“Where’s Ana Maria?”
“She had work to do, so I offered to sit with the boy.”
“I thought you were going with Juan.”
“You shouldn’t think. It’ll tax your brain.”
Bitch. “Well, I’m here now, so you can go.” Mercedes sat down next to Mateo who was watching the two women like a tennis match.
“Watch yourself, Mercedes. You wouldn’t like me when I’m mad.”
“I don’t like you anyway,” Mercedes said before she could catch herself. Antonia’s grin was feral.
“Feeling’s mutual, Perra.” With that, the woman casually strolled to the door. When she opened it, she turned back to Mateo. “Remember what I said.”
“What did she say?” Mercedes asked her son when the woman closed the door.
Mateo’s eyes watered. “Que ya no debo hablar ingles.”
“Why aren’t you supposed to speak English, Mijo? And tell me in English.”
“Because it makes Papá mad.”
Mercedes pulled her son onto her lap and hugged him close. “Oh, Mijo. Your papá adores you. Has he told you not to speak English?” Mateo shook his head. “Then don’t worry about it until he tells you otherwise, okay?”
Mercedes didn’t know how, but one day, she was going to kill that bitch.
Chapter Three
Hayden
Hayden took a couple steps back from the bike and smiled. It was the best work he’d ever done, and that was saying something. It wasn’t conceit to make him feel that way. The awards he had stashed around the shop and his home were proof he was one of the best in the country. But damn.
“Holy shit.”
Hayden turned toward Ryker who had walked into the shop with Spyder behind him. Ryker circled the bike, and Spyder squatted to get a better look at the paint job.
“I second the sentiment, Havyk. This is unbelievable.” Spyder stood and held out his hand for a knuckle bump. “It’s amazing.”
“I’m proud of you, Havyk. If this wasn’t a personal job, I’d tell you to enter it in the East Coast show coming up. You’d definitely win top prize.” Ryker squeezed Hayden’s shoulder, smiling. It was odd seeing his oldest brother without a scowl on his face and more open with his affection.
“Thank you. I don’t think the owner is going to ride it, but even if he does, he could enter it himself in the Southwest show. He’d get the win, but my name would be listed as designer. It’d be a win-win.” Hayden walked over to the small refrigerator and grabbed a beer. He deserved it after spending all day working. “Beer?” he asked, holding the bottle out.
Both Hounds took one, and Ryker held his out. “Cheers to the best bike builder in the world.” Hayden and Spyder clanked their bottles to Ryker’s and chugged.
“What brings you two by?” Hayden tossed his empty in the recycle bin before snagging another full bottle.
“Quinn sent a job over, and I wanted to talk to you about it. It’s a big hit, down in Mexico, just across the border. I figured since you’re going to be down there anyway when you deliver the bike, you might want to take it. But, like I said, it’s a big one, and it’s going to be a two-man job. That’s why Spyder’s here.”
“So, Spyder’s taking lead and I’m backup?”
“No. If you agree, this will be yours, and he’ll be providing support.”
“You think I’m ready for something of this caliber?”
“Don’t you?” Ryker tossed his bottle in the bin, then crossed his arms over his muscled chest.
“I don’t even know what the job is, but yeah, I’m ready.” Hayden wasn’t joking. He had been on enough solos he felt he was ready for something on a larger scale. Especially if Spyder would be there to guide him. That was the nice thing about working with other Hounds. There was no ego involved. No one-upmanship. Spyder would take a secondary role, and he would follow Hayden’s lead. If Hayden needed advice, he would ask. He wasn’t too cocky to think he had everything figured out when it came to their mercenary work.
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” Ryker pulled a set of papers out of his back pocket and handed them over. “Spyder’s already looked over the contract, so I’ll leave the two of you alone to hash out a plan. I know you’re planning on visiting the girls while you’re in Texas, and I think you should still do so. It’ll make a good cover for the two of you being in the area.”
“Thanks, Ryot. I won’t let you down.”
Ryker gave Hayden a side hug. “I know you won’t.” Ryker bumped Spyder’s knuckles as he strode out of the garage.
Hayden looked over the contract, his heart speeding up the more he read. Fuck, this wasn’t big – it was fucking huge. For a split second, Hayden wondered if he could pull it off, even with Spyder’s help.
We’ve got this.
Yeah, we do.
His Gryphon was always there, ready to give him a boost when he doubted himself, which wasn’t often.
The rumble of a couple bikes had Hayden looking toward the parking lot of the clubhouse. Mayhem and War pulled in and parked. Two little helmets bobbed and weaved as they climbed from their sidecar attached to Maveryck’s bike. Marshall waited for his dad, but Major took off running toward Hayden and Spyder.
“Hey, Hay.” Major was furiously working the strap of his helmet while trying to navigate around Hayden’s toolbox. Spyder was there to intercept the boy so he didn’t hurt himself.
Hayden tried not to laugh at his nephew, but the kid was so fucking cute. “Hey, Little Dude. What’s shaking?”
“My dang head. Get this thing off me,” Major grumbled. Hayden and Spyder burst out laughing, and Spyder unhooked the chin strap. Major jerked the helmet off his head and shook his blond hair. “Thanks, Spiderman.”
“You’re welcome, Major Tom.”
“My name’s not Tom.”
“And my name’s not man.” Spyder ruffled Major’s hair earning a big grin. Spyder had taken a liking to the twins when they all went camping, and Major was smitten with Spyder and his long hair. The oldest twin was letting his hair grow out instead of keeping it short like Marshall’s.
Marshall walked up to Hayden and held out his little fist for a bump. “‘Sup, other Little Dude?”
“Daddo said you’re leaving. We came to say bye.” Marshall was just as cute as his brother, but he was definitely more laidback.
“And we wanted to see the finished bike before you hauled it off to Texas.” Maveryck walked up with War, his own twin, in tow.
“Where’re your mates?” Hayden rarely saw his brothers without Kerrigan and Natalia.
War crouched beside the tribute bike, studying the artwork. “We dropped them off at Ryker’s. They’re hanging out with Rhi and Mac today.”
“What’s Eli doing with a house full of females?” Hayden asked. Elijah, McKenzie’s boyfriend, was still getting used to life outside the cult he was rescued from.
“He rode with Pop to talk to a couple boys who were rescued from The Sanctuary. The brothers are having a tough time being on the outside, and Sutton thought Eli could help them.” Maveryck leaned against a toolbox with Marshall tucked against his side. “When are you headed out?”