Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7) by Kaylie Hunter (dar e dil novel online reading txt) 📕

I turned away, walking out of the circle, feeling the need to gain some personal space.

“Santiago is crazy. My sources confirmed that. He also has a network of drug smugglers across the country who he calls upon to complete tasks such as the kidnapping that occurred yesterday.”

“Are the kidnappers dead?” Sebrina asked.

I ignored her question. “Santiago has a daughter in Arizona. She broke ties with her father, but if we push the wrong buttons, he may have her dragged against her will across the border. I’ve assigned some guys to keep an eye on her for her safety. We won’t use her against Santiago, though. She’s innocent.”

“Should I ask the FBI to put her in a safe house?” Donovan asked.

“No. If we have to move her, she’ll go to one of my safe houses. I might be being paranoid, but I sure as hell didn’t like how fast Santiago’s men found Shipwreck’s place in Mexico. Shipwreck had operated under the radar for years with no issues. Someone tipped him off.”

Several men glanced at Sebrina.

“Why would I have tipped Santiago off?” she asked, looking at the men. “He held me hostage and had me beaten.”

“I don’t see any bruises,” Ryan said, moving Tweedle to stand behind him.

Sebrina lifted her shirt and showed a single bruise the size of a fist under her right ribcage. Turning her head upward, we could see a fading bruise on her neck. No one said anything, but I was sure we were all thinking the same thing: the bruises looked staged. Why though? What was her objective?

“Sebrina was kept in a shed—chained to a wall!” Grady yelled. “She was starved of food and water and forced to watch two women beaten to death.”

“If you say so,” I said, sighing dramatically.

Several of the guys chuckled quietly.

Wayne cleared his throat. “Does Santiago ever travel to the States, or will we have to take him out in Mexico?”

“Take him out?” Tweedle whispered to Ryan. “He means, kill him, right?”

Ryan shrugged, but didn’t say anything, waiting for me to answer Wayne’s question.

“He seldom comes to the States, but he might this time. He wants Sebrina. He’s obsessed with her. If his men keep disappearing, he might make the trip to supervise the situation himself.”

“How many men were involved in the kidnapping yesterday?” Grady asked.

“Eight.”

“And were all of them…” he looked at Sebrina and then back at me, “punished? Or did some of them escape?”

“All eight were punished,” I answered.

Grady knew if I was unwilling to tell Sebrina what happened to the men, then I had a reason. He played along so he could get at least a few answers to his questions.

“What else do you know?” Sebrina asked.

“Nothing else I’m willing to share. Those who need to know, will be updated as needed. You’re not on that list.”

“I’m a DEA agent.”

“You’re a guest of Silver Aces until I say otherwise.”

“You’re not in charge of Silver Aces,” Grady hissed.

“No,” Donovan said to Grady. “If it comes to it though, she’ll have my vote to have you both removed. Kelsey won’t risk the safety of her family, including my wife and daughter. If she feels either of you are a threat, I’ll back her decision.”

“Some brother you turned out to be,” Grady said.

“What would you have him do?” Bones asked. “Risk his men and his family because you’re in love? It’s not that simple, man, and you know it. We’ve all got people we need to protect.”

“Maybe it’s best if we leave then?” Grady said.

“Are we really back to you abandoning us all to clean up your shit?” Wayne asked. “Damn, man. That woman has you fucked in the head.”

Grady charged at Wayne, but Donovan, Ryan, and Bones blocked his path with a wall of solid muscles. Even if Grady wasn’t injured, he’d never be able to take them all on.

“This is bullshit,” he growled, moving away and pacing.

Sebrina walked over to him and rubbed her hands up and down his chest, calming him. He looped an arm around her, tucking her into his body.

“What about the tournament?” Donovan asked me.

“Cancel it,” Grady answered.

“The tournament is still a go,” I said. “All the festivities are a go unless something else happens. We can’t live the job twenty-four seven and expect to stay sane. Most of us need the tournament weekend to regain our sanity. I’m not taking that away from anyone unless it becomes a safety concern.”

“We have a few guys bringing clients,” Wayne said. “What about them? We can’t put clients in danger.”

“Get the files of the clients. You, Donovan, and I will decide together what to do.”

“I’m still a partner!” Grady yelled.

“I don’t give a fuck!” I yelled back.

Donovan walked over, placing his hands on my shoulders and walking me backward away from Grady. “Breathe, little dragon.”

“We have another issue that needs to be settled for security purposes,” Bridget said.

Donovan wrapped an arm around my shoulders while we looked back at Bridget.

She looked about the crowd of men and women. “Donovan, Wayne, Ryan, Jackson, and Bones, we need to talk about whether you’ll be allowed on the other side of the street. Everyone else, stay on this side. Our security team will be closed for visitors.”

“I’m not allowed to cross?” Shipwreck asked.

“Sorry, but no,” Bridget answered. “No offense, but we only met you yesterday.”

“Kelsey trusts me enough to build me a bar.”

Bridget laughed. “That’s just money. She’s got a lot of it to spare.”

Jackson crossed his arms over his chest, glaring between Bridget and me. “Don’t sweat it, Shipwreck. The rest of us are practically family, but we’re on the maybe list?”

“Did you hear Kelsey’s orders?” Donovan asked Jackson.