Kade: Santanas Cuervo MC (25 page)

“No! I swear! You told me the leak was inside Kelly Oil! I didn’t tell a soul!”

Hayden turned back to the phone.

“Wait!” Kade said again. “Gail, think. You didn’t tell anyone?”

“What are you driving at?” Winter asked.

“Why three days? Why did it take three days to make the hit? Why risk us getting away again?” He looked at Gail. “If you told
anyone
,
now’s the time to tell us because otherwise you’re going to jail.”

She stared at them, one after other. “I didn’t tell anybody,” she whispered. “Only Sebastián.”

Kade blinked. “Where have I heard that name before?”

“My husband,” Gail said quietly. “I don’t know how the killer found out because I didn’t tell anyone else.”

“But you told Sebastián?” Winter asked.

“Yes, why?” When nobody spoke she realized what they were thinking. “Wait, you think Sebastián is doing this? Why? And how?”

“When did you tell him?” Kade asked.

“A couple of nights ago maybe. Maybe the night you told me you thought it was Hayden. Maybe the next. I don’t remember exactly.”

“You told her you thought it was me?” Hayden asked.

“Yes. We didn’t stay at the Houstonian either, just in case. It could have been either of you, or both, and I wasn’t taking any chances.”

Gail looked at Hayden. “I told you he could do the job.”

Hayden nodded, glared at Kade, but said nothing.

“Do you often talk to him about work?” Kade asked, dragging the conversation back to the topic at hand.

“He’s my husband. I don’t have secrets from him.”

“Did you tell him about Winter sinking a well?”

“Yes. I was telling him how excited she was, and how close she was getting to validate her software. But, I don’t understand. How would he know where that was? And why?”

Kade pulled at his mouth with his hand. “I don’t know. Where is he now?”

Gail shrugged. “I don’t know. Either at home or work probably, why?”

“Where does he work?” Kade asked.

“He’s the Fitness Director at Pumped Up gym.”

Hayden looked between Gail and Kade. “You think its him?”

Kade shrugged. “It’s another link in the chain.”

“What part of don’t fucking tell
anybody
didn’t you understand?” Hayden growled.

“They said the leak was here! Sebastián doesn’t work here!”

“This might actually be for the best,” Kade said after a moment. “If she hadn’t told him, and he is the source, we might never have figured out who it is.”

“I can’t believe Sebastián would do such a thing. He wouldn’t hurt a soul!” Gail protested. “Why don’t I call him and ask him if he told anyone? I didn’t tell him to keep it quiet because I didn’t think it was necessary. Who would he tell and why would they care?”

“No, don’t do that. That’ll only tip him that we’re onto him.” Kade thought for a moment. “When you get home tonight tell him someone made another attempt on Winter’s life, but they missed. Tell him we were out and discovered the broken window when we returned, and that has scared us. Explain to him we’re leaving tomorrow for Rio Bonita, and we’ll be there only a couple of days, just long enough to get my affairs in order with the club, then we’re disappearing.”

“And if the hit men show up in Rio Bonita,” Winter said, guessing his plan.

“No. Then I want you to break his phone. Drop in the toilet or something. Then leave. Have an emergency at work or something, anything that requires several hours at least. Give him a window to act.”

“Act?” Gail asked.

“I want to try to make him contact somebody in person. I’ll be watching. If he does, then we’ll have the next link in the chain. But listen to me Gail: I need you to sell this. I need you to make him think he has one more chance to get us before we’re gone forever.”

“I don’t know if I can do this.”

“If you want to keep Winter safe, you
have
to do this, understand? If it wasn’t you, and you told nobody but Sebastián, it has to be him.”

She nodded. “Okay. I’ll try.”

He nodded. “If he doesn’t take the bait, I don’t know what we’ll do. We may have to disappear.”

“Wouldn’t we go to Rio Bonita, to see if they take another swipe at me there?”

“No! Absolutely not! They’re not getting another shot at you.”

“But how will we know otherwise?”

“It’s not important enough to risk your life.”

“You said it yourself. I don’t want to go around with a target on my back. If he doesn’t take the bait, we may not have any choice but to give them another shot, but if we know when and where we can be ready for them.”

“It doesn’t matter how ready we may be for them if they show up with twenty men with machine guns. Forget it,” he said, making a slashing motion with his hand.

She pursed her lips, but held her tongue. They weren’t done discussing this, but they would continue it later, in private.

“Kade is right,” Gail said. “Too dangerous. What do you need from Kelly Oil?”

“Besides you to sell this? Winter’s Jeep. When you get ready to leave, call me. I’ll show up right after and watch to see where he goes. Winter, I want you to stay here and go home with Hayden.”

“No.”

“What do you mean, no?”

“I mean no. You want to use my Jeep, I’m going, too.”

“No you’re not.”

“Yes, I am. Do you know what Sebastián looks like?”

“No, but—”

“I do. You need me.”

“Winter, how many men do you think will be leaving Gail’s house? Go home with your dad. You’ll be safe there.”

“I’ll be safe with you if all you’re going to do is follow him. You want to use my Jeep? I’m going.”

Kade looked to Gail. “I also need a rental.”

“No! I’m going! How are you going to stay awake all night?”

“I’ll figure something out.”

“Kade! Wake up! He’s leaving!” Winter hissed, shaking him awake.

He sat up in the seat. “What time is it?” he asked, blinking himself awake.

“Almost ten.”

“Shit,” he muttered as he rubbed at his face. Winter had finally worn him down, and he agreed to allow her to sit in the Jeep with him. And it was good thing, too. She’d slept from about midnight until about almost six, then he’d dozed while she watched the house. Sebastián hadn’t left last night, even though Gail was gone from nine until almost one. She’d left again at eight this morning, just like normal, for work. They were still watching, though he suspected it was a waste of time. Sebastián was either onto them, had another phone, or Gail had put them on a wild goose chase.

“Not too close,” he muttered as she slipped the Jeep into gear and pulled away from the curb to follow the vibrant blue Jaguar F-Type.

“Maybe it wasn’t him.”

“It’s either him, your Aunt, or he told somebody.”

They followed Sebastián until he stopped at Verizon to replace his broken phone. While they waited, they took advantage of the time to step into the Taco Bell that shared the parking lot to relieve themselves. Almost an hour later, Sebastián toting a new phone, they followed him as he headed south and west as he proceeded out of town on I-69.

“Where the hell is he going?” she wondered aloud.

“Work?”

“Not unless he’s working somewhere new.”

He exited the interstate and they followed as he weaved through Sugar Land, the houses getting larger and larger until he turned into a mansion, complete with a guesthouse.

“Drive on by,” he urged, flicking his hand in a keep moving motion.

“What the hell is he doing here?” she asked as they reached the end of the road and turned around, parking well back but keeping the drive to the house in sight.

They sat for almost an hour. “I think he’s here for a while,” Kade muttered, “and I think I’m going to sneak up there and have a snoop. See if I can see who he’s talking to.”

“I’m coming, too.”

“No. Stay here in case he leaves.”

“And do what? Follow him? What good will that do me if you’re not here? At the house I can be a lookout.”

“Fine. You’ll probably just follow me anyway.”

She giggled. “You’re learning.”

They left the Jeep and strolled along the road like they belonged there, before they darted across the street and crouched in the hedges at the side of the house. “Stay at the front corner and make sure nobody sees us,” he whispered.

While she watched, he peeked into a window but saw nobody. He moved down the side of the house, bypassing the small window that was probably a bath, and stopped at the next set of windows. The blinds were closed. Grimacing in frustration, he was prepared to go around to the other side of the house for another try when he heard a man’s voice. He snuck up to the privacy fenced and listened a moment before backing silently away.

He touched her on the back and placed his lips close to her ear. “Someone is in the back yard. A man. Come with me and tell me if it’s Sebastián’s voice.” He put his pointer finger to his lips to indicate silence then pulled her along until they reached the gate.

She listened a moment. The voice was low, and there was a female voice, as well, the two voices muttering in Spanish. She wasn’t sure it was Sebastián’s voice, their voices low and breathy, but was obvious the man and woman were having sex.

She looked at Kade and shrugged, unsure.

“
Joder, te sientes tan bien
,”
the man muttered, his voice much clearer.

She touched his arm and nodded. She wasn’t one hundred percent positive because of the passion in his voice, but she was sure enough. “Now what?” she whispered into his ear.

“Now, we pay him a visit.” Using both hands, he slowly released the latch on the gate, being as quiet as possible, and opened the gate just enough to clear the latch. He pulled his weapon, then put his lips to her ear again. “Close the gate behind us. On three.” He stood to face the gate and mouthed,
one…two…
and shoved the gate open on three.

It wasn’t until gate clicked behind them that Sebastián looked up. He was in the pool with a hot Latino number, her arms resting on the coping, his hands on her hips, with his cock buried deep inside her as he took her from behind. He shoved himself back, both their eyes going wide as they stared at the gun.

“What’s the meaning of this?” he shouted.

“Just a friendly chat,” Kade said as he approached, his weapon pointed at them.

“Who the fuck are—Winter?” Sebastián cried. “This isn’t what it looks like!”

“No, I’m sure it’s not,” she said as she took pictures with her phone and sent them to Gail.

“You don’t know who I am,” the woman in the pool sneered. “I’ll have you killed for this.”

“Is that so?” Kade said. “And who are you?”

“Elina! Quiet!” Sebastián hissed. “Don’t say anything else! Why are you here?”

“Out of the pool, both of you,” Kade ordered. “You’re going to answer a few questions.”

“What kind of questions?”

“Like who this is,” Winter said. “And how long have you been cheating on Aunt Gail?”

“Winter. It’s not what it looks like. I can explain,” Sebastián said as he waded out of the pool, Elina following behind him.

This was the first time Kade had a good look at Sebastián Rendón. The man was somewhat tall, almost six feet, and built like a body builder, with every muscle plainly defined. Clearly Latino, he had dark hair and eyes, a sun-kissed complexion with a thin, close-cropped beard to accent his strong jawline. The woman he’d been fucking was stunning with her bronze skin, big brown eyes, long black hair, and a body to die for.

“Start talking, then,” Winter ordered.

“I, uh…”

Kade rolled his eyes over what Winter was worrying about. “Why are you trying to have Winter killed?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

There was no shock and no surprise in his response. He knew. Kade took two steps forward and backhanded Sebastián with his gun hand. Sebastián stumbled back two steps then recovered, spitting blood. “I’ll have you killed for that.”

“Have me killed? What’s the matter, Sebastián, not man enough to do it yourself?”

Sebastián spat again. “I have nothing to say to you.”

Kade turned his attention to the woman. “What about you?”

“Fuck you.”

Kade stared at the woman a moment then turned his attention back to Sebastián. “You’re going to tell me what I want to know. The only question is, are we going to do it the easy way or the hard way?”

“Or what? You’ll kill me?”

Kade smiled. “No, I won’t kill you. I’ll just make you wish I had killed you.”

“Fuck you.”

Kade stepped forward and grabbed Sebastián behind the head as he pressed his gun to his forehead. “Don’t try me, you fuck. I could kill you here and now and take my chances you’re the one pulling the strings on the Escorpión Cartel.”

“I don’t know anything about a cartel,” Sebastián said, though his eyes were wide with terror.

Kade pulled the weapon down then drove a hard left into Sebastián’s stomach. He doubled over with a grunt, taking a couple more steps back as he held his stomach. “Hard it is, then,” Kade snarled.

Sebastián straightened with a grimace and a sneer. “You’re pretty tough with that gun. Why don’t you put it down and we settle this like men?”

“Nice try,” Kade smirked. “Why are you trying to have Winter killed?”

“I’m not.”

Kade stepped in and pressed the gun under Sebastián’s jaw. “I’m about to run out of patience. Now I’m going to ask you one more time, and you’re going to answer me, or I’m going to start getting pissed off. You won’t like me when I’m pissed off.”

“You won’t do it.”

Kade grit his teeth, the urge to squeeze the trigger so strong he could barely resist it. He grabbed Sebastián by the hair and, with the gun still pressed under his jaw, marched him the three steps to the pool. He shoved him down on the concrete surround and, after tucking his gun into his belt, forced Sebastián’s head into the water with both hands. He held him there until he began to thrash, struggling desperately to get his head up, but still Kade held him before he finally he pulled Sebastián up by the hair.

“Why are you trying to have Winter killed?” Kade snarled as Sebastián gasped.

“Fuck you.”

***

“He’s going to drown him if he doesn’t tell him what he wants to know,” Winter murmured to Elina as Kade shoved Sebastián’s head under again.

Elina shrugged. “I’m tired of him anyway. I’m going to get dressed.”

“Don’t move,” Winter warned.

Elina ignored her and turned to saunter to the robes on the table.

Sebastián’s explosive intake of breath as Kade pulled his head out of the pool for the second time drew her attention back to the men. From the corner of her eye, Winter saw Elina pick up something shiny from under the robe and turned as Elina swung a chrome plated revolver toward the men.

“Kade! Look out!” Winter screamed as she charged the woman. She was only a few steps away and she was there in an instant, tackling Elina and sending them crashing into the glass and aluminum table.

***

Kade turned with Winter’s warning and the sounds of crashing. It was all the opening Sebastián needed. He quickly turned, catching Kade by the arm and dragging him over the edge as he toppled into the pool. Kade, on his knees, quickly overbalanced and the two men went in with a splash. Sebastián had the advantage as they twisted and twirled, Kade’s clothes weighing him down as they struggled, sinking to the bottom, locked in combat as they strained against each other. Rolling on top of Sebastián, Kade was able to use Sebastián’s body as leverage to slip his headlock. Almost out of breath, Kade kicked off Sebastián, driving him down again as he struggled for the surface.

***

The two women went down painfully hard on the concrete patio, the table turning over as Winter and Elina crashed into it, the weapon skittering across the hard surface. Winter rolled off Elina and tried to go for the gun, but Elina grabbed her, hauling her back down.

“
Pinche puta bastarda, te mataré
!” Elina screamed as she clawed at Winter.

Winter screamed as Elina’s nails dug deep. She turned and tried to kick the other woman away, but Elina was on her before she could deliver the blow. Winter had never been in a fight in her life so she began to punch and slap, trying to get away, before grabbing Elina by the hair and hauling on it. Elina shrieked in pain and began to swing wildly. Elina’s blows were connecting but they were hitting her mostly on the back and side of the head. Enraged, Winter twisted, rolling over Elina to start doing some of her own punching, but Elina grabbed her hair and pulled hard.

***

Kade burst through the surface of the pool and gasped for breath, paddling furiously to stay afloat. He just had time to draw a second breath before Sebastián wrapped his arm around his throat and pulled him under again, wrapping his legs around him to keep him close. Kade drove two, then three hard elbows into Sebastián’s side, but the water robbed him of power. Kicking and spinning, Sebastián clinging to him like a limpet, Kade thrashed as they sank. He tried to pull Sebastián’s arm from his throat but couldn’t break the man’s hold. In desperation he reached between them, searching with his hand until he found Sebastián’s cock. He gripped it as tightly as he could then twisted and pulled with all his strength.