Page 80 of Her Passionate Hero

“Sure you are,” she said bitterly.

“We are,” Hunter reiterated. “Mateo’s a thing of the past. He won’t be coming back to bother you ever again.”

“Bullshit.”

“But first we need to know where he is.”

She didn’t say a word. She rolled to her side, hugging her abdomen.

“Can you really make sure that bastard gets what’s coming to him?” Ynez asked.

“Absolutely,” Hunter answered.

She gave him a long, considering look in the darkened club. “Mateo’s slut girlfriend is set up in a nice place over on Olympic Blvd. It’s called Fern Terrace, the same apartment where the singer Polly lived before she was discovered. Mateo’s bitch thinks she can sing, but she’s got nothing but fake tits.”

“What’s her name?”

“Huh?”

“Name. What’s her name?” Zed demanded.

“We’ve gotta go!” Martin shouted. “Cops are a block away.”

“The bitch is Juanita, don’t know her last name. But she dyes her hair red. She looks ridiculous.”

“Got it,” Zed said.

“Ynez, stay with Darla,” Hunter said. “She’s going to need to go to the hospital. Tell Nicolas where she’s at. We’ll find her and tell her when it’s safe to go home.”

“You get that motherfucker. Make sure he dies bad.”

“Shut up, Ynez. You promised not to tell.” Darla started to cough.

“We’ll take care of this.” Hunter got to his feet and so did Zed. Hunter took one last look at the girl who couldn’t be much bigger than a minute, except for her bulging belly. Yep, Mateo already had his head on the chopping block, but now his method of dying just got uglier.

***

Aliana watched her grandmother’s eyes gleam as she brought in her kozunak sweet bread. Hunter had mentioned yesterday that Velma was baking a German chocolate cake, so Babička was pulling out all the stops at today’s book club. Then she noticed the dining room table where Mamie indicated her grandmother put her dessert. It was loaded for bear. Aliana smothered a laugh. Apparently, the ladies were in a competition to spoil Hunter. She hoped he was hungry.

“Son?” A woman with a cane walked up to Hunter and poked him in the belly with the point of her cane. Hunter kept a straight face.

“Yes, ma’am. What can I do for you?”

“Do you have your VA card?” Her wrist got shaky, so Hunter gently lowered her cane to the ground and smiled at her.

“I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Petty Officer First Class, Hunter Diaz. I’m active service, so I don’t need a VA card.” He helped her sit down on the couch next to Aliana’s grandmother.

“Well, you better get one. They are invaluable. Saved my grandson, Walter, on one of them there iPhones. He also got free online tutoring, which he desperately needed, all because of that there card.”

“It’s for Veterans ma’am, I’m active duty,” Hunter explained again.

“And you get a discount on your underwear. The next time I see you, you better have your card.”

Hunter sighed, “Yes, ma’am.” He turned away from her and Aliana smothered a grin when she saw him get poked again by the cane.

“He got really good insurance too.”

“The VA card is really important to get. I know, I’ll tell all my veteran buddies to arrange for one the day they get out.”