Since you never wanted a paper trail of your dealings, everything was done verbally. Your word was your bond, along with a handshake. “So I’m to understand that the Georgia chapter of the Raiders will no longer deal in guns to other sources. Instead, your shipments will come to us in Juárez via your brothers in the El Paso club,” Juan said.

“We’re going legitimate.”

Juan’s eyes widened. “Interesting. Too much bloodshed or too much heat from the authorities?”

“Too much blood.”

“Although I cannot totally understand your desire, I greatly appreciate it, since it will benefit our organization.”

I smiled. “I’m glad you see it that way.”

Juan glanced at the still-nameless man at his side before turning back to me. “I understand you ask for no money in return.”

“That is true.”

“Your generosity comes in the form of the elimination of one man. Manuel Mendoza.”

I shifted in my seat. “I never asked for his termination. Merely for protection.”

“He killed two of your El Paso brothers, did he not?”

“Yes. That is true.”

“And he is your fiancée’s rapist, true?”

Sucking in a harsh breath, I tried to still my emotions. Juan had hit a raw nerve by mentioning Annabel. “Yes. He is,” I spat out through gritted teeth.

“So tell me why this man deserves to live.”

Before I could respond, Deacon growled, “We came to make a deal, not to be fucked with!”

Juan’s lips quirked up in a smile. “My apologies.”

I cleared my throat. “Excuse my brother. He is very protective.”

“It is understandable. I was merely feeling you out on the subject.”

“You would take out one of your loyal lieutenants for a deal?”

“Members of our organization are expendable. They know that when they join.” Juan narrowed his eyes. “To say that Mendoza is loyal would be far too complimentary. He’s always had his own agenda. But that stays within these walls.”

“I understand,” I replied.

Juan extended his hand. “So do we have a deal?”

As I stared at his hand for a moment, I couldn’t help thinking of my old man and of Case. I hoped that what I was about to do would have made them proud. Even if we went legitimate, we would never disband the Raiders brotherhood.

I reached for Juan’s hand. “It’s a deal.”

He smiled. “I’m very glad to hear that. I will phone Hector and let him know everything is taken care of.”

“Including Mendoza?” Bishop asked.

Juan nodded. “He is no longer a threat to you.”

“My club, as well as my El Paso brothers, appreciate that.”

After Juan had shaken hands with the others, we headed out of the back room. When we got outside the restaurant, I exhaled the breath that I felt I had been holding since Mendoza had reared his head again.

“How does it feel to be just a regular old biker?” Bishop asked.

Deacon snorted. “Until we unload the gambling at the gym, we’re only half-legitimate.”

With a grin, Bishop asked, “So we’re basically a bastard?”

“You’re always a bastard,” I replied.

“Har fucking har,” he muttered, as he slid across the seat of his bike.

After putting on my helmet, I gunned my bike’s engine. We then rode out of the parking lot, me speeding ahead of my brothers. I couldn’t wait to get back to Annabel.

Just as we rounded the curve about a mile from home, the unmistakable sound of gunfire rang out. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Deacon and Bishop spin out, their bikes crashing onto the pavement. When Mac tried to miss their combined heap of metal, he overcorrected, sending him careening into the ditch. When they didn’t move, I didn’t know if it was from the bike wreck injuries or if they had been shot. I started to turn my bike around when a bullet hit my back tire, and it was my turn to slide along the asphalt.

After struggling until my bike came to a stop, I lay on my back trying to catch my breath and heard squealing tires. Turning my head, I watched as a car came speeding toward us. Furiously I started trying to pull myself out from under my bike. The car screeched to a stop, and a man jumped out just as I wiggled free. I had no time to reach around my back for my own gun before the muzzle of a pistol was pointed at my head.

Although I had never laid eyes on him, I knew who it was. Mendoza stared down at me with lifeless black eyes. Then with one kick of his steel-toed boot, the world around me went dark.

TWENTY-THREE

ANNABEL

Pacing around Deacon and Alexandra’s bedroom, I kept an eye on the nightstand clock as well as the light blue bassinet in the corner. Rev had left two hours ago for his meeting with the Rodriguez cartel, and by now I was beginning to get antsy. As a novice in the MC world, I had no idea how long such meetings should take.

While she waited for Deacon to return, Alexandra had slipped into the shower while Wyatt slept peacefully. I had offered to watch him to put her at ease. Although it had initially been hard being around Wyatt, I had grown to enjoy being with him, feeling his soft skin, smelling his sweet smell.

Digging in my pocket for my phone, I checked to see if there was a call from Rev that I had somehow missed. When there wasn’t, I decided to be the overbearing fiancée and call him. After the voice mail connected, I said, “Rev, I hate to be a nag, but could you please give me a call? I love you.”

Loud, panicked voices and heavy boots stomping down the hallway caused a chill to run down my spine. I hurried over to the door and threw it open. I gasped at the sight of Deacon and Mac carrying Bishop into his room. I ran into the hallway, forgetting all about watching Wyatt.

Boone stopped me before I could go into Bishop’s room. “What’s happened? What’s wrong with Bishop?”

With a grimace, Boone replied, “He’s been shot. Breakneck’s on the way.”

Craning my neck, I surveyed the group of men in the hallway. Rev was nowhere to be seen. “Where’s Rev?” When no one answered me, it felt like I was free-falling off the edge of a cliff, my arms and legs pinwheeling madly. “Where is Rev?” I demanded again, my voice growing shrill.

Deacon appeared in the doorway. His face and arms were torn with ragged cuts, and dried blood crusted over the deep scratches. With legs that shook so hard they could barely support me, I lunged at him.

“Where is Rev?”

“We were ambushed on the way home from our meeting. He took Rev.”

I didn’t have to ask who had taken Rev. I knew without a shadow of a doubt. “Oh my God,” I murmured.

Deacon’s arms reached out for me, pulling me against him. “We’re going to get Rev back, Annabel. Mendoza took him for a reason. If he didn’t plan on making demands of us, he would have killed Rev then.”

“You don’t know Mendoza,” I whispered. Flashes of his vicious eyes, his volatile temper, and his never-ending cruelty raced through my mind.

Tilting my head to cause me to look at him, Deacon said, “Mendoza is pretty much fucked. He has both us and now the Rodriguez cartel on his ass. He’s not going to win this one. We’re already working on tracing his phone to find him.”

I wanted to believe Deacon. I couldn’t bear the thought of living in a world without Rev. After all, he was my world—the sun, the moon, and the stars. I knew I needed more security than just what the Raiders could do.

“We need help.”

Deacon’s brows rose in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t want to take one chance when it comes to Rev’s life.”

“I said we would—”

“I’m calling my father. I want the FBI or the ATF or whoever the hell takes out men like Mendoza to make sure Rev gets out of this alive.”

A collective intake of breath came from the other members of the Raiders. Deacon’s expression darkened. “We don’t work with the feds.”