Sizzle (11 page)

“Who are you?” I manage to whisper.

He sighs and his heartbeat accelerates beneath my ear. Even so, the thrum is calming.

“Do you know who Moon is?”

“Madison’s husband?” That was stupid. Like there would be another man named Moon in Arizona.

“Yes. Did Madison tell you who he is?” He continues playing with my hair, but I know from the beat of his heart and tone of his voice that this conversation is deadly serious.

“She said he’s not exactly an upstanding citizen.”

This comment receives a laugh. “She was telling you a mild form of the truth. Moon runs the largest crime syndicate in Arizona and New Mexico.”

I’m not sure what to say.
Out of the smoke and into the fire
is the thought that comes to mind. But maybe, just maybe they can save my niece. Mak was truly angry at the Crows for treating Kiley the way they did. Moon’s organization might be deadly, but I have trouble believing they’re worse than Fox and his gang. Most likely that’s my naïveté speaking. Dreading the answer, I ask anyway. “Who are you to Moon?”

His hand stops moving through my hair and his fingers slide down until his hand circles half my throat. I should feel nervous, but I don’t. It’s a possessive gesture and it actually calms me. His eyes search mine. I’m not sure what he expects to see. “I take care of Moon’s problems. I’m the one who will handle yours.”

He says it so simply. By “take care of” he means violence. It’s something I was never around until my brother’s death and finding out about Kiley. I reach up and slide my fingers beneath his until they’re threaded together. “Thank you,” I whisper.

“Find another condom,” he breathes against my skin before he sucks my nipple into his mouth. Thank God my purse is still on the bed. And thank God he doesn’t stop.

IT’S AFTER FIVE WHEN
I’m packed and ready to go. Alex is taking me to his home, which happens to be Moon and Mak’s home too. It’s confusing that he calls her Madison. He tells me if I want to keep my pretty face, I should call her Mak as she requests. Alex has a sense of humor, which is so at odds with the pain that surrounds him like a shroud. I wonder if he’s ever killed anyone. I’m so damn naïve but hope the answer is no.

He left me little choice about going home with him, and truthfully I don’t want to stay here and wait for news about Kiley. A medium-sized suitcase and a small toiletry bag is all I have in the way of luggage. My other belongings are boxed and stored in my old room at my parents’ house.

I leave my small stash of food behind and almost forget about the money. I make Alex wait and he watches as I dig the metal nail file from my toiletry bag. I use it to pry open the air conditioning panel and remove the money he gave me. I hand it to him and he takes it without argument. Everything I have belongs to this man if he can get Kiley for me.

“My men will pick up your car. You’re driving with me.” He sends a text to someone and I’m guessing my car is taken care of. When we get outside, he locks my keys inside my car and tells me not to worry because his men can get in. His vehicle is a black SUV with tinted windows. He pressed a button on his key fob while I finished packing. When we get into the black SUV, the interior is cool. I almost laugh. My poor white car takes forever to cool down.

His hands are capable as he throws the vehicle into reverse and pulls out of the parking space that he’s parked sideways in. He gives me a slight grin when I raise my eyebrows. “Madison,” is all he says and it does, kind of, explain the parking job. What the heck was she thinking by telling him I was with a client? The sad truth is that I would have been if she sent me. Not in my motel room, though.

We roll onto Van Buren without checking out of the motel or trying to get the three days I paid for the room back. I mention it to Alex and he tells me not to worry about it. Somehow I’ve gone from paid escort to kept woman, or at least I think that’s what this is. Not that he’ll keep me for long, I’m sure. I’m in no position to argue about money with him. If I’m going to be kept, Alex is the only man on the list right now that I’d choose. He’s also the man who has promised to get Kiley for me.

We travel about two miles in rush hour traffic and I start to ask him a question. He cuts me off. “Have you had a tail?” he demands abruptly.

For the dumbest reason, a cat comes to mind and I almost say that.

“Someone following you?” he explains. I notice him looking back and forth between the rearview and side mirrors.

My heart races. “No. Not that I’m aware of.”

He pushes a button on the steering wheel and a voice comes through the speakers. “Yea, boss?”

“I’ve got a tail. I’m heading east on Van Buren and will jump on I-10 in a few. I’ll take the interchange at the 202 and loop around the long way. Get two cars on me and tag this guy. I want him alive.”

I’m listening with half an ear because I can see out of my side mirror that a large motorcycle is behind us. He’s staying back a few cars but changes lanes when Alex does. If he’s been following me, I had no idea. This means the Crows know where I’ve been and the thought sends chills down my spine. It never occurred to me that they would send someone to watch me. The threat of killing my parents if I went to Child Services or the police put the fear of God into me. There’s no way I would risk my parents or Kiley.

Alex doesn’t speed and the quick glance he gives me is filled with reassurance. “No worries. My guys will stop him. These windows are bulletproof.” My expression must be horrified, and his smile grows. “My world, Celina. You’re in it now.”

I lean my head back and close my eyes. I guess this answers my thoughts about him killing someone. I didn’t miss when he told whoever answered his call that he wanted this guy alive. I never wanted this world and have no idea why my brother did. I would have sworn I’d never understand it. Now, I’m not so sure. If bad guys need to die to get my niece back, it’s something I think I can live with. Like Alex said, I’m in his world and it’s time to ride or get off the pony.

I could jump out of the vehicle at a stoplight and hope to flag down a cop if I really wanted to. Or I can cast my lot with a bunch of criminals who are willing to take on another bunch of criminals and save my niece. Mak and Alex aren’t the bad guys in my mind. Maybe I’m simplifying things, but a crop of curly red hair and large blue eyes makes it easy. If Alex told his men to kill the guy behind us, I don’t think I’d feel differently. If I were armed and knew how to use a gun, I would have killed Fox and his entire gang and taken my niece when I first went to the clubhouse. Or at least that’s been my fantasy.

I mentally crumble my innocence and cast it aside. There’s no place for it in this world. I have no idea where this momma bear instinct is coming from and it doesn’t matter. One way or another, my niece is getting out of there. Not for one second do I trust Fox. All I had before Alex was a wing and a prayer that my body wouldn’t be left out in the desert after I delivered the cash to Fox. Now I have a greater chance and I’ll be damned if I judge anyone willing to help me.

We pull onto the I-10. Traffic is almost bumper to bumper. It takes twenty minutes before we intersect with the 202.

“My men are on us and this guy is toast. Stop worrying.”

I glance at Alex and without thinking, rest my hand on his thigh. “I wasn’t worried,” I say. It’s the truth. I’m willing to let Alex take over and do his crime thing.

I get a flash of teeth, and for just a moment his large, rough hand settles on mine and he squeezes slightly. Then his fingers are back on the steering wheel and he’s all business.

We pull off the 202 and Alex guides the SUV into an industrial area that I’m unfamiliar with. He picks up a bit of speed and out of the side mirror I see two black vehicles behind the guy on the motorcycle. We’re approaching a canal bridge when Alex makes a hard left. The bike swings wide but follows. The other two vehicles make the same left, and then one guns it, switches lanes, and blasts around the bike. The other vehicle tags the back end of the bike and it careens off the road. It happens in a blink. Alex continues driving like nothing went down.

I’m glued to the side mirror. The biker took quite a tumble and he wasn’t wearing a helmet. I always hated the no helmet law in Arizona, but right now, I couldn’t care less. Alex’s phone rings into the speakers.

“Got him and he’s alive,” is all the man on the other end says after Alex hits the steering wheel button again.

“Take him to the warehouse and keep him alive until I get there. It could be a few hours. Have someone collect the bike and take it to the warehouse too.”

“Consider it done.”

That was it. So simple. I am truly in Alex’s world now.

Celina

THE LARGE IRON GATES
open slowly and we drive through. The house is actually a two-story sprawling mansion with white adobe walls. A huge fountain takes up the area about twenty feet from the front door. The water cascades into a round pool bigger than my last apartment. The sun is still shining, but the color of the sky is changing. This signals the beginning of a three-hour change from daylight to darkness in the desert. The sun will completely set by nine. The temperature will only take a marginal drop.

Alex parks on the circular drive between the fountain and house. It’s a Spanish-style monstrosity. I’ve only ever seen pictures of homes like this in magazines. It’s difficult to remember to keep my mouth closed. I’m surprised when Alex clasps his warm hand around my fingers and squeezes.

The front door opens and Mak exits with Moon at her back. She places her hand out to me after walking down the steps. Alex doesn’t release my right hand, so I offer my left. Mak’s eyes sparkle, and it’s obvious she notices Alex’s grasp.

“You found her,” she says and gives my fingers a squeeze.

“Yes. I did… Alone,” Alex snaps back.

I glance at Moon and this time, I take a really good look. He’s a little taller than Alex and almost as good looking. Mak’s laugh turns my attention to her.

“I owed you one,” she says with a huge grin. “Let’s get inside where it’s cool. Gabriella has dinner ready and she’s grumbling because I made her wait to serve.”

“I don’t have time for dinner right now. There’s business to attend to first.”

Mak releases my hand and walks slightly in front of us with Moon at her side. She looks over her shoulder at Alex. “I know exactly what kind of business you have. You can explain to Gabriella why you aren’t eating with us again. I believe you’ve missed the last two dinners. You’re on her bad list right now, and I’m tired of making criminal activity excuses for you.”

Alex grumbles under his breath, and Moon places his arm around Mak’s waist as he opens the door. She steps through and he releases her as he holds the door for all of us. After my first five steps inside, I’m too mind-boggled to pay attention to the men behind us.

“Ostentatious, isn’t it?” Mak asks.

“Beautiful,” is all I can say in reply. I’m in awe of the Spanish tiled floors, the large front room, incredible décor, and the massive staircase.

“Normally, I would let you get settled in your room first, but Gabriella is a handful as it is. She made tamales,” she says as she casts reproachful eyes over her shoulder at Alex. “His favorite,” she continues.

Alex rolls his eyes and I can’t help smiling. He seems relaxed even though what’s in store after he leaves here isn’t good. I can’t help wondering if his world is why he carries such intense sadness.