Page 44 of Bruiser's Reckoning

“I’m in as well,” Gunner growls. “This shit is getting out of hand.”

Hammer slowly gets to his feet and meets the gazes of each of us in the room. He hadn’t allowed anyone else in the room who didn’t hold rank. This meeting was strictly between those of us who hold a title.

“I know you want to go, but we’re going to have to hold off at least for the time being. We need to be smart about this. With the bullshit we went through with the De La Rosas and the Cintron Cartels, we’re still at a standstill with them both. We don’t need to have the Quinteros on us,” Hammer states, furrowing his brow. “I get you wanting to go after them. I’d say go for it, but we got to be smart, brother. With all the shit we’re dealing with, we need to deal with it in a way it doesn’t blow back on us.”

I nod, understanding my Prez. I get what he’s saying, and normally I would agree with him.

But this is my woman he was going to take. A malicious grin slides into place as I hold his gaze. “You trust me, Prez?”

“You know I fuckin’ do, but I got to admit, I’m starting to question some of the members, and I fuckin’ hate that shit.” Hammer lets out a harsh breath, plants his hands on the table, and leans forward. “We’ve got a traitor. I don’t know who, but until we do, shit’s gonna change.”

“Who do you suspect?” Savage asks.

“It could be anyone not in this room,” Malice answers, rapping his knuckles on the table.

“We’ll figure it out,” Gunner states, nodding. “We’ll find ‘em and make ‘em pay. No one crosses this club and gets away with it.”

“Until then, whatever we do, we need to do it without that traitor finding out. I’m willing to bet they have some type of connection to Quintero.” Hammer looks directly at me as he says this, and I know what he’s saying without putting it into words.

“When she wakes up, tell her that I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Heading toward the door, I grab the doorknob and look back at my brothers. “If everyone goes with me, not only would Quintero expect it, but the traitor could warn them. Me going by myself, you all are here, you can cover me.”

“And what happens if you get your ass killed?” Rogue snarls.

“Then my ass was stupid enough to get killed, and we know I’m not a stupid ass.” They know this better than anyone. Growing up with a dad like mine, he made sure I knew exactly how to handle myself and that I could do whatever it took to not only protect myself but others around me.

“You better contact us the moment you’re in the clear,” Hammer orders.

“Will do,” I state. “Take care of my woman until I get back. When she wakes, tell her I’m coming back to her.” With that, I jerk the door open, step through, and head straight for the doors, my mind on one thing and one thing only.

Six hours later, most of that on a plane, another part of it on a boat taking me to Quintero’s island, I finally have sights on the house where Quintero is now inside.

Cy reported to me when Quintero landed, so I know he’s in there. He also informed me that Gwyneth was awake and none too pleased with me. Evidently, she tried to leave, to come after me, but they kept her from doing so. Mostly, from what I gathered, they had to knock her ass back out. I also got an update on her injuries. Busted ribs are the main thing, and a concussion. The doc who came by said Gwyneth should be okay but was sticking around to make sure of it. My woman was damnlucky to have survived that crash as it was. Someone was definitely looking out for her, and it kills me she was in that car in the first place. But I needed to save my sister and the kids as well.

Talk about one hell of a guilt trip to save a few, I had to sacrifice the one who holds my heart. It took me all of a second to realize this, and it damn well sucked. Granted, even if I fought against it, Gwyneth would still have been in that car. She’d lay down her life to save people. It’s why she’s such a good paramedic. It’s what she’s meant to do.

Just as I’m meant to do what it takes to make sure nothing and no one ever harms her again.

Thankfully, I have my own contacts and was able to get a flight under the radar and the boat I used to get here. I anchored the boat offshore on the other side and swam the rest of the way. I had to wait out the day. There’s no way they wouldn’t spot me if I didn’t. So, I watched from the boat, watching the dock and the movement that I could. Otherwise, I prepared, sharpening my knives and ensuring my gear was all set for when the sun set.

For this, I wasn’t using guns. No, this bastard was going to die by my hands ‘cause I’m gonna make sure he knows precisely who’s killing him and why. I won’t allow him to get off as simply as Johnathan did. It pisses me off that the fucker got off so easily with just a broken neck, but I can’t change the outcome. It is what it is. What I can do is make sure Gabriel Quintero gets exactly what he deserves.

I don’t care if he was just the buyer or not, he was buying my woman, and from what Cy informed me, he was the one behind the bounty on her, not Johnathan. Johnathan was just the middleman.

The moment the sun goes down, I strap up, jump into the water, and swim for shore. It’s not a hardship, and I don’t mind the workout. The swim helps me focus on what I’m about to do.

Soon enough, I’m walking onto the beach and making my way through the darkness, using the shadows to shield me from view and keeping me out of sight. I come across first one, then another guard, and slit their throats from behind. Neither of them saw me coming.

Moving farther along, edging the property, I climb over the wall surrounding the entirety of the place. I shuffle along, moving for the back doors where, from the blueprints of the place Cy sent me, I just need to get up to the second floor to the master suite.

I come up on two more guards and throw one of my knives in the chest of one while twisting the neck of the other. Both fall into a heap, and I rush toward the back door, check to see if it’s unlocked, and inch the door open. Other than a few lights on here and there, the place is quiet and dark.

Good.

I move through the house on silent feet. I don’t come across any more of Quintero’s men, which doesn’t surprise me ‘cause not long before the sun set, a boat left with at least fifteen of his guys on it. Probably going to one of the popular islands where bars and pussy are easy to access.

Just outside Gabriel’s room, I listen for any movement inside. Hearing nothing but the sounds of moans and grunts, I throw the door open, catching the bastard unprepared as he jerks from the whore he’s fucking.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Gabriel snaps, his accent thick. “Who are you? How did you get in here?”

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