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Nikki: Come to me. Now.

Nikki: Alone, Muñeca. I’ll know if you don’t.

My fingers were on the keyboard, ready to respond, when a soft knock sounded at the door. My head whipped to the noise, wondering if the shock had me hearing things. But after another thud, I tiptoed to open it. Queen bitch stood on the other side. She peered around my body, taking in Gunner’s sleeping form, making me want to knock her ass out on the spot.

What the fuck does she want?

I was about to slam the door on her and her shit timing when her words stopped me in my tracks.

“Oh good, your whore ass is awake. Mario wanted to make sure you got his messages and remind you that he was watching,” she taunted. A cruel smile was plastered on her face, delighting in the shock on mine. “He didn’t say this part, but I’ll be glad when he sells your ass. Gunner was always supposed to be mine,” she seethed.

I was so stunned that I didn’t even swing at her or demand more answers.

She called over her shoulder as she walked away. “You’ve got ten minutes to get to Lotería, Muñeca. Alone…those were his words.” Laughter left her lips. It was clear she was taking great joy in this whole situation.

“Bet you the bitch he’s holding deserves it too if she friends with you,” she added.

My vision flooded with rage. She should’ve run when she had the chance because now the initial shock had worn off. And if she’d done her research, she’d know I was amazing at recovering quickly and retaliating with a vengeance.

I watched my fingers disappear into the bleach-blond rat’s nest, grasping hard on to her locks and yanking. I felt as hair pulled free from her scalp. She was lucky she wore some cheap-ass extensions, or the damage would have been worse. A shriek escaped her mouth before I clamped my free hand over it, fighting back an inner gag at the thought of where her mouth had been. Her flailing proved she didn’t have a clue how to fight. She was hoping digging her talons into my arms would set her free.

Had she forgotten she’d watched me fight a big-ass man? Who threw literal punches at my face? What did she think her nails would do besides piss me off more? I shoved her up against the hallway wall, careful to avoid any doors. If I was going to get to Mario’s alone, I needed to be sure not to wake Gunner or any of his club brothers.

I leaned forward, whispering in her ear, “Listen here, you sorry excuse for a woman. I have more important things to do than beat your ass, but I’m going to hurt you. I’m going to give you a taste of what is to come after I go handle Mario,” I said, making sure she heard the menace in my voice—got a picture of the killer I was.

A whimper escaped as I pulled harder.

“How many women have you helped him sell? Huh?” I asked, shoving her face farther into the wall. “Do the Skeletons know you’re double-dipping into the Reaper MC? My guess is no. See, your fuck up, Lolli, was not knowing who the fuck I am. I run shit for Los Muertos here in Tucson. I run Lotería. And I know for damn sure you didn’t meet Mario there. So where did you meet him, Lolli?”

I let my question sit in the air between us. Her body went rigid at the accusation of her disloyalty. She knew club rules, and as a club whore, she was Skeletons’ property. Being with the Reapers in any way would be cause for extermination.

Warm tears hit my hand, and I let out a cruel laugh.

“Yeah, you chose the wrong bitch. La Brujita de Los Muertos. Do you know what that means, Lolli?” Her head shook no, tears continuing to flow. “I’m the witch of the dead, chica. And I’ll be back to reap your soul for El Diablo,” I whispered in her ear. The bloodlust thrumming through my veins demanded I answer the call of violence.

Without warning, I spun her around, landing a solid punch to her orbital, the fragile bone crushing under the force. Before she could alert anyone, my left hook hit her chin, knocking her out on impact. I stared at her crumpled form for a few moments before realizing I needed to get a move on if I was going to make Mario’s timeline. My stomach turned at the memory of me bending to his will. Now I would have to do that again.

I cracked Gunner’s door open and peeked in, hoping his sleeping form hadn’t moved. The sliver of light coming from the hallway showed his chest rising and falling under the sheet. A sigh of relief escaped my lips, but my heart clenched at the thought of what I was about to do. It was better this way, his still being asleep. It meant I could sneak out of here and show up alone, as Mario demanded.

And he would know. He wasn’t dumb enough to only have Lolli as a mole. Someone else would be watching, waiting to see how long it took me to leave the clubhouse and who left after.

It always pissed me off in movies when people split up or characters didn’t communicate what was happening. But now I understood. Now I could see how shoveling the burden on your shoulders seemed better than risking your loved ones. And I loved Gunner. I wouldn’t get him into this mess, but I wouldn’t risk Nikki either. Not going wasn’t an option.

On silent feet, I gathered up my clothes and anything else I needed. They would check me for weapons eventually, but I would keep my Sig on me for as long as possible. I gnawed on my lip, and against my better judgment, I crept over to Gunner’s side of the bed. My fingers longed to touch him, but I knew I couldn’t do that. I was already pushing the limits. My vision blurred the longer I stared at him. Despite the threat I gave Lolli, I didn’t know if I would be coming back. I didn’t know if I would survive whatever Mario had planned. Unable to resist, I leaned forward and brushed my lips against his forehead, choking down a sob while whispering into his skin.

“Fuck. I’m sorry I never told you I love you. But I guess, given the circumstances, it’s better this way. I hope you find someone who makes your soul sing the way you did for me.”

I gave myself seconds to have my breakdown before tucking the emotions into my inner box. Cold and calculated was what I needed if I was going to get Nikki out. Because while I didn’t know what my fate would be, I was going to make damn sure she was freed.

Ryan

Crazy how many things can change in such a short amount of time.

I had never felt dread when coming to Lotería. It was always like coming home. Walking in felt like a warm embrace, but that had shifted. Now it felt cold—hostile—no longer the place I loved.

Tarnished and broken by the vile acts of a man I thought had saved me.

That moment in the alley was beginning to haunt me. The rose-colored lens I’d given the memory stripped away, leaving the broken and bloody reality. Now I could see how I was like so many girls I saved. Captured. The other women may have been bought and sold with money, but Mario bargained for my life with an offer he knew I couldn’t reject.