Page 56 of Brutal Heir

I go to the closet, pressing on the false panel to get to the safe. I grab a suitcase, not bothering to count out what he needs.This more than covers the cost. Though nothing close to what she’s worth to me.

Then I think better of it. If heknowswhat she’s worth to me, she’ll always be in danger.

I dial a number I haven’t used in years and put the phone on speaker as I strap on my gun belt. Tino answers on the second ring.

“What’s wrong?” he says, sharply.

“Alvaro’s at the gate.”

“Hrmph.” He grunts as I pull out a duffel bag and start transferring cash.

“He’s holding someone who’s important to me.” I pause to consider my next words. I’m looking at generations of business transactions. The blood, sweat, and tears of my blood relations. But, most of them are gone. People have moved on, trying to get legitimate businesses started, including the de Marcos. So, without another thought, I tell him, “If I don’t make it, burn it all down.”

“After he pulled this shit. I might do that even if you do make it,” Tino says with deadly calm. “I’ll send maintenance to clean up.”

The line goes dead.

I have no doubt Tino wouldn’t leave a soul in his path. Men who make money like we do, who’ve had to weigh trucks to get a close enough count on how much we’re being paid, have skeletons in our closets.

Sometimes, they come back to haunt you.

I zip the duffel bag, sling it over my shoulder, grab anotherwith some fire power, and head out of the room. My heart is pounding as I make my way to the truck. I need to get Sage away from Alvaro, and fast.

The miles stretch in front of me. I floor it but keep in mind that I have to make it there in one piece, or it could cost Sage her life. Sage… It’s getting dark. She’s bound to be terrified.

If that fucker hurts her…

As I approach the gate, the headlights illuminate the area. I take in the scene around me, needing to assess the situation. Her truck’s on the other side of the gate. But Sage is on the ground, leaning against the fence post, her legs pulled up to her chest. She looks so small and vulnerable, and she isn’t moving.

Alvaro’s standing by his driver, his arms crossed over his chest as he waits for me.

I get out of my truck and grab the duffel, carrying it in my left hand. I walk in his direction, the caliche crunching under my boots. I keep the headlights behind me.

As I get closer, I can see the smug satisfaction on his face. He knows he has the upper hand, and he’s relishing every moment of it. I grit my teeth and steel myself for the confrontation.

First things first. “Sage,” I call out, “how you doing over there?” I can’t take my eyes off him. While I can only see Moises leaning against the front of the other truck, I don’t know who else might be hidden somewhere.

“I’m okay,” she says, sounding hoarse. “Both of them left me alone after they talked to you.”

So, there’s two of them. Good girl.Just hang on for me.

Alvaro’s eyeing me, as if he’s sizing me up. I pull the gateopen, swinging it back. Then I drop the duffel between us.

He looks down at the bag. “Well, what do you know. Looks like you have a million-dollar pussy,” he says to Sage. “Actually one-point-five million.” He chuckles. “Should have tried it out myself.”

“Fuck off, Alvaro. You’re high and not thinking straight.”

“What’s the matter, little brother?” he scoffs. “I thought you liked my leftovers.”

The muscles in my back cramp. I can’t let that happen. I might need to act fast. “You mean just one more time we had to clean up the shit you always leave behind?”

He loses the smug expression. Damn, he’s so damn easy to manipulate. Shoulders back, he starts in on me instead of Sage.

“Let’s go,” I say to Sage. She gets up, moving toward me.

“You think you’re somechingon because you made your bones when you werea kid?” He laughs, way too hard. “That’s nothing,puto. Nothing!”

The flapping material on her shirt catches my eye. As she gets closer, I can see she’s been battered, and it takes everything in me to keep from losing my cool.

---