Page 82 of Her Passionate Hero

Esther finally caught her breath. “But, Honey, after that, Fifty Shade’s of Gray would be a wonderful pick.”

Chapter Eleven

“That Esther woman is just evil,” Aliana laughed as Hunter opened the door to her hybrid.

Hunter put the two bags of food in the backseat next to Mrs. J. He wasn’t in the mood to laugh. He took out his cell phone and texted Dalton to call him. He’d had enough downtime as far as he was concerned. They needed to find a safe house for the women, stat.

“This isn’t the way home,” Aliana’s grandmother noted.

“Nope, it isn’t. We’re going to a hotel.”

“No, we’re not Hunter Diaz,” she said in an awfully firm voice for such an elderly woman. “We’re going to my house.”

“San Marcos knows where you live. Did you not hear that he wants to take Aliana and ask her questions?”

“I did. But you’re going to protect her. You and your friends have been doing a beautiful job so far. Please continue to do so.”

He’d take them somewhere near Shorinda’s house, that way they could visit Danica. It would be perfect. His phone rang.

“What’s up?” Dalton asked.

“The leader of Los Demonios has upped his game. Apparently, our boy Nicolas has liberated three prostitutes, and San Marcos is laying the blame at Aliana’s feet. He wants the girls back, and he plans to bring her in to question her. I need a hotel to stash her and her grandmother, preferably near Shorinda’s house. Find one.”

“On it.” Dalton hung up.

“Hunter, how bad is this? I mean you can’t take on the entire gang. It was one thing when it was just Mateo, but now it is the leader of one of the biggest Mexican gangs in East L.A.” He heard the tremble in her voice.

He grabbed her hand and rubbed his thumb along her knuckles. “You’re going to be fine.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about.”

“So is your mom and grandmother.”

“You’re not hearing me,” she whispered fiercely. “You came here thinking you could protect me, and maybe help me fight off some lowlife, but this is crazy. You can’t take them on. Nobody can.”

He continued driving, trying to avoid the numerous potholes on the major street that would take them up to Glendale.

“I admit, this has become a bit more of a problem than I anticipated.”

“Exactly. This is a move to a different state problem.”

Hunter laughed. “Cariña, this just requires a small adjustment of plans.”

“Don’t laugh,” she looked over her shoulder at her grandmother. He looked in the rearview mirror and saw that Mrs. J’s eyes were drooping. Aliana glanced back at him. “Take me to the police station right now.”

“And tell them what? That Velma’s beautician’s cousin’s aunt’s podiatrist told her that some prostitutes left town, and now, you’re a target of Los Demonios?”

“Yes,” she hissed.

“Yeah, that’ll go over well. I’m sure they’ll be Johnny on the spot to offer you protection.”

“My house blew up. I still haven’t told them all they wanted to know about that. So, if I’m honest about that, then…” her voice trailed off.

“Then they’ll take Nicolas into custody,” he finished for her.

She grabbed his hand with both of hers. “I’ve got to take Maminka and Babička and move out-of-state.”

“There isn’t a chance in hell you’re moving out-of-state. San Marcos is going down. And so is Mateo,” he said with grim satisfaction.