Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
“I told him not to,” Ace growls. “We’re playing the long game here, boys. We don’t need a war with LTC. There are extra men on Willow to keep her safe. Always.”
“We knew this was going to happen,” I point out, looking at Shades and Banger. “That you guys and her father would think we were playing against each other. And we’re not. That’s why we kept it a secret. We’re not going against anyone. We just want to be together.”
“Fuck, man.” Preacher lays a hand on my shoulder, giving me a nod of support. “Relationships are a bitch.”
I nod, grateful for his support. “They are, but Valentina is in trouble, and I need your help. So don’t stand in my way.”
“Guys?” Gia interrupts us, her lips in a slightly amused smile. “I assume since the door is open, this isn’t officially Church?”
Ace also notices a lessening of the tension in the room and looks at her. “What is it, Gia?”
“You have company. Arturo and Benedicto Rojas. They look pissed.”
“They’re here?” Ace’s frown deepens, glaring at the door before he stands.
“Yeah,” Gia says. “I saw them pull up on surveillance, looking all broody and shit. Anyway, they’re here.” She nods at Preacher and saunters off.
Ace stops a few feet in front of the older man inside the clubhouse, the rest of the MC behind him in a show of support. “Arturo, we don’t have a meeting scheduled today.”
The old man crosses his arms over his chest and steps forward, an angry scowl on his face. “This isn’t a business call. It’s personal.”
“Personal? Do tell.”
Arturo points a finger at Ace. “Where is my daughter? I know you have her, and if you hand her over now, I will pretend this never happened.”
I lunge toward the old fucker, ready to wring his fucking neck. Preacher and Banger grab my arms to keep me from actually strangling him. “Hey fuckwad, we don’t have her.”
“And why should we believe you?” the older son, Benedicto, asks with raised brows.
“You don’t have to believe me.” I shrug out of my brothers’ hold and raise my hands to let everyone know I won’t kill him. Yet. “Valentina and I have been spending time together.”
“And that was all part of your revenge plot, wasn’t it?”
I scoff at the old man. “What would I need to get revenge for? This lucrative deal we have together?”
I arch a brow because the old man just gave us the confirmation we weren’t even asking for. I slide a quick glance to Ace and then back to Arturo. “Look, I care about Valentina. But she’s not here.”
Benedicto scoffs.
I hold up the phone and let her last message play again, watching both men’s eyes go wide with realization and fear.
“She wouldn’t be calling me if I was there with her, kidnapping her. I would never do that to her.”
Arturo scans my face for an extended moment before he relaxes. “Shit. Bene, get your brother on the phone. Now.”
My chest feels tight and I say, “I’m going to find her.” I think about where Valentina is, who has her and how fucking terrified she must be. “She’s strong and she’s tough, but this isn’t about her.”
“Uhm, guys?” Gia interrupts again, and this time her gaze is deadly fucking serious.
“What’s up, babe?” Preacher goes to her, a light hand on her lower back.
Gia smiles at him before her gaze slides to Ace. “I managed to trace the shooters from the port.” Her gaze bounces between Ace and Arturo, silently asking if it’s okay to speak in front of them.
Ace gives a short nod toward Arturo. “It’s his shipment. He needs to know who tried to fuck it up.”
Gia nods and lets out a fortifying breath. “Okay. I traced them back from the port using street cameras, ATM cameras, and even tapping into a few doorbell cams until I managed to get eyes on them without masks.”
She steps away from Preacher and moves across the room to stand beside Ace, allowing him to see the tablet in her hand. “Here they are, suiting up for whatever they were planning to do at the port. I confirmed that this guy and that guy are the two taken down by Dix and Banger.”
We all gather around to see the footage, including Arturo and Benedicto. Inside a vacant parking lot, we see four gangbangers with face tattoos and black clothing. The fifth man with them is unmistakable.
“Emiliano,” I growl and look at Arturo. “Your own fucking son tried to sabotage the shipment. And then he tried to kill me?”
Arturo's face pales as he stares at the screen, his hands shaking slightly. Benedicto steps forward, his face a mask of anger.
“Emiliano has always been a liability,” he growls. “I told you not to trust him, Papa. Now, look what he’s done.”
Ace steps forward, his expression cold. “We need to deal with this, now. We can't let Emiliano get away with this.”