way, I wasn’t ready to see him, and I certainly wasn’t ready for him to see me. When I heard someone shout that the restaurant was closed, I quickly waved and rushed away from the door.
“Whoa. What’s wrong?” Myles asked as I hurried towards his car.
“The diner is closed,” I answered as I continued towards the parking lot.
“Okay. No big deal. We can find somewhere else to go,” he offered as he followed behind me. “There are a few places just around the corner.”
I shook my head. “I’m terribly sorry, but I need to get back to the office. I just remembered there’s some work that Graves wants me to do on my piece for tomorrow’s paper.”
“Umm … okay.”
“I really wanted to go over all this with you, but tonight just isn’t a good time.” I could barely think as I glanced back over at the diner, and I nearly lost it when I noticed someone standing at the door. Even though I desperately wanted to talk to Myles about my article, I needed to get the hell out of there. “Could we possibly meet sometime tomorrow?”
“Sure. That will be fine. I’m open all morning.”
“Tomorrow morning would be great.”
He paused for a moment, then asked, “Are you sure everything’s okay?”
“Yeah. Everything’s fine. I just need to get this piece turned in.” I lied as I scurried over to the passenger side of the car and closed the door. Once he’d started the car, I turned to him and said, “Again, I’m so sorry about this.”
“Don’t be. Things happen.” He gave me a reassuring smile as he pulled out of the parking lot. “But there is a way you could make it up to me.”
“Oh, really? How’s that?”
“Bring coffee when you come.”
“I can do that.” He pulled up to the front door of the office building and watched as I grabbed my three files of research I’d gathered on the cartel. Before I opened the car door, he asked, “What’s all that?”
“It’s just a few things I’ve found about the cartel.”
“You mind if I take a look at it. It might give me a better idea of what’s ahead of us.”
“Sure. I’d love to get your input.”
“I’ll have it all read by morning.”
“Perfect.” As I got out of his car, I left the files on the seat and asked, “Is seven thirty okay with you?”
“Seven thirty would be perfect. I’ll see you then.” Before he drove away, he rolled down his window and shouted, “I take my coffee black with two sugars!”
“You got it!”
I waited a few minutes, and once I was sure he was gone, I got in my car and started home. On the way there, I couldn’t stop thinking about how I’d reacted over seeing Jackson in that diner. I hadn’t seen or spoken to him in recent years, but with just one look, I stepped back in time and all those feelings of heartbreak and anguish came rushing back. I hated that he still had such an effect on me, especially after the way things ended between us. I wanted to erase him from my memory and forget everything about him, including the way I felt when I was in his arms. But as I stepped into my apartment and saw my adorable son, I knew that was never going to happen. He looked exactly like his father, making him a constant reminder of the weekend we’d spent together. While things didn’t turn out like I’d hoped, Jackson had given me a precious gift, and I would always love him for that. I closed the door, and my heart swelled in my chest when I heard him shout, “Momma! Momma!”
His dark hair was still damp from his recent bath as he came rushing towards me in his favorite blue pajamas that fit snug around his pudgy belly. After setting my things down on the table, I reached down and scooped him up in my arms, cradling him close against my chest. The tension I’d been carrying for the last few hours immediately started to fade as soon as I inhaled his sweet scent. “Hey there, sweet boy. I missed you today.”
He giggled and squirmed as I trailed kisses along his cheek and neck. “Have you been a good boy tonight?”
“He’s been a very good boy,” my mother answered as she reached for her purse and keys. “He’s had his dinner and his bath.”
“Great. Thanks for watching him today.”
She gave me a quick hug as she replied, “You don’t have to thank me, Reece. You know I love spending time with my grandson.”
“I know you do, but I still hate putting you out.” She gave me one of her scolding looks, which I completely ignored. “Since he hasn’t had any fever today, he should be fine to go back to daycare tomorrow.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind watching him …”
While I appreciated her help, my mother had always been a little overprotective where he was concerned, making me feel like she didn’t completely trust that I was capable of taking care of him on my own. “I’m sure. He’ll be fine.”
“Okay, but call me if you change your mind.”
“I will.” As she started out the door, I told her, “Oh, and tell Dad I said thanks for the tool box. It’s really come in handy.”
“You know … you could just call and tell him yourself.”
I’ve never really understood why, but my father had always been harder on me than anyone else in the family. Maybe it was because I was the youngest, or maybe it was the fact that I was so much like him. Either way, he wasn’t happy when he discovered that I was pregnant, and he was quick to let me know that he thought I’d ruined my life. Even though I understood his disappointment, his words stung, and for the past two years, I’ve been trying my damnedest to prove him wrong. My mother was very aware of the struggle I had with my father, so I simply answered, “Please, just tell him.”
“If that’s what you want.” She stepped out into the hall, and before she closed the door, she called out to Tate, “Love you, punkin. I’ll see you soon.”
Once she was gone, I glanced down at Tate, and when I saw the sleepy look in his eyes, I knew it was past his bedtime. I carried him over to the rocking chair, and as I nestled him in the crook of my arm, I whispered, “My big guy is tired.”
A pout crossed his face as he spat, “No.”
“Oh, yes you are.” I started rocking him as I continued, “I bet you’ll fall asleep fast tonight.”
“No.”
At almost two years old, Tate’s vocabulary was sometimes limited, and he seemed to think that no was the answer to everything. “We’ll see about that.”
“No.”
With his eyebrows furrowed, he stuck out his bottom lip, which tickled me to no end, causing me to laugh. His little pouting session quickly ended as he started giggling right along with me. After several seconds, we both settled back in the chair, and the room fell silent as Tate started to fiddle with a strand of my hair. It wasn’t long before his little eyelids grew heavy, and he started to drift off to sleep. As I sat there holding him close, I remember how horrified I was when I discovered I was pregnant. I thought my life was over, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I loved being a mother to Tate. In fact, becoming a parent had been the best thing that had ever happened to me, and I felt guilty that Jackson hadn’t gotten a chance to experience it.
I thought back to that weekend at Jackson’s apartment, how we spent hours just talking and sharing our hopes and dreams. I remembered the softness in his voice when he spoke about having a family one day. I found it endearing how he talked about wanting children, which only made me feel even more guilty for not finding a way to tell him about Tate. It wasn’t that I hadn’t tried to let him know that I had gotten pregnant on one of those fateful nights.
I tried calling him several times and even went by to see him at his clubhouse. It was right after Tate turned one. I thought if I went to see him in person, I might actually get to talk to him, but when I arrived, I saw that he was with another woman, and I lost my courage. A part of me hoped that once he’d heard that I’d come by to see him that he might try to reach out to me, but he never did. I finally gave up and decided to raise Tate all on my own.
There were times, like the first time Tate walked or said his first words, when I second-guessed my decision, but with each day that went by, it got harder and harder to muster the courage to go to him. It didn’t help matters that he was a member of a motorcycle club. I’d grown up in Memphis, and even though my parents tried to shelter me from the atrocities of the city we lived in, I’d still heard about the gangs and motorcycle clubs that ran rampant in the streets. I didn’t know a lot about Satan’s Fury, but I knew enough to know they weren’t a group of Christian riders who’d dedicated their lives to making the world a better place. But as I looked down at my son sleeping soundly in my arms, I found myself wondering if it was time for me to overlook the whole club thing and finally tell Jackson that he had a son. Deep down I knew breaking my silence was the right thing to do, but the timing just wasn’t right. I finally had a chance to make something of my article on the cartel, and I needed all of my thoughts and energy focused on getting it done. So, for the time being, Jackson would have to wait.
5
Riggs
After endless hours of searching, I finally managed to get a hit on Navarro’s cell phone, and with that, I was able to pinpoint his location. I was pleased to see that he’d taken the bait and had gone to Little Rock. We all knew that he’d go there looking for information on his brother’s death. Unfortunately for him, there was no information to be found. He’d be on a wild goose chase, but that was exactly what we wanted. Now that he was distracted, we could proceed with the run. As soon as Gus contacted Cotton, the pipeline was set into motion, and the brothers and I got busy prepping for the trip. This shipment was one of our largest yet, and Gus was concerned that the hidden compartments in the horse trailers wouldn’t be large enough to hold the entire haul. I also had my doubts, especially after I saw the large number of crates we’d be transporting, but with a little southern engineering, we were able to get it all loaded and secured. Thirty-eight hours later, we met up with Clutch and the others from the Washington chapter.
