Chapter Seventeen
M iguel and I wait for our family members to show up. Diego insisted I call him. When he heard what happened, he demanded that he be a part of the meeting. When everyone is here, I put him on Facetime.
Stepping into the middle of the group, I feel an eerie calmness come over me. Someone has fucked with me and what’s mine for the last time. Looking each one of the men in their eyes, I begin to talk.
"I've gathered you here because we have a rat in our ranks."
We watch everyone become tense.
"You think we would do something?" Alejandro says and puffs smoke from his cigar. He seems to be the calmest of the bunch.
"I hope not. As you know, as the head of the family and the king of the Texas Syndicate, going against me will mean death for everyone."
Guerrero comes forward and bows. "Cousin, you have my entire army at your disposal. Every man and woman will come for questioning."
I knew it wouldn't be him. My father raised him and Louis as our brothers when their father was killed by the Powers.
Shaking his hand, I nod to him. "Thank you, Guerrero." He stands next to Miguel when Diego talks.
"We can make quick work of this. We will demand everyone to come to the warehouse between our territories and we will have Bruno handle the questioning. It will take all of five minutes to see who the fucking rat is."
A laugh almost escapes me at how Diego takes charge. He could never bow down and take a backseat when there is action involved.
"Very well," I concede. Fighting amongst ourselves will not solve the situation.
Bull, who, although not blood-related, took over the Warriors in our drug division, looks at me. "Whatever you need, Vincent. My entire operation is at your beck and call."
He's innocent. The kid came up in the streets. He has known since he was ten not to cross me. Now, at twenty, with wealth and notoriety, he isn't going to jeopardize his reputation.
Turning to Alejandro, I watch him and his second-in-command looking as if this whole meeting is beneath them. Miguel shakes his head and steps forward. "And what of you, Alejandro? Is your crew and territory ours to search?"
My hand squeezes the phone, and Diego calls out my name. I look at him and he doesn't have to say a word. I know letting this situation get to me will show weakness. Taking a calming breath, I look at the man that I went to college with. Surely, Alejandro isn't behind this.
"Of course, cousin. I thought that it was obvious I would submit to your investigation."
"Why ..." My words are cut off by his phone going off.
He fucking answers it.
"I'll be there in fifteen." He goes silent and then grunts. "Fix it."
"Something wrong?" I raise an eyebrow at him, daring him to lie to me.
Alejandro bows. "Excuse us. My daughter needs me back at the house. Come by anytime."
The others watch, gap-mouthed, as he and his henchmen leave. My suspicions are raised, but I can't blame him just because he's an asshole with no respect.
"The fucking audacity," Miguel spits and Diego cocks his gun.
"I'm ready when y'all are," Diego says with a smirk.
"We have one more stop." Everyone looks at me and I shrug. "The Powers. They have been out of the game, so to speak, for a few years now, but they run intel all over Texas. If we can utilize them for this, maybe they'll be nice enough to indulge and not kill us all."
Diego looks ashen. The man's a ruthless, unwavering killer, but the mere mention of the brothers scares him. I would laugh at him if I wasn't worried that they might kill us both just for bothering them.
Miguel takes his phone out as I dismiss everyone and let them know I'll be in touch.
"Hello?" Ayres answers the phone and I straighten up from my slouch against my car.
"Hola, Ayres. I'm calling for a favor."
Diego watches Miguel, gulping while I hold my breath, hoping they will help us.
"Fuck, what do you need?" Ayres sounds perturbed, but not manic. I don't know if I could handle Ayres being in one of his crazy killing moods.
"And what kind of favor are we talking about?" I hear a grunt and a woman's moan.
Diego laughs but covers it with a cough as we take in the noises.
Miguel gives us a stern look, and I huff. "Someone has betrayed us and killed innocents in Vincent's territory. We need information only Hypnos can dig up."
"Little Warrior, be good, damn it." We hear Hypnos grit out and we all look wide eyed at each other.
Ayres laughs and we can hear Kronos speaking in a demanding tone. Hell, even I feel the need to be good. Diego cusses, and I watch as he fixes his tie.
"We are a bit occupied at the moment," Ayres says, and Miguel laughs.
"It's an inside job and Vincent, along with Diego, knows if left unchecked, it will spread.”
There's a silence and we get antsy. Hypnos speaks up. "I'll help. But only because my little warrior overheard you speaking. She's something of a do-gooder."
Although Hypnos is trying to sound put out, I can hear the smile in his voice.
"Thank you, Hypnos. This means I can get mi reina back."
"What?" Hypnos yells at the same time as the woman does. "Everyone, stop." The woman says. It goes silent once more and Miguel's phone lights up with a Facetime Request.
There's a small woman in front of the three brothers. She's gorgeous and the guys are holding her, trying to get the phone. "Stop that," she says, and they all look chagrined. She turns to us. "Hi. I'm Charlotte. Who is missing?" She asks politely and Kronos growls.
"Oh stop it, Master." She rolls her eyes and kisses his cheek. Fuck me. "You know, if I was missing, the entire world would be burning right now." Charlotte smiles at Kronos and he kisses her head.
"Mossimo and mi reina , Aribella, have been taken from me."
Miguel places a hand on my shoulder, and for once, I'm happy to have his support.
"Oh. That's not good. Of course, we will help." She looks at all three of them. "Hypnos will help you, and Ayres will be there to fight for you." Ayres takes the woman's left hand as Hypnos takes her left. Holy fuck, has the girl tamed them?
"Kronos can lend men as well, but I need one of my men here to help me with our children."
Kronos growls and pulls her into him by the neck. She goes willingly and has a guilty grin on her face. "Little rabbit, you know you're not in charge."
Ayres snorts and Hypnos laughs. "Yes, I am." She runs a hand up Kronos's chest and I see the love in his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, what she said." Kronos relents. "Hypnos, go and get what they need. Ayres, you know what to do."
As Kronos kisses Charlotte, jealousy eats at me. My heart aches with a need that I know cannot be filled by anyone but Aribella.
"Thank you," Miguel and I say at the same time. We hang up, and Diego whistles. "Holy hell. Did you see how that tiny little thing gave orders?"
"Yeah," Miguel has a shit-eating grin on his face. "That's why they've been underground for two years. That's their wife, and they have twin girls."
Miguel looks lost in thought. "It's also why I've taken more of an accounting position. Liliana can’t have children and I’ve been trying to consol her."
"Fuck man, why didn't you tell me?" I frown at him. 'No way you should be here." Guilt. Fucking guilt eats at me as I think about everyone I lost and who I may be putting in danger.
"Yes, I do. Dad left you in charge, but Diego and I are supposed to be your go to men. We have let you down, let us help."
Diego cuts in. "Bianchi can wait until we get over this. He has two daughters, so I know he would never steal women. He loves those girls and his wife."
Miguel stands against his car, and I move next to him as Diego continues. "He only runs drugs and money laundering through the casinos. Women are off the table."
"Why does he want your territory, then?" I ask, confused as to why they are in a battle.
Diego laughs. "Because I stole his last four shipments and got the state to look into this casino."
"Fuck, Diego," I mutter. 'You..." Miguel laughs and cuts me off.
"Let him have his fun."
Grumbling, I nod. "Alright, we have to get to the Power's territory so I can get started with Hypnos."
Diego tells us to keep him updated and hangs up. Miguel sighs. "I know Bianchi may not be behind this, but we need to check him out."
"Unfortunately, I agree with you." I put my phone in my pocket and let the anger set in. I know I'm going to need it for what is surely about to come.
My phone goes off, irritating me. Taking it back out of my pocket, I see the unknown number flashing on my screen. Clicking the message, I brace myself.
It's a video of Aribella being salted. "Fuck." Miguel gasps and I stare at her.
She's being tortured for no fucking reason. It gets worse as the man keeps talking. He keeps his back to the camera the entire time as he pours salt down her throat. The other person is just out of the camera's view and we cannot see them. But I can see the small feminine hands and make out it's a woman.
As the vinegar goes down Aribella's throat, I shout in agony. "Mother fuckers!"
Miguel takes my phone from me and turns the video off. "We have to stay focused, brother. I know this is not what you wanted to see, but we have to stay on our game."
I know he's right, but to see Aribella being hurt like this is gut-wrenching. My phone goes off again and this time it's a text message.
Unknown: Your girl ran, leaving Mossimo to the wolves. You had until five to make up your mind about who to save. Now you'll get Mossimo's dead body."
The next message is a picture of a bloody hand with the words written over it in blood. "Bit by bit."
"Son of a bitch," I growl and look at Miguel as he makes a cross over his body. He never could handle the brutal part of our lifestyle.
"Aribella ran. That means whoever had her is scrambling to get control back. Get your men and head east. I'm going to have Diego go North. Bull can go South. My men, whoever is willing, will go West."
Miguel runs around his car and looks at me. "Keep your head together, hermanito . We will not let them get away with this."
When he leaves, I send a prayer to the heavens that I'm not too late. Getting in my car, I close my eyes and think about Aribella. She will never forgive me for this, but it won't stop me from trying to get her back.
Driving like the devil is on my ass, I get to Timberland and take Hwy 42 to the docks. I know better than to go to the Power's house. It's an unwritten rule to never cross into their sanctuary. When I pull in, Ayres and Hypnos are already there, waiting for me.
Ayres gets out of the truck with a bat, and for a moment, I wonder if I may have been set up. Hypnos gets out as I open my car door. Looking at my gun, I keep it in the seat. I will not start a war with these men.
"Vincent," Hypnos says in greeting. I reach out and shake his hand once I've closed the car door. Ayres rests the bat against his shoulders and I calm down. Marginally.
"Where do you want me?" Ayres asks, and I force myself to look at him.
"With my men. I’ve told them to take orders from you and let you take the lead."
He smirks and whistles. That's when cars start rolling up. "You got it." Ayres hugs Hypnos and jumps into a Chevelle.
"Is he..." I trail off. Insulting Ayres will not go over well.
Hypnos laughs, surprising me. "Always half-cocked and ready to beat the ever-loving shit out of anyone that breathes in his direction?" He raises an eyebrow at me. "Always, Vincent. Always."
Gulping, I gain control of myself. Hypnos waves toward the water. 'Let's go into the dock house and I'll get started on the search for the person who made their last mistake."
As we walk, I think about Aribella and a lonely tear runs down my cheek. I'm coming for you, Aribella.