And experiencing it, he preferred only having the few he already felt.
He dipped his chin, tasting acid on his tongue, turned away, finished going down the steps and back to his car.
His driver was waiting at the open door for him.
He folded his body into the back.
His driver shut him in.
He tossed the briefcase on the seat between him and his man and faced forward, his expression stony, refusing to look out his window as his driver set them moving.
He detested being back in his old neighborhood and because of this, for years, he’d not returned.
The squalor. The ridiculous peasants laughing and cooking and celebrating Cinco de Mayo and meticulously planning their daughters’ quinceañeras and doggedly trudging to church on Sundays to worship a God who long-since had forgotten they existed.
They might have wanted more, but the white man would never allow that, and they were too stupid to know that if they really wanted it, they’d have to take it.
He’d wanted more.
And he’d taken it.
But he knew that Mamá Nana was wise.
And she was right.
He had few emotions, so he had no idea how to be humble.
He would have to learn before he lost everything.
Hawk Delgado had that stupid snatch he’d taught a lesson in her ludicrous red room.
With Delgado’s protection, even Benito could not find her to silence her.
Yes, he’d have to learn to be humble.
Or he’d lose everything.
Sixx
When the black Mercedes was out of sight, Sixx moved from the shadows, up the steps, and leaned against the turquoise pole.
“Have I said how much I like your outfit?” Mamá Nana asked.
“Not yet,” Sixx replied, not looking down at the close-fitting black net sweater over the skintight black cami that topped skinny camo pants and glossy ankle boots with their narrowed square toe and chunky, three-and-a-half-inch heel.
“It confuses them when you care about what you wear,” she declared. “It makes them underestimate you. Like our minds are so frail, it’d overtax us to see to our appearance, put together an attractive outfit, and be able to recite that two plus two equals four.”
Sixx really liked this woman.
So she smiled.
“His mother,” Mamá Nana said quietly. “Una santa. His father, un cabrón. Though he was simply useless. Their boy was just born bad.”
Sixx knew little about Benito Valenzuela.
But she was catching up.
And from what she was learning, the woman couldn’t be more right.
“I need to know where those bones are, Mamá Nana,” she told her.
“This, I will tell you. If our agreement stands.”
Sixx nodded. “I’ll give them to that Club.”
Mamá Nana nodded back. “I will send mis hijos with you. They will be heavy. Soiled. It would be a shame if you ruined that outfit.”
Sixx shook her head. “I have some men who’ll help me.”
“You can trust them, mi loba,” she said softly. “And they will guide your way. Not to mention, these bones are considered treasure. They’ll be guarded.”
Sixx thought of D and Mad, but also Molly and their upcoming ceremony.
She couldn’t go to them.
Though, Carlo was in town, and him being in town was the reason Sixx was in town and standing right there with Mamá Nana.
Last, but most important, she thought of Stellan and her promise to be careful, not take any unnecessary risks, and get home safe to him.
“I’d appreciate the help of your boys,” she decided. “But just so they know, Carlo will be backup.”
“Carlo, such a good boy,” she murmured.
Sixx almost laughed.
She didn’t, but she did file that away to give Carlo shit about later.
Mamá Nana lifted a hand with two fingers extended.
Within seconds, two men showed on the porch.
Yes.
Sixx really liked this woman.
“It will frustrate him greatly, not having that treasure to bargain with,” Mamá Nana noted.
From what Sixx knew, she was not wrong.
“And weaken him tremendously,” Mamá Nana continued.
It would do that too.
Though, before he even got to the point of bargaining, Sixx was going to strip him of anything he could conceivably bargain with.
And not just bagging those bones.
The woman’s voice was vibrating when she said, “He should not have hurt those girls.”
She’d been waiting for this opportunity.
Sixx was glad she was the one to give it to her.
“No, he should not,” she agreed.
It took a moment before she straightened her back in her rocking chair but kept on rocking.
“When you return to Denver, you must come see me,” Mamá Nana invited. “I’ll make my albóndigas soup. You’ll like it.”