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  I’m unsurprised that Ramon was lying about Corbin. He gave up his name more quickly than Danita’s. Austin meets my gaze and I read something there. He doesn’t like his boss apologizing, but he knows it’s necessary. At least that’s my take on his expression. I lift my water glass two inches from the table and tip it to Austin before bringing it to my mouth. He does the same with his. He and I are good, but the game is still in full swing.

  “We’ve been friends for a long time, Victor,” Moon says. “It’s been highly advantageous for both of us.” He nods at the older man. “I value your friendship and guidance. As you said, though, Ramon was your man.”

  To anyone else it might seem that Moon is pushing Corbin. He is in a way, but we live in a dog-eat-dog world and the last thing Moon will do is roll over. Moon’s good at this and I’m good at what I do. Moon can keep the politics.

  “Yes, his actions reflect my own and I’ve prepared compensation,” Corbin replies.

  This is also expected.

  “I have two hundred and fifty clean FN SCAR assault rifles ready for delivery. I sweeten the pot by offering to deliver to the vigilantes you support in Mexico. I can make it happen in the next forty-eight hours if you choose this route.”

  It’s hard not to whistle. Corbin is letting Moon know by the generosity of the gift that he values their friendship. I expel the bad air from my lungs and then fill them with good air. This was a war no one wanted. Austin actually winks at me as I take another drink of water.

  There are people fighting the good fight deep in Mexico and Moon has funneled guns there for years. They fight the cartels and it takes a giant set of balls to do it. These guns will help them tremendously. The FN SCAR assault rifles are used by the U.S. Special Forces and are hard to come by in large quantities. They fetch a pretty penny on the black market.

  Moon makes the deal.

  Now we need to find Moon’s aunt and take care of her mess. I’m at the point that I don’t care what Madison thinks of me. I need to put a bullet in Danita’s head myself. I’m not usually keen on killing women, but she embezzled from Moon for years and put the nail in her coffin when she orchestrated behind the scenes and had Madison kidnapped last year. The only way to end the guilt Madison, Moon and I feel about Manuel’s death is to take her out.

  The bitch will die as soon as we find her.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Celina

  IF NOT FOR THE frequent conversations with Alex, I would be crazy. I haven’t seen him or Kiley in three days. Yesterday, Gabriella called and said she had arranged for two women to provide food at my mom’s house after the funeral. I couldn’t question her about Kiley because I hadn’t found the chance to tell my mom about her or Lee. I feel like the worst person on the planet and guilt eats at me.

  When my mother and I arrived at the funeral home to meet with the director, we found out that Alex had covered the expenses. I should have done something to stop him from covering the bill. In reality, I’m too indebted to Alex already, but I have no idea how to stop him from spending his money on me. I’ll save that for another day.

  It’s now the day of the funeral. I woke up early, showered, and prepared coffee. It’s time for the honest talk with my mother that I’ve been running from. I have no more excuses and can no longer put off the additional heartbreak. I’m a coward for letting it continue this long. My problem is the lies I’ll be telling. It’s not easy.

  We’re at the kitchen table with a box of tissues between us.

  “Lee has been dead for over a month,” my mother cries. She asked me about him the night my father died and I lied and said I had no idea where he was. Now I’m coming clean on this at least.

  “Yes and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. My concern was Kiley and getting her away from the club.” I knew this would be hard and a lot for my mother to take. I’ve told her so many lies mixed with truths and she doesn’t deserve any of them.

  “That poor baby. She’s our grandchild and we never knew. Your father never knew.” She wipes her tears and says softly, “She would have made him so happy.”

  “She’s been through a lot, Mom, and she will need a lot of care. I need your help.”

  She stands up and takes the coffee carafe from the counter and refills our cups. “She’s my grandchild. Of course I’ll help. You say this man Alex is the one who took her from those bad men?”

  “Yes, he did. I owe him so much.” My heart included. This conversation is killing me because I know Alex and I will never really be a couple. My mom won’t understand that. Right now, in her eyes, Alex is a saint. Hell, even I think he’s pretty close.

  “When do I get to meet my granddaughter?” she asks after taking her seat again.

  “Tomorrow if you’re ready. Rack will drive us there. It would be best if you stayed at Alex’s home for a few days until we know the danger is completely past with the club.”

  “I don’t want to impose. These people have helped so much already, dear.”

  “I know, but right now it’s easier for them if we are together and safe. That way Rack can do his job and not babysit us.”

  “He’s such a nice man and you’re right, he needs to get back to his real job. I won’t be silly about this. I need to be back at work next week, though.”

  Of course she would plan to return to work. “I was hoping you would watch Kiley during the day while I work,” I tell her patiently.

  I see the light go on in my mom’s eyes when she asks, “Will you move in here with her?”

  “I would love to if you’ll have us.”

  Her hand covers mine. “I’m sorry you’ve carried this burden alone for so long. It’s wrong of me, but I’m glad your father didn’t know about Lee. He loved him but never forgave him for hurting me. Your father would have been a great grandpa.” She removes her hand and wipes her eyes again. “We’ll give Kiley a new life and make up for every bad thing that’s happened to her.”

  My mom was always able to put things in nice tidy boxes. I know that dealing with the issues Kiley carries will not be easy. I take out my phone and pull up the picture of Kiley I took before leaving for the nursing home the day my dad died. She’s holding her doll and looking at the camera because I said her name. There is no expression on her cherub face, but my mother sees the resemblance to Lee immediately.

  “She has your father’s eyes and your brother’s hair. Bless her.” She stares at the image for a long time before carrying our cups to the sink. “It’s time to think about your father for the rest of the day. Tomorrow I will be a grandmother. Today I’m a wife.”

  I walk up behind her and place my arms around her back with my chin on her shoulder. “Thank you, Mom. I love you.”

  “A bushel and a peck,” she says.

  Any strength I have, I received from this woman. She amazes me.

  Alex

  NO ONE IN THEIR right mind enjoys funerals and least of all me. Watching Celina suffer with her father’s loss won’t be easy. She sounded so incredibly sad when I spoke to her by phone, and it’s hard not having her close and wrapping my arms around her. With my lack of sleep, I’m pathetic over wanting her near me. I’ve lived with the images for so long that they’ve become part of me. Now, I know what it’s like to sleep soundly. Yes… pathetic.

  I’ll be attending another funeral as soon as Manuel’s body is in Arizona. As of now, it’s unknown how long the Antigua authorities will keep it. Murder is a rare occurrence there and the government isn’t happy. Moon’s lawyer spoke to an investigator for two hours last night. He told them Manuel was in Antigua to offer protection to Ms. Danita Moon because she is Moon’s beloved aunt. Now she’s missing and her bodyguard dead.

  The attorney proceeded to throw incriminations back on the investigator and told him Ms. Moon retired to Antigua because of its low crime rate. Like most attorneys, he’s a bullshit artist and that’s what we pay him for. Moon’s aunt is now officially a missing person and also a person of interest in Antigua and
the United States.

  The Cadillac pulls into the church parking lot. Madison, Moon, and Jess are with me. One of the Escalades is behind us with four additional men. They will remain outside. Rack is inside with Celina and her mother.

  Jess has stayed very low-key over the past few days. Madison mentioned that Jess has a new love interest. Maybe it will mellow her. She hasn’t growled once today. I guess love does that. I hope Jess has more luck than me. My days with Celina are numbered. Somehow, I’ll deal with her loss when she moves on with her life.

  We enter the large wooden doors of the church and I allow my eyes to adjust to the interior light. It’s a small cathedral and filled with about a hundred people. We stand in line to pay our respects to Celina and her mother. Celina spots me when we are three people back. I’m not surprised to see that she appears tired. She’s wearing a conservative navy, unadorned dress. It has a high neckline and the hem goes to her knees. I prefer her in nothing at all, even though I know that’s not a thought I should be having in a church.

  “Mom, this is Alex Gomez and his friends Mak and Moon,” she says when our turn arrives. I take her hand and give her fingers a slight squeeze. I’m ill prepared when Mrs. Thomas throws her arms around me.

  “You dear, dear man. Thank you so much.”

  All I can do is hug her back. Celina looks uncomfortable, and I give her a gentle smile. I’m assuming they had “the talk” this morning about Kiley. I know it will take pressure off Celina, so I’m glad she did. Handling an over-emotional mother of the woman I’m sleeping with is not a place I’ve been before. Moon has a small grimace on his face until she gives him and Madison the same treatment.

  Our badassery just doesn’t hold up in church.

  “Call me Mak and my husband Catch,” Madison tells her. I watch in delight as Moon’s shoulders stiffen. I only ever hear Madison call him by his first name when she’s angry. Funny how her law enforcement background makes using his last name easy for her even now that they’re married. She and I know that Moon’s name is more than just a last name. Moon controls the tide of our lives. He is simply Moon. I will enjoy hearing Mrs. Thomas use his given name because it will put Moon’s teeth on edge. The man is entirely too comfortable in his skin. Hopefully this will bring him down a notch to the level of us mere mortals. At least that’s what I’ll tell him at the first opportunity.

  Mrs. Thomas won’t hear of us sitting in the back of the church and seats us in the second pew behind the family. She has her sisters and a brother visiting to attend the funeral. We take our seats and wade through the service. I hate funerals.

  My mind wanders as the minister talks about death and eternal life. I will let Celina go even though three days away from her is more than I can stand. We’ve heard nothing new from Dax, and my priority right now is keeping Celina and her family safe. When the danger is gone, she’ll return to her world and I will stay in mine.

  I glance over my shoulder and see Jess standing with Rack in the back of the church. They look like official ushers, which I find comical. Rack wasn’t pleased with this assignment, but he does what I tell him. If he honestly thought Celina and her mother were in danger, he would have jumped at the chance to protect them over the past few days. I too think it’s unlikely that someone from the club will come looking for them. Better safe than sorry, so Rack got the unpleasant job of monitoring two grieving women for a few days. He’ll be home tomorrow and I’ll give him time off.

  The service isn’t as long as the Catholic ceremonies I’m accustomed to. Everyone takes a final walk by the casket to pay last respects. I make my way to Celina. She squeezes my arm, so I stay. She has me join her and her mother in the back of the Cadillac. Rack drives and it takes ten minutes to reach the cemetery.

  We are mostly quiet. Mrs. Thomas is lost in her own world. Celina told me quite a bit about her parents during our phone conversations. I envy the love her parents had and the fact that they were together so long. My dad never got over my mother’s death and never remarried. He told me “Til death do us part” didn’t work for him. My mother was part of his heart and her death didn’t stop that. I knew he had sexual relationships with women after my mother passed, but he refused to marry those women.

  The graveside service is short. People break away and get into their cars when it’s over. Some will be going to Mrs. Thomas’ house. Gabriella assured me everything will be in place when we arrive there. Gabriella didn’t see to the preparation herself because of Kiley. Celina’s niece may have opened the door to Gabriella’s good graces, but Celina’s heart did the rest. Gabriella now considers Celina and the child part of her family. When they leave it will be hard for more than just me.

  “Thank you for all you’ve done,” Mrs. Thomas tells me as we drive away from the cemetery. She wipes her eyes. “Not just the lovely funeral today but also for my daughter and granddaughter.”

  “You’re welcome, Mrs. Thomas. I am very sorry for your loss,” I say again.

  “Please call me Alyce. Charles would have liked you and I’m sorry you never met.”

  “Thank you, Alyce.”

  “I’m sure it wasn’t easy to get time off from work to be here and I just want you to know how much I appreciate it.”

  I’m now aware that Celina was careful in what she told her mother about who I am. We never discussed what she could and couldn’t say. “I work for Moon and he would have it no other way. We consider you and Celina one of our family. Also Kiley.” Celina gives me a look from the corner of her eye and I wonder if I’ve said something wrong. Nothing I can do.

  “How is my granddaughter?” her mother asks and I refocus my attention on her.

  “She’s about the same. I’m sure Celina told you she hasn’t spoken. Dr. Santos assured us that she will speak when ready.”

  “That poor, poor baby. I’m embarrassed over my son and how he kept her from us. I know you don’t want to hear me prattle on. Tell me about your parents.”

  The image of my father’s head flashes in front of me. I wasn’t expecting it and suddenly I fear a full-blown attack of images. There’s pressure on my hand and the image fades. I look down and see Celina’s fingers curled around mine. I’m back in the now and breathe a sigh of relief. Celina’s mother is waiting for an answer and I scramble for the right words.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Celina

  ALEX’S ENTIRE BODY GOES taut. I shouldn’t have brought him in the car with me. It was selfish to want him close. Of course my mother would ask prying questions. She’s a mother and I should have considered what this car ride would entail. She has a captive audience. Alex and I don’t have a relationship beyond the physical. I know nothing about his family other than what he’s told me about Madison and Moon, which is very little.

  I place my hand on his and offer a silent apology. His fingers squeeze back and then he tells my mother about his parents. “They’re dead. My father died about eight years ago and my mother when I was a young boy.”

  My mother leans over me and takes his free hand. “You poor dear. To lose them both is awful, but to lose your mother when you were young is beyond painful. Do you have any siblings?”

  I fight a groan and have no idea how to shut my mother up.

  “A sister. She has two children; a boy and a girl. She lives out of state and I don’t see her. Madison and Moon are my family.” My mom starts to ask another question and I know it’s about Alex’s sister, but he continues speaking. “Moon and I grew up together and his mother took over when mine died. Moon’s parents are deceased too, so now it’s just us.”

  “A tragedy,” my mother says sadly.

  Alex gives me the same tender smile he gave me earlier. My mother releases his hand and sits fully in her seat again. I lean my head on his shoulder in apology. I have many questions too. I want to know everything about him. My mother doesn’t understand our relationship and why I don’t feel comfortable asking. I guess money in exchange for sex does that. I shouldn’t feel bit
ter, but the emotions of the past few days are taking their toll. Alex is the man I can’t have and it hurts.

  Our home is only a short distance from the cemetery, thank God. Alex helps us out of the car and leads us up the path to the front door. People from the graveside service have arrived and the door is unlocked. The ladies Gabriella organized were here before we left for the church. They thankfully took over the kitchen and now I can smell the food as we walk inside. They used my mother’s oven to warm everything and it smells delicious.

  “Are you hungry?” Alex asks when my stomach growls.

  “Starving. I had only coffee before we left for the church.”

  “I’m hungry too. I’ll stay long enough to eat and then I have business to attend.”

  I turn to my mother. “I’m taking Alex to my room so I can speak with him privately for a moment. We’ll be out in a few minutes.”

  “Of course, dear.” My mother turns away and greets her sisters who walk in behind us.

  I take Alex’s hand and hurry him down the hall to my old bedroom. It’s a guest room now with all my old posters and decorations removed. Instead of a ruffled blue bedspread and throw pillows, it has a quilt. I close the door behind us and watch Alex look around the room.

  “It’s a guest room now, but once upon a time it was a nerd girl room,” I say. He smiles. “I’m so sorry about my mother’s prying. I should have warned you.”

  He pulls me fully into his arms so my head rests against his broad chest. I inhale his scent and allow the comfort of his closeness to seep in. I’ve needed this, needed to be held so I feel safe. His hand goes into my hair and he gently pulls my head back so I’m looking up at him.