asleep before I ducked out of the room. My fucking head was still spinning from everything that had happened. My brothers, along with the Diablos and the other Hangmen chapters, were all outside. Some on patrol, others beside fires, celebrating the win. The bodies had all been moved before we got back. Valdez sent some contact he had to collect them—black-market shit I was sure.
I’d just sat down beside Tank when a black car pulled into the camp. I got to my feet and fell behind Styx and Ky.
“Valdez’s car,” Ky said. Still, my brothers were all armed up.
The driver got out of the car like hundreds of guns weren’t aimed at him. He came toward us. “Tanner Ayers?” he said, his Mexican accent thick.
My eyes narrowed, but I flicked my chin. The driver handed me a piece of paper. “Adela Quintana has been found.” I looked down at the paper. It had a number written on it. “You’re to call this number. We got instructions that it must only be you. You need to personally arrange where to pick her up.”
The driver walked to the car and drove away. I didn’t fucking wait. I hightailed it to the headquarters where the phones were. I dialed the number. After three rings, a voice asked, “Tanner?”
It took me a minute to recognize the voice. “Father Reyes?” I’d met him a few times when I was at Adelita’s hacienda.
“She’s with me. She’s safe.” All the tension I’d been holding onto melted the fuck away and nothing but relief set in my bones. “She’s hurt, Tanner.” In a second, that relief faded. “Lita is okay. But Diego . . . he hurt her. Beat her. I found her on the floor in her bedroom, barely conscious. I’ve cleaned her up and brought her to a remote chapel. No one knows where we are.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and fought back the rage that was building inside me. “I’m coming for her,” I announced. “I—” I stopped speaking and looked out of the window. My brothers were waiting for me outside. Styx kept looking my way. I still couldn’t get my fucking head around the fact Adelita—my Adelita—was Styx’s and Chavez’s sister. “Can she walk, Luis?”
“Yes. She’s bruised and tired, but otherwise she’s well. Nothing is broken.”
“Can she talk?”
“Yes. She’s not with me now. I didn’t want this call to be traced. But Tanner, she’s well, I promise. Bruised, hurting, but she’s tough. She’s always been a fighter.” My throat fucking clogged, and I nodded my head as a fucking grunt of agreement left my mouth. “She is.” My voice was gravel, fucking eyes stinging. “She’s always been a fighter. Right from the very first moment I met her.” I took a fucking second to breathe. “Father Reyes, listen to me . . .” I spoke to the priest and made the plan. When I hung up, I walked outside to my chapter. “We get her tomorrow. Her friend saved her. I know him. And I know where to go.”
“Where?”
“A remote chapel. I’ve been given the directions. Luis knows where this camp is. Luis’s a priest. Her priest.” I told my brothers where the church was. “We’ll get her at dawn.” Styx nodded. “I’m gonna hit the hay,” I said.
I could see Tank’s suspicious expression. His eyes were narrowed on me. He knew something was up. That’s why I had to get to my room. I needed this night. Just this one fucking night with her on my own. Shit, I only needed a couple of hours.
Beau lifted his head when I opened the door. “I know where she is.” Beau nodded. I kept trying to read him to see if he had a problem with me being engaged to a Mexican. Klan ideology was hard to shake. But there was nothing in Beau’s face but acceptance.
“When you getting her back?”
I didn’t wanna lie to my brother, so I just said, “Soon.”
I lay down on the other small bed and knocked off the light. I stared at the ceiling, the darkness wrapping around me. And I waited. I waited until Beau’s breathing had evened out. And I waited until the sound of my brothers talking outside died down.
Checking the time, I quietly got off the bed and sneaked out the door. Most of the brothers hadn’t made it to their beds. They were passed out drunk or exhausted on the ground. Using my experience from my years in the army, I moved silently in