Page 62 of Saving Blood

Major one being Maxine leaving Tijuana. I’m not ready to let her go.

“Holes? Oh no, I’ve had five years to think about escaping, and this last month in Tijuana, I’ve been able to ask around and get all the information I need to make a clean break. That and the passport make me totally prepared this time.”

I need to come up with a plan. A way to beat Hector at his own game, then get Maxine to stay. Do I want her to stay? Am I sure? Fuck, yes.

“With all the commotion, I’ll just slip away.”

I have to be subtle. I can’t go all alpha male on her. She prides herself on her strength and wanting to be independent. Me coming on like an asshole would never work. I have to play it right, make it seem like it’s her decision.

“Are you fuckin’ crazy? That plan sucks, and if you think I’m gonna let you chance going up against a fuckin’ maniac like Rodriquez alone, you must be outta your damn mind.”

So much for subtle.

“Excuse me?” Her spine goes ramrod straight, but the way her tits jiggle make me smile.

She rolls her eyes, jackknifes off the bed, nabs my t-shirt off the floor and throws it over her head. “No more distractions.”

I push out my lips, trying to hold in my grin. “Now I can’t help thinking how fuckin’ hot you look in my shirt. Faded gray Harley looks good on you.”

“Can we please stay on point?”

“Fine.” I scowl. “But maybe we can do this in a way that takes care of Hector without you having to leave Tijuana.”

“I don’t want to stay in this country any longer than I have to.”

“Even ifIasked you to stay?” There, I said it.

“Please don’t make me choose between you and freedom from Hector.”

“What if you could have both?”

My question throws her, so she sips at the whiskey, then slowly shakes her head like she’s afraid to answer. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

I pour more whiskey into my now empty glass and examine the contents. “Because you don’t think I can make it happen?”

“It has nothing to do with you and everything to do with Hector.” She swallows more Jack and chokes a bit. “You forget I’ve spent the last few years under his control. I know how he works and the lengths he’ll go to.” She runs her finger around the rim of the glass. “Like what he did to Javi. A young boy who meant nothing to him, yet he used him as a pawn to mess with you mind.”

My chest tightens at the visual, but I’m not about to give up. “When Smoke and I first came down here, we came up against the cartel, and we beat them.”

“Rico Sandoval?”

“You heard the story?”

“I’ve overheard Hector’s side. How your club supposedly turned his children against him, then murdered him and took over his territory.”

“Here’s the real version. Rico’s children turned against him after they found out he had their mother killed in cold blood, and the territory we took was originally run by the Royal Bastards. Manny, Rico’s son, is now our treasurer and tech genius and Marisol Rico’s daughter is Smoke’s old lady.”

“Sounds like Rico was another sociopath, but I can guarantee Hector is way worse.”

“I agree. Rico liked to play the role and stay above getting his hands dirty. Hector likes to play in the mud, but I believe we can use it to our advantage.”

“Even if by some chance we come up with a plan to take down Hector, I have no life here.”

“We’re gonna work this out.”

My dick brain wanted to say she’d have me, but since I just found out her last name, and we’ve never done anything outside the bedroom, I realize how stupid it would sound.

“You said you liked fighting, and fuck knows you’re good, but there’s other shit you could do too. Diesel says the other girls like you, you keep the bullshit down, and you speak Spanish. When you’re not in the cage, maybe you could help train them, along with fighting. Like a manager.”

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