Page 86 of Brick's Retribution

All I can do is pull her into my arms, holding her as the tears finally come.

"We'll get him back," I promise against her hair. "Your father and Lashes both. Whatever it takes."

She clings to me, her body shaking with silent sobs.

This is the first time I've seen her truly break down, and it tears at something deep in my chest.

This woman who's been so strong, so composed through everything, finally letting herself be vulnerable.

"I can't lose him," she whispers. "He's all the family I have left."

"You won't," I say firmly. "And you're wrong about the family thing."

She pulls back to look at me, confusion in her tear-stained face.

"You have me now," I remind her. "The club. Alejandro. You're not alone in this."

Something shifts in her expression—gratitude mixed with something deeper.

"When did I get so lucky to find you?"

"Pretty sure I'm the lucky one," I reply, wiping tears from her cheeks.

She laughs softly, the sound watery but genuine. "We should probably stop being so sappy. I need to look composed for my godfather."

"Take your time. We've got an hour."

She nods, moving to the bathroom to fix her makeup.

I watch her rebuild her armor piece by piece—waterproof mascara, concealer to hide the redness, lipstick the color of fresh blood.

By the time she's done, you'd never know she'd been crying.

"How do I look?" she asks.

"Like a woman no one should fuck with," I answer honestly.

"Good." She checks her weapon, sliding it into the holster at her back. "That's exactly what I need to be."

An hour later, we're in one of the club's SUVs heading out of the city.

Dante drives while Amara rides shotgun, leaving Imani and me in the back.

Amara’s husband is a man of few words, but the respect he shows Amara is insane.

When you have a powerful woman like her by your side, he is the man you look up to when you think about the kind of old man you want to be.

"Tell me about the meeting location," I request, always wanting to know the terrain.

"Abandoned airstrip about forty miles northeast," Dante replies, his voice gravelly. "Alejandro uses it for sensitive meetings. Easy to secure, multiple exit routes."

"How many men will he have?"

"Dozen, maybe more," Amara answers. "But this isn't that kind of meeting. We’re his family—me and Imani. Real family."

I nod, but my hand still rests on my weapon.

Can't be too careful when meeting with cartel leadership, family or not.

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