We reach Eduardo’s apartment, and I slip into the alcove of the staircase leading to the four floors above. Marisol and Maxie adjust their tops, making them even more revealing, then exchange a look.
I send up a silent prayer that whatever they cooked up works, and somehow Diesel, and even Eduardo, come out of it unharmed.
DIESEL
Benito took a picture of my busted-up face, then sent it to Smoke, along with a phone call. They had a very short conversation peppered with threats and a few fuck you’s.
Benito slams his phone on the table, mumbling in Spanish, then glares down at me. “Smoke just made a huge mistake, because if Martina’s not returned to me, there will be no deal with your club for the casino.” He points at me. “And you will never make it back to The Tropics.”
“Then I guess you’re shit outta luck ‘cause there’s no way we’re offering her up to make the deal.”
Like Benito said, it wasn’t my call to make, but Smoke would back my decision even if I hadn’t told him how I feel about Martina. In the last two years, we’ve blown through two cartel bosses without a second thought, but women and children were always off-limits.
I just have to stall with the hope that the Bastards are working on a plan to take this fucker down.
“Smoke thinks because you took down Hector last year that you have nothing to fear, but Hector was weak.” Benito paces infront of my chair. “Too busy worrying about his image within the cartel.”
“And you’re different?” I have to keep this asshole talking.
“I don’t bend for anyone, and I make too much profit for anyone to mess with me.” He looks at his watch. “I’m giving your president fifteen more minutes to decide if he wants to save your ass, or sacrifice you for some worthless cunt.”
“She mustn’t be so worthless if you’re willing to go to all this trouble.” I end with a smarmy sneer.
Benito advances. “That wise-ass mouth is going to?—”
There’s a knock on the door, and Benito motions to Eduardo to answer it.
Female voices in Spanish, then Eduardo ushers in . . . Marisol and Maxie, dressed like hookers. They make a beeline for Benito, speaking rapid-fire Spanish.
Benito looks at Eduardo. “Do you know them?”
“We were sent as gifts from Umberto,” Maxie says to Benito in heavily accented English.
What the hell? My brain spins. Umberto Vargas is the cartel boss of bosses. With Marisol’s background, she would know this, but . . .
Marisol nods at me. “Looks like you already started this party. I’m liking the whole bondage thing.” Then she climbs on my lap for a very exaggerated lap dance. “I love a man all tied up at my mercy.” She grins at me, then shakes her tits in my face. I can’t help wondering what Smoke would think of this act. I’d be sure to tell him I didn’t enjoy any of it.
“Let’s get this party started.” Maxie whips out her phone, swipes at it, and the room is filled with very loud salsa music.
“Hey, hey, what are you doing?” Benito moves toward Maxie, but she wraps her arms around his neck, grinding him hard. He tries to move away, but she palms his cock. He waversfor a heartbeat, then turns to Eduardo. “You got anything to drink for these lovely ladies?”
Eduardo pauses, and Benito adds, “Might as well enjoy ourselves while we wait for the Bastards to respond.” Then he eyeballs me. “See how much you mean to your club? They don’t even give a shit about you.” He laughs. “Maybe I’ll let you have one last fuck before I end you.”
Marisol balances her palms on my shoulders, then bends low, nuzzling my neck, and whispers, “I have a blade. Just play along.”
I smile up at her as she runs her hands over my shoulders and down my arms, ending at my duct-taped wrists. She slices through the tape, and I twist my hands free but keep them behind the chair.
I shoot a look across the room, and Maxie is cupping Benito’s balls through his pants. The stupid fool is getting into it while Eduardo is rummaging around the kitchen for something to drink.
Marisol wraps her arms around my neck, then slithers down my body and falls to her knees. She runs one hand over my thigh as the other hand cuts through the tape around my ankles. Still shielding me with her body, she’s able to pull away the tape as she continues to gyrate her hips.
She looks over her shoulder, and she and Maxie exchange a slight nod, then she looks back at me, mouthing, “Be ready.”
Two seconds later, Benito screams as Maxie squeezes his balls, then kicks him in the crouch. He grabs his mid-section and collapses to his knees.
“Fuckin’ bitch!” He yells for Eduardo.
I leap out of the chair and tackle Benito to the ground. We wrestle around on the floor until he wedges his hand between us and whips the gun from his waistband.
