“I’ve seen several sides of you recently,” I began. “One minute, you’re an asshole, and the next, you got my back. Right now you seem to be irritated again.”
He let out a laugh that didn’t sound all too cheery. “I can’t stop thinking how someone bought our sister. Then she killed him. And she’s been in hiding from a psycho.” For the first time, he was showing me how concerned he was for Grace.
I’d worried about Grace until I was sick to my stomach. Now that I knew she was alive and had fought her way out of Miguel’s organization, I didn’t think Duke and I should be concerned. Not only that, she had Dom, an ex-military dude. I didn’t exactly like him, not after he’d lied, but he seemed to adore Grace. “I can’t wrap my head around the fact that Grace was sold to some sick fuck and that she had to kill him to save herself, but as you said, she’s alive. She’s got Dom, and right now, I need to find Maggie.” The image of some guy’s hands on her made me more furious than anything. I hadn’t been able to save Grace, but I had a chance to save Maggie.
Duke clamped a hand on my shoulder. “Love, brother, will get you killed. Love will only end in bloodshed and tears and heartbreak. You know, I’ve been keeping tabs on you. Since when do you let a woman into your life? You haven’t gotten close to anyone except your buddy, Rafe, and that family you look up to. What’s their name? Maxwell. That’s it.”
I fidgeted with my phone. “It sounds to me like a woman massacred your heart.”
He let go of me as his biceps bunched.
My phone trilled. I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered it anyway. “Yeah.”
Duke slipped his hands into the pockets of his slacks.
“Dillon Hart, I’m Miguel Rivera.”
I hit the speaker button. Duke’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Where’s Maggie?” I gritted my teeth. “If you so much as hurt her, I will kill you.”
“That isn’t any way to negotiate.” Miguel’s voice was sharp.
Duke and I swapped awhat the fucklook.
“I’m listening.” My tone was flat, even though I was twitchy.
“Here’s how this will go down. You’ll bring me your sister. In exchange, I’ll give you Maggie.”
I scrubbed a hand over my beard. “What? This is all about my sister?” Grace had said Miguel was hunting her. I imagined he wanted her because she’d killed his client.
“Her and I have unfinished business,” he said.
Duke shook his head and mouthed “No.”
I spied a black cat watching us from on top of one of the rusty barrels. The superstition that black cats were bad luck was proving to be true. “I’m not handing you my sister.”
“Too bad. I guess you’ll never see your girl again.” The line went dead.
I growled, ready to throw my phone, when it rang again. I put Hunt on speaker. “Talk to me.”
“Bad news,” Hunt said. “That Rick detective you met with Hughes when they showed up at the shelter is a bad seed. He’s in bed with the Black Knights. He’s been feeding them intel on cop activity and probably on Maggie. So be careful if you go to Hughes on this one.”
I clutched a handful of my hair. “Thanks.”
“Rafe and I have things locked down at the shelter. Go find your girl.” Hunt hung up.
“Bro.” Duke sat back. “Don’t do what I think you’re going to do.”
I pressed my lips together as I hit the number that Miguel had called me from.
Miguel answered on the first ring. “You came to your senses.”
“I want to talk to Maggie first.” I wasn’t rolling over like a dog that wanted his belly rubbed.
I heard him snap his fingers. “Talk to your boyfriend.”
“Maggie?” My voice pitched, and my stomach rolled.
