Chapter Twenty
Madison
It’s not that my world has suddenly changed to sunshine and roses, but it’s still hard to think of facing the other people in the house. Our home is fifty-five hundred square feet of living space, not counting the garages, and it’s never bothered me that we don’t live alone. This works for our lifestyle. Now it’s different. My friends aren’t dumb and they’ve figured out what happened to me. If they’re not sure, they suspect. My absence these past two days only confirms their fear.
My gaze turns to the bed, which Moon has straightened. For a brief moment, I want to climb back in and bury myself in darkness again. I mentally pull myself together. If Cori can leave her room, I can do it too. “I’m ready,” I tell Moon after slipping into jeans, a shirt, and athletic shoes. I would usually wear shorts around the house at this time of year, but if we need to leave quickly to help Alex, I want to be prepared. Putting an uncovered knee to the ground in the heat is never fun so jeans are a must. I clip my gun holster to the belt at my waist and push my 9 mm Glock into it. Just the pressure of the gun on my hip comforts me and I’m able to draw a deep breath into my lungs.
Moon is dressed in one of his never-ending supply of white dress shirts, dark slacks, and tie minus his jacket. The man feels naked when he’s not in a suit and tie, but he usually leaves the jacket off in the house. I’ve never understood how he handles the high temperatures of Arizona. He says it’s his Mexican blood and he’s made for the heat. Yeah, I snorted the first time he said it. The man is hot no matter how you dress him.
Stress shows around his eyes and I stop delaying. At my nod, he takes my hand and gives it a firm squeeze. With him beside me, I know I can do this.
Two Dogs is lying outside the door and I almost trip over him. I lean down and scratch his head. I glance at Moon. “It was a dirty trick to close him in the room with me.”
He gives me a tender smile. “I was desperate. The damn goat was next.”
“Fred might have helped.” Moon gives me one of his looks. Fred the goat and Phily the cat live at our cabin in Flagstaff. Poor he-man Alex discovered he was allergic to cats, so Phily had to have a new home. The cabin was a compromise and the animals give us a reason to visit often. Two Dogs stays here even though he and Gabriella are in a constant battle of wills. We’ve created two homes and both are filled with love. The cabin up north is our getaway from stress and the constant barrage of security.
I give Two Dogs another pat on the head and push back my shoulders. He follows on my left and Moon holds my right hand. I’m as safe as I’ll ever be inside these walls.
I know it hurt my husband by saying I waited for him to save me. I had to speak the words, though. I had to make him understand that a piece of me is missing in our life and I need to take it back. I intend to do just that. Facing the people in this house is the first step. They’re my friends and love me. I can do it.
We reach the bottom part of the stairs and the heat from the open front doors draws our attention. Four men, armed to the teeth, stand at the bottom of the steps. They don’t just work for my husband, they’re his inner circle.
Juan looks up at us and then takes a second look. I give him a slight smile as we continue down the stairs. His white teeth sparkle when he nods in my direction. His attention turns outside when Alex, who is driving one of the black SUVs, screeches around the last corner before entering the house gates. He slams the brakes and Celina, Austin, and Melina jump from the vehicle. When the women notice me, they rush up the outside stairs where I’m now standing in the doorway. Moon gives my hand a squeeze, releases me, and steps away seconds before I move outside and the women surround me.
Celina’s arms circle my shoulders first and I hug her back trying not to cry in front of the men. I glance behind her and see Alex. He’s staring at me. Before Celina can pass me to Melina, Alex gently but rudely pushes his way forward, lifts me off my feet, and gives me the hug of a lifetime. “You big oaf, let me down. You’re bleeding all over me.”
He only tightens his arms, which of course makes me cry. “I don’t want to cry in front of you, so please help me keep a semblance of dignity.”
“Cry all you want, mi hermana, I’ll beat the shit out of anyone who looks sideways.”
“Stop that,” I say and slap his shoulder. “You need to have your wound taken care of. I think it needs stitches.”
“This scratch,” he points in the general vicinity of his face and sees the blood covering his hand. “I’m not dying, which means you can stitch me up and I don’t need to put up with Carlo’s bitching. Besides, Celina doesn’t have the stomach for piercing flesh.” He steps back and winks. The man is a killer, but his humor is a bigger part of him. Humor and his love for Celina.
We move inside the house and I see my husband deep in conversation with Austin. Alex makes a beeline their way so he doesn’t miss anything important, and Melina finally gets her turn to hug me. The best thing that ever happened to Austin was this woman. I wish she still worked for me at the agency, but I want her happy more than anything and Austin makes her happy.
“It’s so good to have you back,” she says, her throat clogging with emotion.
“No crying,” I admonish. “Cori and I are doing better.”
“She’s strong. Hell, you’re both so damn strong. I’m incredibly sorry for the pain my brother brought to your doorstep,” she says sincerely, guilt and worry wrapped in the words.
“That monster isn’t your brother. You can’t possibly share a bloodline. He’s evil through and through so never apologize for that pile of shit again.” This time it’s more than an admonishment.
She manages not to cry and gives me a smartass reply. “Yes, ma’am.”
Moon comes up behind us. “If you need some time, I’ll hold off this meeting.”
His tightly pressed lips tell me he doesn’t want to do it, but he will for my sake. He’s obviously disturbed by what Austin and Alex told him. “I’ll catch up with these ladies later,” I assure him and give Celina and Melina another hug.
“Conference room,” Moon says to the men. He threads his fingers through mine and leads me down the hallway. This is the no-go room when there’s a problem. That doesn’t mean I haven’t invited myself inside when the occasion calls for it. Celina and I have both been in meetings, but it’s not the norm. No more burying my head in the sand. It’s time for me to take my place.
Melina and Celina stay behind. The men, including our security team, don’t question me being there. One of the guys hands Alex a washcloth and he covers the wound on the side of his head, pressing it down to stop the bleeding. He then offers me another wink, the jerk. I’m not an idiot; I know he’s doing it to show how damn tough he is.
Me caveman, blood is good.
These last six months, I’ve had trouble reconciling who Alex is and what he does for Moon. He kills and he’s not a quick or gentle executioner. I know he keeps us safe and that was good enough for me until uncertainty set in. Stupid really because Alex could have killed me when I witnessed Moon shoot a man before Moon and I became a couple. I was a disgruntled PI longing for my job as an officer. Black and white was part of my job and I rarely saw the gray areas. Instead of killing me, Alex helped change my entire life for the better. He took me to my future husband. The first time I met Alex, I fell and hit my head. When I woke up, I was at Moon’s home, in his bed. I have a lot to thank Alex for. He called me his sister earlier. I’ll take him as a brother any day.
“It was definitely cartel,” Alex says and Austin agrees. Austin has grown on me. It helps that Melina loves him so much and that he loves her in return. There’s still something off about him. It’s something missing behind his eyes and I’ll admit it scares me. The first time I saw him, I didn’t think he had a soul. Melina’s love changed that.
My husband speaks next. “Cal, get men on this. I want to know who they are. We have the gun shipment going south in another week if I can arrange it. If this is the Muerte Cartel, we’ll give the town of El Flores more firepower than they need to take them out. We’ll also double our men down there.”
“That will leave us short no matter where you take the men from,” Alex says.
“We’ll make do,” Moon snaps, telling Alex there is no room for discussion. My husband’s good at that and when it’s me on the other end of his “me the boss” statements, I want to kick him in the shins.
Austin clears his throat and the room turns its attention to him. “This is too convenient after what happened to Mak and Cori.”
Moon’s fists clench. “I hope you’re wrong. If Fernandez has cartel connections, we’re in for a bigger war than we planned.” He looks back at Cal. “We need this information yesterday.”
“On it, boss,” he says as he comes out of his seat. “Good to have you back with us, Mak.”
I give a small smile, appreciating his words. The other men ignore our exchange and continue talking when Cal leaves the room. I knew controlling New Mexico was straining Moon’s resources when it came to men he trusted, but I didn’t know it was this bad until now.
“You really need Rack,” I say as soon as there is a space for me to add my two cents.
Moon looks at me and the other men follow suit. “I know he’s out of the life, but he owes you. Call him and ask him to check out the New Mexico shipment. If he only needs to examine the merchandise, he’ll do it.”
Alex nods. “I’ll call him if that’s okay with you, boss.” Yeah, Alex is going to get his dig in after Moon shut him down.
Moon ignores the jibe of being called boss and another smile appears on his face. “Good thinking.” He gives me a nod of approval before turning back to Alex. “His brothers are law enforcement. If he can’t or won’t, don’t push it.”
Alex agrees and Moon asks for an update on Fernandez’s whereabouts, which is what I’ve been waiting for.
“He hasn’t contacted Cartwright for another female,” Juan answers after giving me a quick look.
I’m very familiar with Cartwright and he’s a thorn in my side. He’s heavy-handed with his women and he keeps them supplied in drugs so they complain little. Celina almost went to work for him when she first came to me about a job at the agency. Alex tied that impossibility up quickly.
“How is Fernandez connected to Cartwright?” I ask.
The men go silent. Moon reaches for my hand. “Two of his ladies didn’t return after separate visits to Fernandez. Fernandez paid Cartwright a hell of a lot of money to not ask questions. He won’t be in business much longer. When things settle, I’m personally taking the bastard out.”
All righty then. I wanted to play with the big boys, so now I am. “If I don’t handle it first,” I reply with steel in my voice. I guess I can be a blood-thirsty bitch when the situation warrants. If Cartwright sent those women to die at Fernandez’s hands, he needs to go down. I won’t just step out of the way, I want to be part of eliminating Cartwright.
It’s another hour before the meeting ends. I wiggle one finger at Alex and point to the door. I need to stitch him up. He stands and I notice the boots he’s wearing. He hates them but because Celina gave them as a Christmas gift, he never told her. “Come on cowboy,” I say. “I don’t want you bleeding throughout the house.”