Chapter 9

Nine

Lobo

This is a first for me.

I never bring outside business to the club, especially not over some woman. But Angela isn't just some woman.

As quick as all this is happening, I think she might be the one person I've been looking for. The one person that might fucking soothe this gnawing ache inside of me. The ache for purpose.

"What's going on? What's the dame got to do with it?" Vado asks, and I tug her closer to me.

"Angela has been hiding out here on the island for the last couple of weeks. She was set to marry someone by the name of Miguel, but it turns out he's a fucking pu?eta . She told them she wanted out, but they refuse to let it go."

"You said they? Who is they? I thought we were only talking about the ex?" AZ is the one to speak up this time.

"No, not just the ex. Turns out her father and her brother are all on the wrong side of this little battle that we find ourselves in."

"Who says we are?" Vado tilts his head and glares at me.

"What the hell do you mean, who says? I do?"

He chuckles, and a spark of mania alights in his eyes.

"Do I have to remind you whose club this is? Just because we were all scattered to the wind for so long doesn't change anything, Lobo. If this problem is worthy of us, then I'll look into it. If it's not, then she's just going to have to go to the police like the rest of the people on this glorious island."

I've never felt anger like this before. Not just anger at Vado, but at everyone else sitting around the small makeshift table, looking at us like this is a normal interaction.

"How fucking dare you." I let my eyes scan over the group, and when my gaze meets theirs, their eyes go wide. None of them would have ever thought I'd be the one to call them out about this, but that's exactly what I'm about to do right now.

"Lobo, you know that's how it goes. Nothing has changed in the few years that we've been away."

"You're right; nothing has changed. Nothing but the amount of shit I've given up to stay fucking loyal to this club. I was the one who trained under the previous president. Your seat should be mine." I glare at Vado but don't linger. "When Jameson gave it to you, I fucking accepted it because I knew the RBMC had my back."

"When all that shit happened with Joda and Tex, I took a step back because I knew it was what was best for the club. It was what's best for everyone else. All the shootouts, the tedious hours of riding just to make sure everyone else was good. The kidnapping and the torture. All this shit that I've been through, I'd do it all again because I know the RBMC has my back. Now I'm here with my fucking back up against the wall, and I'm reaching out for my brothers, and you tell me you're going to fucking think about it? Nah, fuck all of you."

I grab hold of Angela's hand and turn toward the door. I'm not going to beg anyone for help. Even if I have to go up against her ex-fiancé and her family on my own, I'm still not going to let anyone hurt her. I've lived in Puerto Rico all my life. I'm sure I know more about the topography than a couple of people from the States.

"What are we doing?" Angela asks as we walk towards the front door.

"Lobo, ?Espera !" Vado calls out for me. I turn my head so he knows that I heard him, but I've got nothing more to say. I continue walking out the door. When I hear footsteps rushing in my direction, I know one of two things is about to happen. Either Vado is going to want to talk to me, or he's going to kick my ass for turning my back on him. I never know which one I'm going to get with him.

"Tío Lobo! Hey!" I turn my head just as Vado gets outside. Coming down the block are Joanna and Vidal. All the anger that was just on Vado's face is gone as his wife and son walk up.

" Ni?o, ?Qué tal? " I put my hand out and wrap Vidal in a quick hug before he and Joanna walk by me to greet Vado. I keep a pleasant look on my face for the interaction, but the moment they get inside the compound, I grab hold of Angela again, and we're on the move.

"?Pendejo! Don't make me fucking chase you. Hold up." Vado barks at me.

I want to keep moving to show him that I don't fucking need him, but to be honest, I do need him. I need him. I don't know what kind of force Miguel is going to be bringing with him. He is offering up to five hundred grand for Angela. Someone with that kind of muscle can afford to buy a whole lot of help.

I stop walking and turn around, keeping Angela close to my side. Vado approaches us, a mixture of anger and exasperation on his face.

"What the fuck, Lobo? You can't just walk out like that, not when we're in the middle of discussing club business."

"Club business?" I scoff. "Since when is protecting an innocent woman not club business? I thought the RBMC stood for something more than just lining our own pockets and keeping our heads down."

Vado's jaw clenches. "It's not that simple and you know it. We can't just go charging into a war with some prick from the States without knowing what we're up against. I don’t know anything besides what you told me three seconds ago. You may have an relationship with this woman but we don’t."

"You’re right. I’m the one with the relationship with her. I’m the one about to go out of my fucking mind if something happens to her. Shouldn’t that be fucking enough? Even if you don’t know if you want to save her, won’t you and my brothers fight to save me?”

Vado glances at Angela, who meets his gaze unflinchingly. I can feel the tension radiating off her, but she stands tall. Vado lets out a heavy sigh.

"Fine. We'll look into it. But we do this smart, you hear me? No cowboy shit, no charging in guns blazing until we know exactly what we're dealing with."

I nod curtly. "Agreed."

"And Lobo," Vado steps closer, his voice low and serious, "don't ever fucking question my leadership in front of the club again. We clear?"

I clench my fists at my side, biting back the retort on the tip of my tongue. As much as it galls me, Vado is still El Presidente. I need to play this carefully.

"Crystal," I reply through gritted teeth.

Vado holds my gaze a moment longer before turning on his heel and heading back inside. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"Thank you," Angela says softly from beside me. "For standing up for me in there. I know it couldn't have been easy."

I turn to face her fully, cupping her face with one hand. "I meant what I said. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. The RBMC...my brothers...we look out for our own. And as far as I'm concerned, you're one of us now."

Angela's eyes shine with unshed tears as she nods. I press a gentle kiss to her lips before wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"Come on. Let's head back inside…” I say but stop mid sentence as Angela face turns in the opposite direction and she’s wearing the most disgusted face I’ve ever seen.

“What on earth is that smell?” She takes a short inhale but coughs and covers her mouth.

I frown, catching a whiff of the rancid odor that has Angela gagging. It's acrid and thick, like burning rubber mixed with something putrid. My eyes scan the surrounding buildings and street, trying to pinpoint the source.

"I don't know, but it's rank as hell," I mutter. A knot of unease forms in my gut. Something isn't right.

Angela steps away from me, moving toward the edge of the sidewalk. Her brow furrows as she peers down the street.

"Lobo, look." She points, her voice tight with worry. "Smoke."

I follow her gaze and my blood runs cold. A thick, dark plume of smoke rises in the distance, blotting out the blue sky. It's coming from the direction of the bakery. Magda's bakery.

"Fuck," I hiss under my breath. I grab Angela's hand. "We need to go. Now."

We take off at a sprint, our boots pounding against the pavement. The closer we get, the stronger the stench becomes, burning my nostrils and throat. My heart hammers against my ribs as a sense of dread consumes me.

Please let Magda be okay, I silently pray. That tough old broad has to be okay.

We round the corner onto Magda's street and skid to a stop. Angela lets out a strangled gasp beside me.

The bakery is engulfed in flames. Angry orange tongues lick at the windows and door, thick black smoke pouring out. The heat rolls over us in blistering waves.

"No," Angela whispers, her hand coming up to cover her mouth in horror. "Magda…"

I'm moving before I even realize it, charging toward the burning building with single-minded focus. I have to get Magda out. I won't let her die like this. Not because of me, because of my inability to protect what's mine.

"Lobo, don't!" Angela screams behind me, but I barely hear her over the roar of the flames.

I'm just feet from the door, ready to barrel through, when an ear-splitting crack rends the air. The roof caves in with a thunderous crash, sending a geyser of embers and ash into the sky.

I stumble back, throwing an arm up to shield my face from the scorching heat. No one could survive that. I'm too late. Magda is gone.