Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Alejandro
As much as I didn’t want to leave Elaina without either me or Joey with her since she was in such an emotional state, I knew I didn’t have much of a choice.
With River in town, I needed to talk to him and hoped he would work with me.
A man like River wasn’t much of one for sticking his nose in others’ business, unless that business was Joey’s.
He bent over backward to help the Sons of Hell MC because of Adelaide’s attachment to it.
And her attachment to Joey. And I was selfish enough to use the bond they shared to get what I wanted. To obtain more protection and freedom for Elaina.
While Joey’s club members took their seats around the table, I remained standing, taking up a leaning position on the wall next to Miguel, even if I knew I should probably be sitting as much as possible after all the blood I’d lost. River took Ink’s usual seat, and Ink took to standing against the wall as well out of respect for the other president.
River had only traveled with his VP, Sam; his Sergeant at Arms, Holden; and one of his patched members, Tank. Holden and Tank stood near the door.
“I’m assuming, due to Adelaide’s connection to Elaina, I’m about to be eyeballs deep in this shit with you,” River said. He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. “Bring me up to speed. What do we know so far?”
“Women and children are being taken from the immigration camps at the southern border and trafficked,” I informed him.
River turned his eyes to me. “I’ve been working to rescue them and get them into Mexico.
I have a team that works to reunite them with their families, and if no family can be found for them, I use some of my personal funds to help them get on their feet. ”
“And your involvement is… what, exactly?” River asked, looking at Joey and arching a brow at him.
“He asked to house Elaina here,” Joey explained. “And…” He trailed off, then grunted. “It’s complicated. But I want Elaina protected and this shit dismantled as much as Alejandro, though my reasons are a bit more… selfish.”
“Because of Elaina?” River asked, easily catching on. The scowl Joey shot him answered his question. “You purchased her, right?” River looked at me. “Her father—what’s his role in this shit?”
“Head of it all,” I told him. “He’s running the whole fucking thing.”
“If my information is correct,” Miguel spoke up, “Yeller has agreements with some of the ICE border officials. When certain women and children meet his requirements, Yeller organizes transportation for them. Seems these women and kids are left under the impression they’re heading to immigration court, and instead, they’re getting shipped to a location I haven’t found yet. ”
“You know this how?” Sam spoke up, frowning at Miguel like he didn’t trust him.
“Sources,” Miguel said vaguely. I barely bit back a snort. “And before you ask, no. I won’t give you more than that. For this information, they’ve asked to remain anonymous. I’m respecting their wishes. I ask that you do the same.”
Sam grunted, clearly unhappy, but he let it drop.
Joey leaned forward, looking at River. “We just need manpower. Alejandro was shot last night, so we believe Yeller has already figured out where Alejandro is housing Elaina, which means our original plan is off the table. We’ve got nothing right now. ”
“He got three fucking million for her. Why would he be trying to take her back?” Holden demanded, his brows pulling low over his eyes in confusion. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“Because she’s valuable,” Ink grumbled. “A woman like Elaina—blonde, blue eyes, slim? She’s a walking wet dream for men like this. If he takes out Alejandro, he keeps the three mil, and he gets his daughter back so he can keep selling her out.”
“Don’t think he did his work on who Alejandro actually is,” Whiler drawled. “He’s more powerful than all of us sitting at this table combined. And if Giddons truly knew who he was, he’d know Alejandro was working against him. Not with him.”
“And you’re sure Yeller knows she’s here?” River questioned.
York, Joey’s road captain, braced his forearms on the table, leaning forward.
“Since Alejandro was shot in our territory, and no one here has beef with him, it’s the only thing we can assume.
” River arched a brow at me, but I ignored him.
“We need to play this like he knows. Our original plan was to have Joey infiltrate, get close to Yeller, and let Alejandro know of any major players, as well as any other valuable information, like drop locations, warehouses housing the girls, and even routes they take during transport, if possible—”
“Adelaide would’ve had your head on a fucking stick, brother,” River growled at Joey, cutting York off. River narrowed his eyes at Joey. “The fuck were you thinking?”
“That women and children are in fucking danger and need help,” Joey snapped back at him. “Get off my ass, River. Adelaide is no longer mine. So, she has no say in what the fuck I do.”
River glared at him. “You promised her, Joey. You promised she’d always be able to hold you with her.”
Joey rolled his eyes. “And I never intended to break that fucking promise, River. Fuck off.”
“Joey…” I murmured, drawing his eyes to me. He blew out a harsh breath, and some of the tension bled from his shoulders.
The man had no idea how much he already leaned on me. I didn’t know of anyone else, aside from Elaina, who could calm him the way I just did with a simple murmur of his name.
He nodded once at me, then looked at River.
“Alejandro and I are doing this with or without your help and support, River. It’d be nice to have it, but we’ll manage without.
It’s going to be bloody and dangerous, and everyone, including Adelaide and your boys, will be at risk.
Is that a risk you’re willing to take with us?
Or are you backing out?” Joey didn’t issue the questions as a challenge.
He simply wanted answers, and he was done playing fifty questions with River before the man made a decision.
“I can protect my wife and kids,” River told him. He stood and held his hand out to Joey. Joey stood as well, clasping River’s hand. “We’re in.” He looked at me. “If something happens to Joey, you have my wife to contend with. And she’s vicious when she’s hurting, Garcia.”
If something happened to Joey, Adelaide would have to get in line. I would burn this entire fucking universe down if I lost him.
“Noted.” Turning, I left the chapel. When I walked into the main room, Elaina was missing. Adelaide was still there, talking to Jessie, and her two boys were playing on the floor.
“Where’s Elaina?” I snapped. I didn’t like that she wasn’t where I left her without anyone I trusted with her.
“Oh, she—”
A gunshot shattered the air, and a feminine scream of pure horror and terror cut Adelaide off. My heart dropped to my goddamn stomach, and I rushed for the door just as Joey slammed out of the chapel, his gun already drawn.
Elaina.