Chapter 14
Chapter fourteen
Essie woke up early. At first, she couldn’t remember where she was, and her gaze flew around the unfamiliar room. Then it all came crashing back. How they’d escaped Mexico and flew to Montana. And now here she was, in Xander’s guestroom.
Sleep had taken its sweet time coming to her last night, and she’d gotten up at some point, deciding to look for a snack in the kitchen.
Her plan was derailed when she’d felt a cold draft and noticed the rear sliding door was cracked open.
Through the glass, she’d spotted Xander, standing outside in the freezing cold.
Confused, on the verge of going to him, she hesitated. Something held her back. Maybe it was his posture. The way he gripped the deck’s railing. How his head dropped and his shoulders slumped. As though the weight of the world was pressing down on him.
She had no idea what was going through his mind at that moment, but she decided not to interrupt, returning to her room empty-handed instead.
Xander Hawke was the most complicated man she’d ever met, and he was dealing with so much.
His capture and captivity. The loss of his sister and then the opportunity to confront the man who’d murdered her.
Her part in his escape and how it must be affecting his plans for revenge.
Because despite the Barrera blood running through her veins, she knew in her heart that they’d forged a true connection.
Crawling out of the warm bed, she padded over to the bathroom and washed up. Her wild hair refused to cooperate, so she knotted it up on top of her head. She’d have to find more clothes to wear, but at least hers were clean. Although, she had forgotten to put them in the dryer last night.
Stomach growling, she stepped out of her room, and the intoxicating smell of coffee made her nose perk up. Following the scent straight to the kitchen, she saw Xander retrieving a cup from beneath a machine. “Good morning,” she murmured.
“Morning.” He offered her the mug.
“Thank you.” She blew on the steaming caffeinated goodness as he popped a new pod in and hit the brew button.
“Did you sleep well?” He leaned his hip against the counter and crossed his arms.
“Eventually. It took my mind a bit to shut off.”
He nodded. “Same.”
“I woke up a couple of times and thought we were still in the jungle,” she admitted.
“You’re safe now.”
Am I? So much was happening behind those glittering blue eyes of his and she wanted to ask, but fear held her back.
The machine finished spitting out coffee and he took the mug. “I don’t have anything to make for breakfast, but we could go into town to get something.”
“Okay.” Her attention shifted to the levered door. “Which reminds me. I forgot to put my clothes in the dryer.”
“Those clothes?” He tipped his head toward the table.
She looked over, and there were her pants and shirt neatly folded, her matching plain white bra and panties arranged on top. “Oh. Um, thank you.”
Her cheeks warmed, embarrassed that he’d touched her underthings.
Mostly because they weren’t her sexiest ones.
No, she’d worn her more comfortable and plain underwear—and she instantly regretted not choosing something with a little more lace.
You’re such a practical virgin, she chastised herself.
But running through the jungle wearing a lace thong and sheer bra with zero support probably wouldn’t have been the best option.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She snapped the word out far too fast, then tried to backtrack. “I just mean, you don’t have to do my laundry. I can do it myself.”
“I’m sure you can. I was only helping move things along since I have my own to do.” He took a sip of coffee, studying her over the rim.
“Oh, right. Sorry. I didn’t think about that.” Her eyes narrowed a little. Although hadn’t he said he planned to burn his clothes? And how much laundry could he possibly have since he hadn’t been home in over a month?
“We’re going to need to get you more clothes. My friends’ wives probably have something you can wear.”
She gave him a small nod and drank her coffee. They were both avoiding the most important conversation hanging over their heads—José. What to do about his plans to join forces with the Cardenas brothers. And how Xander planned to use Essie to get his revenge.
When Xander’s pocket buzzed, he pulled his phone out and checked the screen. “Brand is here.” He set his mug down and stalked over to the front door to let the other man inside.
Essie held her warm mug close, stepping into the living room. The men swapped greetings then sat down across from each other. Brand took the armchair on the other side of the coffee table and Xander sat down on the couch. He motioned for her to join them, and she perched on the couch beside him.
Brand handed a gold necklace to Xander. “Mitch’s men found it on the gate. Figured you’d want it back.”
Xander took the necklace, closing his fist around the chain, the cross dangling. “Thanks. And, yeah, I do. It was my sister’s.”
As he put it on, Essie reached for her own necklace. She had a habit of holding it when her world tilted and confusion unsettled her.
“I told Mitch you have Barrera’s sister,” Brand announced. “He wants to take her into federal custody. Keep her safe.”
Xander’s eyes narrowed. “You mean use her as a bargaining chip.”
“It’s for the best.”
“Yeah, for Mitch.”
Who is Mitch? Essie wondered. But she didn’t dare ask. These two men were damn intimidating, and she could feel the tension ratcheting up between them.
“You’re not taking her.” Xander plunked his mug down on the coffee table and met the other man’s eyes, clearly issuing a challenge.
One Brandon didn’t back down from. “Yeah, I am.”
Okay, time to speak up. The conversation was about her, and they hadn’t even bothered to include her. Besides, wasn’t Xander planning to do the exact same thing? Use her to his advantage? This was her life and she should have a say. Holding up her hand, she cleared her throat. “Excuse me.”
But they just kept bickering as if she weren’t even there. As if this entire thing didn’t revolve around her. Like a couple of little boys on the playground.
Unbelievable. Testosterone overload at its finest.
She rolled her eyes and set her own mug on the table. Lifting her fingers, she placed them in her mouth and blew hard. The piercing whistle shut both men up and their attention snapped over to her.
She met each of their slightly surprised looks and placed her hands on her hips. “That’s more like it. Considering I am an integral part of this conversation, I’d appreciate it if you’d allow me to speak.”
“I think you should go to your room,” Xander growled.
Oh, no he did not. Anger at being so easily dismissed bubbled up inside her. Crossing her arms, defiant as hell, hackles raised, she shook her head. “Absolutely not.”
“Essie—” Xander’s warning tone infuriated her more.
“Let her stay,” Brand interrupted. “Maybe she wants to understand what the hell is happening just as much as I do. Because you’re a hard motherfucker to read, Hawke. Starting with the moment you reached out to Julia about Mitch.”
“Who is Mitch?” Essie asked.
“General Mitchell Evans is my fiancée’s father.
When he went missing last year, a mysterious informant—Xander—contacted Julia with his location.
We met him down in Mexico for more details.
We got Mitch out, but then the Lazaro Cartel came back and kidnapped Julia.
” Brand turned his full attention back to Xander.
“The op went south fast until Xander conveniently appeared out of nowhere, helping us.”
“Helping myself,” Xander corrected coolly.
“I always wondered why you didn’t let me kill Lazaro,” Brand murmured thoughtfully. “Why the hell you blocked my shot.”
“Because I wanted to know where his second-in-command was hiding,” Xander stated. “And I couldn’t interrogate him if you killed him.”
“Barrera,” Brand realized. “Hell, Hawke, I think you did a little more than ask Lazaro questions. If I recall correctly, you had his finger on a string around your neck.”
Oh, God. Essie had never known who was responsible for murdering Fernando Lazaro. Who had sliced the drug lord to ribbons. Her fingers tightened on her cross.
“Lazaro was my one shot to ferret out Barrera, and I took it. And, yeah, I used my switchblade to get answers. If you think I regret one slash, you’d be wrong. I happily cut him up and chopped off his goddamn finger.”
For a long moment, no one said anything.
“Chaz thinks you keep it in your freezer,” Brand said flatly.
Essie’s eyes darted to the kitchen appliance. If anything would be cursed, it would be Fernando Lazaro’s finger.
“I burned it,” Xander seethed. “I happily watched the flesh melt off the bone and turn to ash.”
Her heart thumped harder, stomach curdling. She could only imagine what he had planned for José.
“Why?” Brand demanded through gritted teeth, leaning forward, but Xander clamped his mouth shut.
His friends didn’t know about his sister.
Surprise flashed through her. Why had he confided in her but not them?
Confusion and empathy swirled within her as he looked over at her, his dark blue eyes so…
lost. Full of anguish. Her heart clenched.
Poor Xander. She wanted to reach out to him, but he needed more than that.
He needed his revenge. Without it, he’d never find peace.
“Tell me, Hawke!” Brand demanded, voice raising. “What the fuck is this all about?”
Xander wrenched his gaze from Essie’s, turned his full attention back to Brand and barked, “Because José Barrera raped and murdered my baby sister!”
Brand swore under his breath. Essie could see every muscle in the man’s body tighten before he dropped back against the cushion. Beside her, Xander’s shoulders hunched. He rested his arms on his thighs and bowed his head, not making eye contact with either of them while he continued his story.
“When I was deep undercover with the CIA, my job was to destroy the Lazaro Cartel. Barrera found out and kidnapped Alyssa, killing her as a warning to me.” Xander’s eyes slid shut, his heartache so strong it was palpable.
“Alyssa is gone because I couldn’t do the only job a big brother is supposed to do—protect his sister.
” His chin dropped to his chest, and she could feel the waves of guilt radiating off him.
Essie’s heart cracked and bled. Damn José and his lust for power.
Sliding off the sofa, Essie went down to her knees and moved between Xander’s sprawled legs.
His head lifted in surprise, tortured blue eyes meeting hers, as she laid her hands on top of his knees.
His attention focused fully on her. A spark sizzled to life, and she wondered if it was because she was on her knees before him.
But then it burned out, and she had a feeling it had to do with Brandon watching them so closely.
Or maybe the polluted blood running through her veins disgusted him.
“I’ll help you bring him down,” Essie promised. “Destroy his entire empire.”
“How?” Xander locked in on her like a launched missile on its target.
“I don’t know, but whatever you need, I’ll do it. I swear.”
Xander’s intense gaze flicked over to Brandon. “We’re not giving her to Mitch.”
“Fuck,” Brand hissed. “Mitch is going to be pissed. And I really don’t want my future father-in-law to be mad at me.”
“So let’s flip this around,” Xander suggested. “Give him something to be happy about.”
“Like…?” Brand sounded doubtful.
“Let’s set a trap,” Xander murmured, voice silky, and Essie’s fingers tightened on his knees.
Everything began to click in her head, and she knew what she had to do.
“And I’ll be the bait,” she stated.
Slowly standing up, she began to pace. Walking back and forth, laying out the facts as though she were in a boardroom presenting a plan for a hostile takeover.
The way both men now gave her their full, undivided attention made her confidence soar.
“José wants to marry me off to Manuel or Joaquín Cardenas in order to unite what’s left of the Lazaro clan with the Cardenas clan.
His ultimate goal is to create the Barrera Cartel. ”
“Shit,” Brand murmured. “We can’t let that happen.”
“And I’m the clincher,” she finished. “The one who’s going to make it happen through marriage.”
“Over my dead body,” Xander growled.
She stopped pacing and turned to face him, hands on her hips. “Not yours. His. And I’ll do whatever it takes to stop my brother, once and for all.”
Xander gave a slow nod, and Brandon abruptly stood.
“Time to bring the guys in,” Brand announced, checking the large watch on his wrist. “We’ll call Mitch and come up with a game plan. Can you get to Old Glory in thirty?”
“We can be there in ten,” Xander stated, dark blue eyes flashing.
Essie shivered, feeling the shift in the air. Things just reached the point of no return. And she was smack dab in the middle. Quite frankly, a very scary place to be. But she was determined to hold steady and see things through to the bitter end.