Page 437 of Rage

“Okay. That’s all I need. If you can get me to him, or him to me, I can take it from there.”

They don’t look convinced. “You’re what, eighteen?” Andrés asks.

“Nineteen.” In another two weeks, but he doesn’t need to know that. “Your point?”

“You’ve got your whole life ahead of you, kid,” Andrés says. “Allie tells me you play ball. You want to go pro after college.”

I nod. “That’s the plan. But that doesn’t change the fact that this needs to be done. Miguel needs to be put down. He was given a deal he didn’t deserve, and I’m not going to sit back, waiting for my girl to fall apart when that fucker is inevitably set free.”

Andrés rubs his chin. “There’s no going back after something like this. Taking a life, no matter how deserved, it leaves a stain on the soul. One you can’t wash away.”

“I can handle it,” I tell him.

Adrián chuckles beside him. "Me gusta este cabrón. Alejandra eligió bien."I like this fucker. Alejandra chose well.

My chest puffs up at his statement. I don’t need their approval, but it doesn’t hurt to have it.

"Sí, lo hizo. Pero él es joven. No sabe en lo que se está metiendo."She did. But he's young. He doesn't know what he's getting into.

Irritation prickles beneath my skin. He’s talking about me like I’m not here.

“Te entiendo,” I tell them.I understand you. “I don’t care if you think I’m too young. I know exactly what I’m asking. Alejandra means everything to me. She’s the air in my lungs and the blood in my veins. My heart beats for that girl, so will you help me or not?”

Both men sober as they consider my request.

“Sí,” Andrés says. “We’ll help.”

“But there will be a price,” Adrián adds.

“Name it.”

Adrián chuckles. “It doesn’t work that way,” he says. “We help you, and when the time comes and we need a favor, you help us. Tú entiendes?”Do you understand?

Loud and clear, and I don’t like it. But I’m not in a position to decline.

Jaw clenched tight, I nod. “Yeah. Okay.”

“Good,” Adrián says. “You’ll meet a group of our men here,” he hands me a card with a scribbled address. “Tomorrow night, 11:00 PM. Don’t be late, and come alone.”

“Your men?” I question with a frown as I look over the address, ignoring the anxious knot in my chest.

“Yes,” Andrés repeats. “My men. Do you have a problem with that?”

Shaking my head, I tuck the card in my back pocket. I assumed Andrés would be there but this works just the same. “No. It’s fine.”

“Good. Now go home. Get your shit in order. Everything should go smoothly, but if it doesn’t,” he shrugs his shoulders, “it’s always better to be prepared.”

Chapter Four

Roman

Istand by the bed, watching Allie sleep. Her breathing is steady, her face relaxed. It kills me to leave her, but I have to do this. Bending down, I press a soft kiss to her forehead and whisper a silent promise that I’ll keep her safe. She mumbles something in her sleep before rolling over, her shirt shifting to expose the smooth skin of her stomach. Need thrums through me, but there will be plenty of time for that once this is over.

Taking one last look at her, I leave our bedroom and slip silently through our home. Once outside, I move quickly through the quiet streets to my car. The drive to the address Adrián gave me is short but feels like an eternity. Less than two miles from the Sun Valley jail, it’s an abandoned warehouse.

The building looms, dark and foreboding. Four of Andrés's men are already there, waiting for me outside. Each man is dressed similarly—dark denim paired with black sweaters. Parking my El Camino, I shove my hands into the pockets of my black hoodie and make my way over to them, ignoring the chill that runs down my spine as I near.

“Hola,” one of them says. “Ven por aquí.”Come this way.

---