Page 60 of Undone

She might’ve stopped breathing as her eyes scanned the bed and my palm full of another woman’s tit. Our eyes met, cutting across the darkness.

She turned on her heel and shut the door closed; her actions louder than a slap across my face.

After a minute, I rose from the bed and zipped up my jeans. From window, I watched as she walked dejectedly across the back lot. Her shoulders slumped, her chest heaved. She turned and looked back at my window as she reached her car. The shimmer of her tears fell as the sun rose behind her.

Rage ran through my veins. My jaw clenched. Someday—somehow—I would make this right.

She sat in her car, crying softly. And in those moments—my own heart shattered. The broken pieces flew through the air—leaving me with nothing but a jagged mess.

I texted Vasyl. “Follow her. Make sure she’s safe.”

Sherry’s scent was sickening. I walked into my bathroom and tried to wash the stink of betrayal and heartache away. But I couldn’t. My fist hit the tiled wall, smashing a hole. The water turned pink from the blood dripping off my hand. I watched as it swirled down the drain, wondering how in the hell I was gonna live without her.

The sight of Sherry still passed out in my bed was one I wanted to forget. It was dawn, but not too early to conduct Club business, so I called Cortez and asked for another meet.

In a booth at the small diner a few blocks from the clubhouse, I sat for hours, sipping black coffee the consistency of sludge while waiting for him to arrive from LA. A few of my men sat in another booth with a clear view of the parking lot, sensing I needed space. I only lifted my eyes when Cortez slid into the booth opposite me. I knew he was here. The roar of twenty engines coming into the lot sounded like a goddamn parade.

“You look like shit,hermano.”

Ignoring his jab, I stared him down. “You got fresh intel?”

“Sí. The Felons and the cartel are making a bold move against both our Clubs. They want to be the new players controlling the borders between Mexico and Canada.”

“Christ, and the government thinks they run shit.”

We both snorted, as I lifted my cup to my lips.

“Shit’s gonna get ugly. People are gonna die,” his voice, ominous as he spoke low.

“I’m ready for a war.”

“ Good. I was hoping you’d say that. The cartel is expecting a huge shipment at the pier.”

“Another container of women?”

“No. Opioids and Heroin. They want the Felons to push it north and east. There’s been too much heat at the border—so they stopped running and use tunnels instead. But they can’t move large shipments underground. The next one is gonna ship into San Fran.”

“When is it coming?”

“Just before dawn. I got a few men down at the docks working for The Port Authority. They’re gonna give us a head’s up.”

“The Felons and the Cartel will know it’s us.”

“Sí.I’m fuckin’ counting on it.”

I swiped a hand across my face, “I gotta take this to a vote.”

His eyebrows rose, “You’re the Prez.”

“I am. And that’s why I need to make sure my men are straight with this. A good leader never takes his men into battle without them at least knowing what they’re getting into.”

Cortez nodded. “You were military.”

“I was.”

“Me too. I enlisted at eighteen. The shit never leaves, does it?”

“No. But at least now I’m fightin’ for what’s mine.”

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