“Well, he can forget it,” Maxie says. “There’s no way we’re giving our girl up to that bastard.”
My chest swells with her words, but I’m not relaxing until I hear from Smoke.
“No shit!” Smoke roars. “We gotta figure out another way.”
Marisol grabs Smoke’s arm. “I have an idea.”
“Yeah?” Smoke narrows his eyes.
“We’ll go. Martina knows where Eduardo’s apartment is, and Maxie and I can go in as a diversion. Benito doesn’t know either one of us.”
“What the fuck? Like I would let either one of you go anywhere near that bastard?” Smoke bellows.
“Let us?” Maxie and Marisol say in unison. “I know you just didn’t say that.”
“Bad choice of words,” Smoke concedes. “Just let me put something together first.” He jerks his head at Bolt. “Go get Manny and Ricky. Emergency church meeting. Now.”
“So, you’re just dismissing us.”
“We’re gonna do what we do best. Save one of our own.”
“Even if we might have a better plan?” Marisol challenges.
“If your better plan involves you going to Zona Norte alone and facing off against Benito, yeah.” Smoke points to me. “You realize them grabbing Diesel is a trap to flush you out, right?”
“We know what we’re doing,” Maxie says.
“And we both know men like Benito,” Marisol adds.
“Forget it.” Smoke glares at Bolt. “What the hell are you waiting for? Go get the others.”
Bolt rushes out of the office in search of Manny and Ricky, while Blood and Smoke argue over the best way to handle the situation. Then they barrel past us and head to the room in the back of the club where they hold church.
Marisol shakes her head. “While they’re in there arguing, we’re losing precious time.”
“So, what’s this plan of yours?” Maxie asks.
Marisol nods to the door. “We follow her out into the lot and form a tight circle. “Your brother doesn’t know who we are, right?” She motions her hand between her and Maxie.
“No, why?”
“Because we’re gonna pay him a visit.”
“I don’t know. I’m not siding with Smoke, but that call came from Benito, and neither one of you know what he’s capable of doing.”
I can’t let them put themselves in that kind of danger.
“There’s something you both need to know.” I suck in a deep breath because admitting my brother sold me like damaged goods isn’t easy.
Maxie and Marisol exchange a look.
“Hon, you’re making me nervous, so just spit it out,” Maxie says.
“The reason I’m even in Tijuana is because of Eduardo.”
“Can your life story wait?” Maxie flips out her phone and scans the screen. “We’re wasting time.”
“My brother has addiction problems. Drugs, alcohol, gambling. You name it, he’s into it. As you can image, it never ends well.”
