Page 24 of Paladin's Hell

Which makes me feel no better. Have we grown apart? Is it reasonable to think she’s looking for someone who could understand her better? But how could anyone comprehend her more than me? I know all her secrets, and still want her.

Slick’s hand lands on my back. “Came to find you. Drummer and I want to have a word.”

Sounds ominous. Reluctantly, and with one last look at the pair who are animatedly discussing something, grinning and laughing while they talk, I follow him into Drummer’s office.

Prez waves me to a chair in front of the desk, Slick sits beside me. I look from one to the other, noticing for the first time, the strain in Slick’s face. A cold feeling settles inside me.

“Had word from Chaz, Prez of the Wretched Soulz. He’s heard another rumour the Herreras are ready to settle their score with us. This time it sounds serious. I believe him.”

“They coming for us?” This wasn’t what I wanted to hear.

“They want to hit us where it hurts. Word is they’re not preparing for an all-out battle right now, but their single focus is on Jayden.” Prez doesn’t try to sugarcoat it. “We knew it was on the horizon, know that they blame us, and her, for the massacre that night she was rescued.”

Massacre is the right word. We’d hit and taken out five members of the notorious crime family. At the time, with the blessing of the head of the clan who used us to clean his own house. Now there’s a new leader, one whose views are clearly at odds with his predecessor’s.

“Chaz is going to drop a hint to Los Zetas. There’s suggestions this signals the Herreras are getting back into the skin trade, which would step firmly on the cartel’s toes. But revenge might be too high up Javier’s list to stop anything he has set in motion. It’s time we think seriously about protecting her. She’s at risk, Paladin.”

She is. We do what we can to minimise the danger. She’s never alone when she goes off compound, either I or a prospect take her to school and bring her home, but if they hit in numbers, one man isn’t going to stop them.

“While Chaz thinks they’re not prepared to make a move immediately, I don’t know how long their patience will last. If they know she’s still in Tucson, I can’t, won’t rule out an attack on the compound.” Prez’s eyes have gone steely. “I’d like her gone. Then Chaz can let them know they’re wasting their time looking for her in Arizona.”

“You think that will solve it?” Won’t they just keep trying to locate her?

“Herreras are Tucson based so I think it’s a safe bet, once she’s out of state they’ll stop looking. It’s certainly better than us trying to wait it out with her here, not knowing when they might strike.” I trust Drummer. He wouldn’t feed me a line. If this is what he believes, I’ll go along with it.

“I’ve spoken at length with Ella. Don’t want to uproot my ol’ lady now.”

I nod at Slick, fully understanding. Ella must be at least six months pregnant. After a recent small bleed, the doctors are monitoring her pregnancy carefully. Not a good time for them to up root.

“You’re resurrecting the idea of me taking her to Colorado.”

“Hellfire’s expecting you next week.”

My jaw drops. Fuck, that came at me out of the blue. This is happening fast. Those things we’d spoken about a couple of months ago, now coming to fruition. Thinking about it hypothetically is one thing, now it’s set in concrete, I realise how much it will hurt losing my family here. I don’t know Hellfire at all. Only seen him in a few meetings. He and Drummer are very different, that’s for sure. What will it be like to have a new prez to answer to? New brothers to get to know?

“Lot to lay on you, Paladin.”

“I’m fine.” I reassure Drummer fast. “Jayden’s safety is all that matters to me.” I swallow, pushing down my personal regrets at leaving Tucson. “So, what’s the plan?”

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