his family. With the war, it’ll be the best fucking protected place in all of Mexico.”
My lips twitched as I fought a war inside me. I squeezed my eyes shut. Saw Adelita’s face beside me on the pillow. Her perfect brown eyes and lashes and perfect lips . . . her hand holding mine.
“Do you trust me?” I asked.
“Si, mi amor. I trust you with my whole heart.”
“I know the place.” Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes and saw the entire room turning their heads my way. None more so than Styx. I stood off the wall, fucking showing my six-four height and two-hundred-and-fifty-pound weight. “I’ve been there. Stayed there on and off for a few months a few years back.”
“And you just thought to tell us this now?” Ky asked.
“There was no plan to go into his place until now. No mention of going onto Quintana’s turf.” The rage from only a few minutes ago flared inside me. “I was the fucking heir to the Klan. I went with my old man on most things. The fucker didn’t let me in to most of what was happening. But yeah, I’ve been to Quintana’s place. Been to a shit-ton of the Klan’s associates’ places.”
“You know him personally?” Shadow asked.
“A little.” I folded my arms across my chest.
“You knew about the trafficking?” This came from Cowboy. I got it. His bitch was taken.
“No.” My jaw clenched. “My old man kept that shit close to his chest. Seemed he had Meister for that. We were drugs and guns. That and preparing for the race war.” A few snickers followed. I gritted my teeth.
“You can draw up the plans of his estate?” Shadow asked.
I pushed Adelita from my mind, her voice telling me not to betray her papa, to betray her, and nodded. “I can do better than that.” Tanner . . . I heard Adelita’s panicked voice sound in my head. No, mi amor . . . But what the fuck was I meant to do? The cartel was on us if we didn’t strike first. I had to keep her safe. I’d fucking make sure they didn’t harm her cousin. If this meant saving Adelita . . . I’d do it. I’d have to figure out a way of making her understand.
I gotta, princess, I said in my head. For us.
The room was waiting for me to speak. Exhaling, I said, “I can tell you the hidden passages.” Shadow raised his eyebrow in surprise. “Quintana’s place is full of them. They lead out to an exit that isn’t as closely guarded. Of course, it might be on that day. But it’s gonna be the only way you’ll get in and out. If you succeed at all.” My neck ached with the tension in my muscles.
“How do you know these passages so intimately?” Ky asked. I could tell by his face he was trying to work it out. When I caught sight of Styx’s dark expression, I was sure he’d already worked it out.
The room was fucking silent. My head told me to keep my mouth shut. But the time had come. The fucking time had come to speak the truth. I kept Adelita’s face in my mind. “The bitch I fell for . . . the one I left the Klan for . . .” I swallowed back the betrayal I felt, choking my throat. “It was Adelita . . . Adelita Quintana. Alfonso Quintana’s daughter.”
I tilted my chin and met Styx’s eyes straight on. I wouldn’t be ashamed. I owned that bitch.
“Shit,” Tank hissed. I turned to Tank to see shock on his face. Shock and then sympathy. “Tann . . .” He would understand. He would understand why it was as fucked-up a situation as a Klansman could get himself into.
Before anyone could speak, I said, “She doesn’t have anything to do with the cartel life. Her old man keeps her the fuck out of the business. She isn’t a threat to us. To anyone. She’s just caught up in the shitshow.” Tank put his hand on my arm, silently telling to shut the fuck up.
“She know you’re with us now?” AK asked, eyes narrowed.
I shrugged. “Don’t know. Don’t know what she knows anymore.” I rocked on my feet. “She’s young. Only twenty-two. Sheltered. She’ll have no fucking idea of the danger she’s in.” My stomach tightened at that fact.
“Nice!” Vike said. “Younger woman. Tighter pussy. I get ya, man. Good choice.” The fucker winked.