25. Camile
CAMILE
I’m petrified.
I cling tight to Ace’s waist, feeling as though I’m hiding behind him, which I basically am. Despite all my brave words to Jack, I’m starting to seriously question myself. What if I’ve made a terrible mistake?
But then we get close to where Hector is waiting with several of his men, and I realize one of those men is Ghost.
I can’t help the little squeak of both relief and fear that peals from my throat. Ghost is very much alive, and I’m so happy to see him. I wish I could jump off the bike and run up to him and throw my arms around his neck, but that’s going to have to wait.
We parted ways with the rest of the MC several miles back. Hector may not know it, but this whole airstrip is surrounded.
I’m sure he has his own men keeping watch on the perimeter of the airstrip, but we outnumber his several times over, if Ghost’s numbers are correct.
He’s been forced to keep some of his men with him while he does the exchange, which means he only has at most eight men to patrol the perimeter, which is over a mile long.
That’s not nearly enough on an airstrip of this size.
All our men are armed with wire cutters as well as guns, so they can gain access to the property without being seen.
The bulletproof vest I’m wearing under my clothes is bulky and uncomfortable, but it was also non-negotiable. There was no way I’d be sitting on the back of Ace’s bike without it.
I trust my men to keep me safe. I’m more frightened for their lives than my own.
One of the trucks from the compound is following the bikes, with Zoo driving, and in it is the man who set up Rook.
I have no guilt in throwing this man into the mayhem that will erupt when Hector realizes he’s not Ledger.
He deserves everything he gets after betraying Rook.
I only hope that whoever is connected to Jarrod—such as his brother behind bars—won’t get any idea who caused Jarrod’s disappearance.
We stop the bikes and the SUV, and everyone climbs off to face the man we’ve come here for.
There’s no mistaking which of the men is Hector.
He’s in his early fifties, with that well dressed, overgroomed look about him that doesn’t fit with any of the cartel members I used to see, but very much fits the boss.
His expression is strange, and it isn’t until he turns his face, catching the light, that I see he has a scar across his cheek that lifts one side of his mouth in a cruel smirk.
He’s also got four men who are clearly bodyguard types standing around him. Everyone is armed—there was no point in anyone pretending they weren’t—but with equal numbers of people, we’re matched, gun for gun.
Despite knowing what this man has done and what he’s capable of, the only person I really care to see is Ghost. He’s been hurt; his eye swollen and bruised, his lip split. His clothes are rumpled and dirty. He also looks like he hasn’t slept in a week, which I can’t blame him for.
The one person missing is Shelley’s sister, Megan, and my heart clenches for her.
We’re not supposed to know about her, and don’t want to give away that we do, in case Hector orders her to be killed.
My fear is we’re already too late and Megan is dead.
Shelley will never get over it, and perhaps I need to shoulder some of the blame.
After all, if it wasn’t for me running to the biker compound, Hector Sanchez would never have so much as known her name.
My stomach twists in despair. How many people are going to die on my behalf?
“Where is my son?” Hector demands.
Zoo climbs out of the SUV and pops the trunk.
He hauls ‘Ledger’ out and tosses him to the ground.
I’m grateful for the dark. There are floodlights positioned around the runway, but we’re just outside of them here.
Perhaps Hector has his own reasons for wanting to be in partial darkness, and I’m sure none of them are good.
“Son,” Hector says, and reels off something in Spanish.
Beneath the hood, Jarrod groans something unintelligible.
“We had to gag him,” Ace throws out. “The fucker wouldn’t shut up. You definitely haven’t taught your son how to keep his mouth shut. He was spilling just about everything he’s ever learned, going right back to pre-school days.”
I have to admit that even though Ghost has been beaten and is tied up, he still looks a lot better than ‘Ledger.’
“Well, you can ungag him now,” Hector growls.
“Not until we make the exchange.” Ace thinks fast. “You can communicate in a language we don’t understand and might start telling him of some plan to screw us over. We can’t risk it. Not until you send our man over here.”
Hector’s dark gaze locks on me. “And this is the Montez girl.” One corner of his mouth curls up even further, making his strange smirk darkly scary. “I can see why my son is so infatuated with you.”
A shudder rolls through me, and Rook moves to position himself in front of me, blocking Hector’s view.
“Leave her out of this,” Rook says.
I put my hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, Rook. I came here for a reason. Hector and I have some things to say to one another.”
I must be brave, but it’s not easy. My legs have turned to jelly and my insides feel watery. My pulse beats so fast and hard I can feel it in my ears.
“I’m making you one final offer, girl,” Hector says. “Give me the location of the safehouse, and I will allow you to walk away and live your life. I’ll let your friends go unharmed, too.”
“Aren’t they supposed to go unharmed anyway?” I throw back. “Isn’t that the point of this exchange? We all get what we want, and everyone walks away unhurt?”
I hope he doesn’t notice the tremor in my voice. The whole time I’m terrified that he’s going to look at Ledger/Jarrod more closely and realize it’s an imposter. The moment he does realize something’s wrong, this whole thing will go to shit.
“Yes, for the moment, but it doesn’t change what’s happening between my family and yours, little girl.
Your brother will wish to step into your father’s shoes, just as soon as he can, and until I know that loose end is taken care of, there will continue to be a war between us.
I suggest you make the sensible choice and tell me where the safehouse is.
I will guarantee your mother’s safety, as I said before.
Why should the females pay for the crimes of the men? ”
The females? Talk about sexist. Looking into his face confirms that I’m making the right choice.
I don’t trust him to let me and my mother live our lives out in peace, even if I gave him my brother.
I think we’d always be looking over our shoulders.
“I won’t change my mind. It doesn’t matter how many times you ask. ”
He lets out a long sigh, like I’m an infuriating child he’s lost patience with.
“Then you cannot be surprised by anything that occurs in the future. We will find them eventually, and who knows what will happen to your mother then. I believe she’s still young and beautiful, like her daughter.
Perhaps she will also make a good wife.”
I grind my teeth, and Rook touches my hand, probably trying to calm me. Hector is saying all of this because he wants me to give up the location, and if he needs that to happen, it means he has no idea where the safehouse is or how to find it. My remaining family is safe.
Ace steps forward. “You got your answer for the second time, Hector. She said no. This time, you’ll need to accept it.”
Hector sniffs. “That is fine, as long as your little club understands that by harboring the daughter of a cartel under a takeover it leaves itself open to attack in the future.”
“You are welcome to try.” Rook laughs dismissively. “We’ll be ready for you.”
“I think we’re done talking.” Ace glances back to me. “Get in the car, Camile.”
I shake my head. “No, I—”
“I said get in the car.”
It’s a tone I don’t normally hear from Ace—one that leaves no room for questioning.
I slip out from behind Rook, hurry to the vehicle, and climb into the back seat.
I’m more sheltered inside like this. Zoo is standing beside the open driver’s door, and I know he’s ready to drive me the hell out of here when the shooting starts.
I don’t want to leave without my men, though.
“What are we waiting for?” Ace says. “Let’s get this over with so we can be on our way. I’m sure we’ve all got far better things to do with our time.”
I peer out of the car window, my gaze focused on Ghost. He’s remained silent the whole time, and I wonder what’s going through his head.
He knows the man we’ve hauled out of the trunk can’t possibly be Ledger, but he’s shown no sign of surprise.
He’s remained as silent and stoic as ever. I guess that’s his military training.
Ace walks over to where Jarrod is lying on his side on the ground and hauls him to his feet. Hector takes hold of Ghost’s arm. Both sides raise their weapons, preparing for any possible hiccups, though our side is expecting it more.
Ace and Hector walk their men closer and stop when they’re only a few feet apart.
“Do it now.” Hector jerks his chin.
Ace shoves Jarrod forward hard enough that, with his bound feet, he stumbles and falls. Hector attempts to grab him, but with his gun still in his other hand, he’s not quite strong enough to prevent Jarrod hitting the ground.
Ghost hasn’t moved.
No, no, no. What’s he doing? He needs to go with Ace and get in the car with me. Right at that moment, shots are fired near the perimeter. Shouts filter across the still night air, and it’s clear some of Hector’s men have come across some of ours. Everything seems to happen at once.
Hector bends and drags the hood off Jarrod’s head. “Who the fuck—?” He roars like an animal. “Where is my son!”
Ghost spins, the piece of rope that had been binding his hands falling to the ground, and uses something to slash at Hector’s hand, the one holding the gun.
Hector yells in pain and drops the gun. Moving with surprising agility for a man who has been held captive, Ghost kicks it away, sending it skittering across the asphalt.
In my periphery, one of Hector’s men aims his weapon at Ghost and shoots.
A horrified scream tears from my lungs, echoing through the interior of the car.
Somehow, thank God, the goon firing at Ghost manages to miss, but it’s given Hector enough time to dive for cover. He’s bleeding, but it doesn’t look bad enough to kill him. More’s the pity.
The whizz of bullets flying fills the air, and I stare in horror, helpless in the back of the car. One of Hector’s men takes a bullet in the chest and goes down with a grunt. Others run for safety, people fleeing in all directions as chaos breaks out.
Ace, Rook, and Phoenix move, their legs pumping as they, too, try to reach cover.
Phoenix grabs Ghost on the way and drags him with him as Ghost stumbles to keep up.
It’s utter anarchy, and it’s hard for me to see what is going on.
Everyone seems to be shooting at once, and bullets hit the side of the vehicle with metallic punches.
I scream again and duck, burying my head under my arms as though that can save me.