Taming Blaze Read online

  my mother?” Dani’s voice cracked, and for a second I worried she might be too emotional, too close to all of this.

  I held back with the rest of the club while Guillermo took Dani’s hand, and walked away with her, out of earshot. I glanced at Mad Dog, and he shook his head, the movement barely perceptible. My heart was racing. He wouldn’t kill her, I thought. He’s telling her that Benicio is her mother’s killer. That’s it. But I knew Guillermo was dangerous and not to be trusted. I was hoping we had accurately predicted his moves.

  Dani’s hand went to her mouth, and then she wiped away tears, stormed away from her father. I saw her take up position ten feet or so away, crying. Good girl.

  When Benicio’s cars pulled up, Guillermo’s expression changed from one of quiet anticipation to seething rage, his his neck flushing red as he waited for Benicio to get out. Benicio stepped out, escorted by six of his bodyguards. Good, I thought. Guillermo had asked us to bring ten guys, so we made sure Benicio brought fewer men. Guillermo needed to think he had the upper hand. He needed to believe Benicio was operating based only on emotion. Our entire plan counted on him underestimating his younger brother.

  “Guillermo.” Benicio greeted him as if they were regular business associates and not mortal enemies. I moved in behind Benicio, a few feet away, taking position. Guillermo thought that my position was protecting him. He would be mistaken.

  “Benicio. You’ve brought the account information?” Guillermo asked.

  Benicio nodded, gesturing toward one of his bodyguards who held a laptop. “You brought Dani? I’m not giving you any of this unless she knows you were willing to trade her for cash.”

  “She’s here.”

  “Does she know?” Benicio asked.

  “Know which part?”

  “That you’re the one who killed her mother,” Benicio said. “That you’re the one she should hate, not me. That you were willing to give her up for the money.”

  Guillermo shrugged. “She’s here. She probably does now.”

  Shit was going to hit the fan. I could feel it. We were trusting that Benicio had done what he said he had done and turned Guillermo’s bodyguards. That was a big thing to have to take on faith.

  Mad Dog cleared his throat, and I knew he was tensed up and ready to move. We were all on edge. My senses were heightened, like they always were in this kind of situation. As much as I liked the calm of my cabin retreat, I lived for shit like this- being on the edge, the adrenaline coursing through my body. The thrill of the hunt.

  I saw Dani walking up from the warehouse. “Is this the man who killed my mother?”

  “She didn’t hear you,” Benicio said. “Explain it, Guillermo. Explain it to her, and I will complete the transfer.”

  “Explain what?” Dani asked. “No one’s explained anything to me. I want answers.”

  “Complete the transfer and I’ll do it,” Guillermo said.

  Benicio nodded toward the man with the laptop, and he tapped the keyboard. “It’s done,” he said. “Now, tell her.”

  Guillermo turned, positioned between them. “Your uncle here stole from me.”

  “The money was mine.” Benicio said.

  “I’m not talking about the money.” Guillermo’s voice was filled with rage. “He took what was rightfully mine- your mother. You were mine, Dani, not his. So was your mother. And she thought she could just walk away.” He was ranting now, starting to sound crazy.

  I looked at Mad Dog, and he shook his head. Wait.

  “He messed with her head,” Guillermo said. “He told her things about me, turned her against me. That was why I had to bring her here. I had to take her away from him. I gave her everything. Everything. I gave you everything you could have ever wanted, even though you were his.” He practically spit out the word his, voice dripping with contempt.

  I watched Dani for a sign she was about to break down, but she just stood there, her face stony.

  “And still she pined away for him. He was in prison serving a twenty year sentence, and still your mother could not let him go.” Guillermo began pacing, his movements erratic, and I held my breath, watching Dani step back. Fear flashed across her face. I wanted to step in. I wanted to pull my weapon, take out Guillermo, and be done with this. I wanted to protect her.

  “I don’t understand,” Dani said. “You killed her. You killed my mother?”

  “She was leaving. Don’t you see?” Guillermo said, his voice thick. “Leaving me, after all I’d done for you. After I had raised my brother’s child. She had no sense of gratitude, no sense of loyalty. I did everything for you- everything. And she just threw it all away. For this.” He turned toward Benicio, his face a mask of rage. “This.”

  Guillermo stepped toward Benicio. “You. You were always in my shadow. You always followed me, leeching off me like a parasite. I brought you up, under the General. I was the reason you had contacts anywhere. And this was how you repaid me.”

  I watched as Guillermo made a move for his weapon, and I reached for mine, drawing on him. I saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes, the realization that I was pointing my weapon at him and not at Benicio.

  “You,” he said.

  “I suggest you put it down,” I said, my voice tense.

  “Maurice,” he called. None of his bodyguards moved. They were all still, silent. Benicio had not gotten to one of them, as he had promised. He had gotten to all of them. “Maurice.”

  I smiled as I watched Guillermo realize that even his bodyguards had betrayed him.

  Then I saw Dani, walking toward him from behind.

  “Dani, get the fuck out of here!” I yelled.

  “You were willing to trade me for money?” she asked, her voice wavering. Then she drew her weapon and pointed it at her father.

  “Dani,” I warned. “Get out of here before you get hurt.”

  “You killed her. You killed my mother.”

  A sinister smile spread across Guillermo’s features. Then I heard the sharp crack of gunfire, and felt searing pain. I stumbled back, confused. Did he just shoot me?

  There was another shot, and Guillermo collapsed. And everything went dark.

  “He took what was rightfully mine. Your mother. You were always his, never mine. Your mother thought she could just walk away.” I listened to the man I had always thought was my father, the man who I had always feared I would become rant about how he was justified in killing her. He had turned out to be exactly the monster I had always known him to be.

  I had been fearful of this moment, of the confrontation with him. I had been afraid to hear the truth- that my father didn’t love me and that he was willing to shatter my world for millions of dollars for which he had no need. I meant that little to him. I’d expected that hearing the words come out of his mouth would destroy me.

  I didn’t expect this, an eerie sense of calm that descended over me like a veil. Guillermo stood there, raving mad, his face reddening and sweat beading on his brow as he ranted. But for me, time slowed down, and I could feel the blood in my ears, my heart pumping. I saw his lips move, but heard nothing. Everything was suddenly still and peaceful, the way it was when Blaze and I were on the shore by the lake. I knew what I had to do.

  I watched as Guillermo turned toward Benicio. Then I heard his voice, almost like I was watching a scene on television, the volume turned down low.

  “You,” Guillermo said. “You were always in my shadow. You always followed me, leeching off me like a parasite.” He reached for his gun and pulled it, pointing it at Benicio.

  “You were willing to trade me for, what, money?” I asked. My voice faltered for a moment as I pulled my weapon. Then I was resolved. I pointed it at my father.

  I heard Blaze scream my name, telling me to get back. But as soon as he opened his mouth, I knew what would happen. I understood my father. We were cut from the same cloth, Guillermo and I. Benicio might be my biological father, but I was Guillermo’s daughter. In that instant, Guillermo would know Bl