Page 24 of Unveiled Wounds

“Your doctors are on a list the cartel has to sit on, but I think it’s about Grace taking you to your appointments more than anything else. I’ve asked Thunder to continue taking you. He’ll grab a prospect when you go, and that should be enough to keep you safe. I want nothing to jeopardize the progress you’re making, but I am going to ask that you go straight there and come straight back. No lunch, but if you want, I’ll buy you some new board games.”

Aunt E smiled at him. “I…win.”

Sabre smiled back at her, but when his eyes found Grace, he frowned. “This is going to be the hardest part to hear, and trust me, I don’t like it either, mama. Do you remember Diego Lopez?”

I leaned forward so that I could watch Grace’s face for any sign of recognition. I didn’t have a clue who they were speaking of.

“Damn taco bar,” she muttered, briefly closing her eyes before reopening them. “Isn’t he the one that I introduced myself to in the restaurant? I wanted to make them uncomfortable since Clara was at the table pretending to be Matt’s wife. It worked. His face was green.”

“That’s him. His brother is the head of the Lopez Cartel, but Diego is the number one boss here in the states.” Sabre’s eyes clouded over, watching JR try to lift his own foot.

“What are you not saying?” Grace pressed, tightening her arm around JR.

Sabre shook his head, raising his eyes back to Grace’s. “Diego’s out for blood.”

“What does that mean?” Grace pushed, the hysteria clearly rising in her voice.

“There’s a reward if his men bring you, JR, or Meredith in. They’ve been circling the places that you normally frequent, and today they got lucky.” Sabre ran a hand through his hair.

JR tried to grab for his foot again, but when he couldn’t reach, he whimpered. Grace normally would have eased her hold, but she leaned forward and matched my gaze.

“You were right, Mer. It would have been easier for them to take us if we’d stood together.”

“You just said I was right in a room full of witnesses.” I stuck my tongue out at her for good measure. Catching Grizz’s eye, I saw him smirk as he leaned against the wall.

Our antics didn’t amuse Sabre. “You two need to get serious about this. There’s a bounty on each of your heads, and if those soldiers had been successful, you’d be dead or wishing you were tonight. There’s only so much the Red Shadow can shield you from.”

Fuck you, Sabre.I smacked my lips, making sure my thought hadn’t slipped out loud. It wouldn’t have been well-received, and today, I cared. Tomorrow might be different.

“Alex?” Aunt E said, opening and closing her mouth several times. Her body shook, and I wasn’t sure if it was from adrenaline or fear. There had been enough of both today, and I let go of her hand and wrapped my arm around her.

Sabre turned towards my aunt. “We’re only hearing about this now because he has an order of protection on your nieces, and I suspect it’s because of you. I’ve had Cyph try to reach out to him, but he’s ignoring us. Is there a way you can contact him?”

“I have a phone number, but I doubt it’s a direct line. When I call, it goes straight to voicemail, and then I normally receive an email response,” Grace chimed in. “Did you try email?”

“Yup,” Cyph said, popping the P sound. “I don’t like being ignored.”

Aunt E opened her mouth, and a sound inched out. She closed her lips and tried again to speak, but whatever she wanted to say wouldn’t pass. She tried a couple more times, but the results were the same.

I let go of Emily’s hand and uncrossed my legs, focusing on my aunt. “Auntie, do you want to say something?” I tried to get her to focus on one thing as I put some sweetness into my tone.

“I…hel…p.”

She had been making progress, to where she could speak full words with brief pauses in between. This was going to be a setback. Thunder stood in my peripheral vision, his arms crossed over his chest, feet shoulder width apart. Anger steamed from his beard.

“I know, Auntie. One step at a time.” I held her against me. “Do you still speak to Alex?” Knowing he was Pulse’s sperm donor made me vomit a little in my mouth.

“N…o.” She tried to say more, but the words wouldn’t form.

“Okay, Auntie. How about you nod your head for yes?” I tried to guide her, hoping the basics would help settle her emotional state.

She nodded, her eyes as wide as saucers.

“Do you know how to reach…Alex?” Calling him by his name killed me.

She nodded, trying to speak again. “Call…my…house.”

“Does she have a landline?” Cyph asked me, the wheels clearly turning behind his glasses.

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