Page 19 of Tangled in Red

His vow echoed through his mind. Cuando el diablo descienda sobre ti, recuerda este momento, pendajo.

The SUV kept going, turning right at the next block. Diablo’s jaw clenched so tight his teeth should’ve cracked. He could still catch him. Could tail the vehicle, corner it somewhere quiet. Force the bastard to tell him how to reverse what he’d done. Make him pay for every moment of agony Diablo had endured with his beasts clawing at him from inside.

A red haze clouded his mind, making Diablo bust that U-turn in the street. He sped up, leaning into the turn where the SUV had disappeared.

Ever since that ambush, Diablo had been biding his time, praying for this moment. The son of a bitch was going to tell him how to unlock his beasts, even if it meant dragging him to that warehouse and hanging him on that hook by chains.

Brett’s arms tightened around his waist, blissfully unaware of the storm raging inside Diablo. “You okay?”

His elegido.

Diablo pulled over, his boots striking asphalt, eyes narrowing as the SUV’s taillights vanished around another corner. He was torn between his need for revenge, for answers, and his instinct to protect his mate.

“Diablo?” Brett’s grip tightened, his fingers digging into Diablo’s stomach with unease. “What’s wrong?”

Everything. “Nothing.” He cleared his throat and his mind, fighting to shake off the haze. Furious with himself for putting Brett at risk.

He turned his bike around, the engine growling as he gunned it toward the tavern. Diablo needed to drown the rage churning in his gut. It wasn’t Brett’s fault he’d just lost the chance to possibly find answers and deliver brutal justice to the bastard who’d ruined his life.

Chapter Five

Santiago rolled his shoulders, resisting the urge to check his watch for the umpteenth time. Twenty minutes playing gatekeeper already felt like three hours, especially after the night he’d had. The baby seal was currently in one of the tavern rooms. Santiago had never seen Tomas bust his ass in the kitchen over some guy, growling at Cesar when the brother tried to help.

Bass pounded through the floor, reverberating through his boots while the scent of beer, whiskey, and too many packed bodies filled his nostrils.

“Looking a bit like a constipated bulldog, big guy,” Percy teased, appearing beside him with a bottle of beer and a bright pink Cosmo. “Thought this might help.”

Santiago accepted the chilled bottle, feeling the gentle brush of Percy’s fingers. “I’m an enforcer, not a doorman.”

“And yet, here you are, guarding the entrance like the most dazzling bouncer in the land.” His eyes danced with mischief as he leaned against the wall, hip cocked. “Utterly terrifying. Bet the door’s quaking in its hinges.”

“How about I protect your hinges instead?” Santiago took a long pull from his beer, surveying the crowded tavern. The pool tables in the back were surrounded with people watching Miguel and Suero dominate the game against two other players. Near the bar, Luca was shouting something at Tomas while serving drinks.

Percy nudged him with an elbow. “Matías just wants extra eyes. Especially after what happened at Miguel and Jared’s place.”

“Yeah, I get it.” Santiago wrapped an arm around Percy’s waist, pulling him close. “Doesn’t mean I have to like playing security guard.”

“And I thought I looked out of place when Elijah and I first came here.” Percy nodded toward a group of college jocks entering the bar. They strolled past, one giving Santiago an appreciative once-over.

“Eyes back in your head, buddy,” Percy hissed, gripping Santiago’s arm possessively. “Unless you want to sleep on the couch tonight.”

“Jealous looks good on you.” Santiago pressed a kiss to Percy’s temple, inhaling the scent of his shampoo. “But unnecessary. You know damn well I have eyes only for you, cariño.”

Percy huffed, though his body relaxed against Santiago’s side. “Just making sure everyone knows who you belong to, papi.”

Papi? That was new. Santiago kind of liked it too. He flexed the bicep Percy held on to, grinning when his mate’s eyes widened.

Percy leaned closer, wiggling his brows. “Los espaguetis nadan en el zapato azul.”

Santiago fought back a laugh, knowing his mate didn’t like his random-ass Spanish mocked. “I bet those spaghetti are Olympic swimmers in that blue shoe, hermoso.”

“You know that’s not what I said.” Percy pouted. “Admit it. I said you can flex that bicep later when we’re naked.”

“Baby, I’ll flex anything you want me to.” Santiago had to force his eyes not to glow as a soft growl vibrated in his throat. “Too bad I’m stuck at the door, or we’d make use of one of the bedrooms in the back.”

“That sounds a whole lot better than you standing here scowling at everyone who walks through that door.”

“I’m not scowling.” Santiago’s mouth twitched. “This is my professional face.”

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