Cartel B!tch: Almanza Crime Family Duet Page 12

  “Yesnia, help me, you have to help your uncle.”

  Looking around, I saw a key hanging on a wall where I rushed to my uncle and release the chains holding him. He hugged me close like I was his lifeline.

  “Tio, what is going on? Javier Almanza says he’s my father. Mom said it was true. She’s so sad.” I let the words tumble out wishing for answers.

  I didn’t have enough time with my mom because Javier said he had questions of his own for my mother to answer. I wanted my mom, but my uncle was here so maybe he would help.

  I was wrong.

  He laughed in my face as I stood still in fear.

  Before I could ask him anything else, the door behind me opened. Maricio turned me around in his arms, but held me in place with his arm firmly around my belly. From the table beside us, he grabbed a gun and held it to my head.

  I looked in front of me to see my mother and Javier Almanza watching helplessly.

  “What the fuck?” Javi said to Maricio. “I fuckin’ left that shit here. Critical mistake,” Javi muttered to himself more than anyone in the room. “Off my fucking game, dammit.”

  “It’s time to tell Yesnia the truth.” My uncle spoke with his breath coming down on my neck hot.

  My heart rate rose, my chest hurt, and every breath felt like my last.

  “We lied to you so many times, sweet Yesnia.” He told me proudly.

  My body trembled as the fear consumed me. My world was crumbling into ash around me and my uncle seemed to take pleasure in it.

  “Your Abeula didn’t die when your mamá was eight.” I looked to my mom while Uncle Maricio continued. I was trying to read her reaction to sort out if what he said was the truth. “She was actually fifteen. The man you have known as Abeulo was Paco an associate of your father’s and mine. He loved your mother, wanted her for his own. But your mama she only loved your father and you.”

  “Maricio,” my mother pled with her brother. “Please turn her loose. You can have me. I’ll get you out of here safely, but please not Yesnia.”

  “Oh I will get out of here. Yesnia will make sure of that. I told you Mari, I told you she was the key to everything.” He laughed. “I told you from the day your belly grew with her she was the key to it all. How true it is twenty years later. Yesnia is the power of my life and death.”

  Javi stood with his face trained on my uncle but didn’t make a move. He was calculating, assessing. The power that radiated off of him was intimidating.

  “Lift your glasses,” Maricio told Javi to which he complied.

  The scar that ran the length of his face danced like a snake in my mind as Javi continued this battle of wills with my uncle. “I will end you, Maricio.”

  “I know you will.” My uncle said calmly making my fear escalate.

  “Let her go, I will release you from the property. I will give you a two day head start to get underground even. Your death will come eventually Maricio, but if you release her, I will give a chance to escape.”

  “What to find me again?”

  Javi nodded. “You will forever look over your shoulder for me like you have for the last twenty years.” He shrugged. “I am a man of many things, but a liar I am not. I will kill you Maricio. I will kill you for taking Mari from me. I will kill you for the years I lost with my daughter. I will kill you for the trust I gave you and you betrayed. Mark my words, Maricio you will die by my hands. Now release my daughter and I will let you go on like we have for all this time. Harm one hair on her head and I end you now.”

  “Make the call,” Maricio ordered. “Make the call to Aurelio that gets the word out I am untouchable. Make the call. Then Yesnia and I walk away from here.”

  Javi studied me. His single eye glued to my stare like he was making me an unspoken promise. I tried to read him. I tried to have this faith in him that he could save me. Except I didn’t know Javier Almanza. What I did know was my uncle was crazy. And he wouldn’t hesitate to use me until he felt his life was no longer in danger. Javier looked to Maricio next like he was judging.

  “Yesnia, what a beautiful name.” Javi began talking to me ignoring my uncle. If this was going to be my first bonding moment with my father than I was going to absorb it all like a sponge. “I learned as a boy that life came in like taking breathes. Some were short, some were long. Some were light, some were heavy. Today you are my breath. Tomorrow you are my life. I may not know you, but my heart knows you. I may not have had you all this time, but I have been with you. On my word Yesnia, Maricio will pay for what he has done to you and to our familia.”

  Tears ran down my cheeks. My father was a profoundly deep man that I didn’t know but I truly felt.

  He moved to the side clearing a path to the door. He lifted his phone. With a few clipped sentences my uncle was given his demands. The metal of the gun pressed to my temple.

  As we made our way to the door I was stumbling as my mother’s sobs ran through my ears.

  “I love you, Yesnia. My strength, my gypsy, and my heart.” My mother wailed as Javi wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close while his gaze never left me.

  “Te quiero, hija mia.” Javier told me he loved me, his daughter. “Maricio, you may leave freely and not a man or woman here will stop you or bring you harm. Release her.” Javi ordered, but Maricio didn’t comply.

  Slowly, he led me upstairs and out of the house. We made it to a car out front. After opening the door to see keys, he shoved me away from his body.

  The shot was fired. I heard the sound before I felt the fire in my back. I grabbed my abdomen as the pain was so intense. Liquid covered my hands, warm liquid of my blood as it poured out of me.

  My mother screamed, and my father Javier Almanza rushed to me just as I fell to the concrete beneath me.

  “No,” I heard him cry out.

  Every breath hurt. I heard myself making this awful sounds on every inhale.

  My father’s words played in my head.Life came in like taking breathes. Some were short, some were long. Some were light, some were heavy. Today you are my breath. Tomorrow you are my life. I may not know you, but my heart knows you.

  My heart knew him.

  My father was not the enemy. Everything I thought was real was all a lie. Everything I had every been told was a fabrication. Even the people I thought were family were nothing but another pawn in an elaborate game my uncle played against my father.

  My father.

  My heart craved the connection. My mind, my soul wanted more time.

  Each breath became more painful than the last. Everything was a blur and I couldn’t make out the words spoken around me. I fought to stay alert, to stay awake, but the darkness won. It took over and I couldn’t fight it anymore. I laid dying in the driveway with a single realization—my father, Javier Almanza was not the villain here after all.

  Epilogue

  Mari Belle

  The pain in my chest was too much. I was dying inside watching her bleed in front of me. He did this. My brother did this to her, to me, to us. Javier did this to her, to me, to us. I did this to her. My choices snowballed into her fate. For every drop of her blood that fell out covering the concrete I made a vow.

  I was done.

  I had been nothing more than a cartel bitch to my brother, to Javi, to Paco, and to everyone my entire life. From the moment they got tied up with the Silvia Cartel until now, I had been a bitch, a pet drug into a life I didn’t ask for.

  It ended here, now.

  They should all get prepared. I was coming for them, one-by-one, whoever was left standing, it would be my vengeance they felt. I failed my daughter before, even now, but her future would be in my hands no one else’s. I would make them all pay.

  For every single drop of Yesnia’s blood, I would bring down their empires. For every tear I shed, for every second of pain she felt, I would ruin them all.

  I was done being anyone’s bitch.

  They would all learn …

  I was the motherfucking queen
.

  The story concludes in Cartel Queen (Almanza Crime Family Duet 2)

  Click Here to Order!

  You made it to the end!

  I hope you enjoyed Cartel Bitch! I would love to hear what you thought about Cartel Bitch. If you have a few moments to leave a review, I’d be very grateful. The conclusion to Javi and Mari’s story will be coming very soon. Don’t want to miss a single release or update to my schedule, sign up for my newsletter here! I promise I won’t spam you. I send out a monthly update on my release schedule and a quarterly Steals and Deals email full of bargain books waiting to fill your library.

  If you loved this dark underworld be sure to check out the Power Chain series for more Anti-hero books. Did you wonder about Rowdy, Trapper, and the Devil’s Due MC? Well, pick up the series today for your next binge read.

  About the Author

  USA Today bestselling author Chelsea Camaron is a small town Carolina girl with a big imagination. She’s a wife and mom, chasing her dreams. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and romance thrillers. She loves to write about blue-collar men who have real problems with a fictional twist. From mechanics, bikers, oil riggers, smokejumpers, bar owners, and beyond she loves a strong hero who works hard and plays harder.

  Chelsea can be found on social media at:

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorchelseacamaron

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  Other works by Chelsea Camaron

  Love and Repair Series:

  Crash and Burn

  Restore My Heart

  Salvaged

  Full Throttle

  Beyond Repair

  Stalled

  Box Set Available

  Hellions Ride Series:

  One Ride

  Forever Ride

  Merciless Ride

  Eternal Ride

  Innocent Ride

  Simple Ride

  Heated Ride

  Ride with Me (Hellions MC and Ravage MC Duel with Ryan Michele)

  Originals Ride

  Final Ride

  Roughneck Series:

  Maverick

  Heath

  Lance

  Wendol

  Reese

  Box Set Available

  Devil’s Due MC Series:

  Serving My Soldier

  Crossover

  In The Red

  Below The Line

  Close The Tab

  Day Of Reckoning

  Paid In Full

  Bottom Line

  Almanza Crime Family Duet

  Cartel Bitch

  Cartel Queen

  Romantic Thriller Series:

  Stay

  Seeking Solace: Angelina’s Restoration

  Claiming Retribution: Fallyn’s Revenge

  Stand Alone Reads:

  Romance – Moments In Time Anthology

  Mother Trucker

  Panty Snatcher

  Beer Goggles Anthology

  Santa, Bring Me a Biker!

  The following series are co-written

  The Fire Inside Series:

  (co-written by Theresa Marguerite Hewitt)

  Kale

  Regulators MC Series:

  (co-written by Jessie Lane)

  Ice

  Hammer

  Coal

  Summer of Sin Series:

  (co-written with Ripp Baker, Daryl Banner, Angelica Chase, MJ Fields, MX King)

  Original Sin

  Caldwell Brothers Series:

  (co-written by USA Today Bestselling Author MJ Fields)

  Hendrix

  Morrison

  Jagger

  Stand Alone Romance:

  (co-written with USA Today Bestselling Author MJ Fields)

  Visibly Broken

  Use Me

  Ruthless Rebels MC Series:

  (co-written with Ryan Michele)

  Shamed

  Scorned

  Scarred

  Schooled

  Box Set Available

  Power Chain Series:

  (co-written with Ryan Michele)

  Power Chain FREE ebook

  PowerHouse

  Power Player

  Powerless

  OverPowered

  Power Chain Book One

  Written By

  Chelsea Camaron

  And

  Ryan Michele

  Copyright © Chelsea Camaron & Ryan Michele 2018

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of Chelsea Camaron and Ryan Michele, except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976.

  This is a work of fiction. All character, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  1st edition published: Feb 20, 2018

  Editing by:

  Asli Fratarcangeli and Silla Webb

  Cover Design by: Cassy Roop of Pink Ink Designs

  Cover Picture: Jake Wilson taken by Golden Czermak of Furious Fotog

  Thank you for purchasing this book. This book and its contents are the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied, and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes.

  This book contains mature content not suitable for those under the age of 18. Content involves strong language, violence, and sexual situations. All parties portrayed in sexual situations are over the age of 18. All characters are a work of fiction.

  This book is not meant to be an exact depiction of life in an underworld crime organization, but rather a work of fiction meant to entertain.

  *** Warning: This book contains graphic situations that may be a trigger for some readers. Please understand this is a work of fiction and not meant to offend or misrepresent any situations. There is quite a bit of violence, so if that’s not what you’re looking for, then please don’t read. ***

  If this was the diary of a mad man, my road to Hell would be a dark and twisted one.

  I am Onyx Blake.

  I lived my life by a code with no loyalties and no fucks to give about anyone but myself and my business.

  Welcome to the depths of power…

  Power Chain Series

  Authors Chelsea Camaron and Ryan Michele team up to push beyond the boundaries, crossing a line into a deep, dangerous, and forbidden world. One where no one escapes, even if they beg to.

  This is the Power Chain Series—a series of interconnected stand-alone romances.

  Power House (Power Chain Book One)

  No one denies me. Especially her.

  She dismissed me.

  That was her first mistake.

  She thought I was a nice guy.

  That was her second.

  She had hope.

  That was the final straw.

  I am Onyx Blake.

  I’m a powerhouse in an ugly underworld only found in her nightmares.

  She’s going to learn quickly, I’m not the man to let anything go…

  Including her.

  Chapter One

  Onyx

  Absently, I flipped the zippo lighter in my fingers, open and shut, open and shut…waiting, listening to the sound of the click each time. I fucking hated waiting.

  I looked at my shiny silver watch seeing each second tick by. Eighteen-oh-three. Jacob was three minutes late. Three minutes of my time wasted. One hundred and eighty seconds passed without my employee here.

  Timeliness was a particular thing for me. An associate being late was
an agitation I didn’t need. It showed their lack of respect for me, and that wouldn’t be tolerated under any circumstances. I ran the show. They were on my schedule, not the other way around.

  The quiet, dimly lit restaurant being closed for the night was the perfect meeting place, no interruptions and no prying eyes. The smells of tomato sauce and garlic filtered through the air, embedded in the walls from years of use. This family-owned place, not mine of course, knew the need for discretion in my business. As for family, mine didn’t exist; at least by any blood relation that I claimed.

  Standing, I slid the lighter into my pocket and made my way to the front door just as Jacob found his way inside, the door jingling from the small bell up above. With his face flushed and a look of fear, a feeling that he should have for being behind schedule, as he waltzed in, trying to hide his emotions, only pissing me off more. Late didn’t register to me—no matter who it was—ever. Everyone around me understood and accepted—I was in power, in control, the king to my disciples. Don’t disappoint me, don’t make me wait, and damn sure don’t piss me the fuck off—everyone knew, including Jacob Cole. It’s the first matter we discussed when someone came to work for me and they signed it in blood—their blood.

  Jacob stood in front of me, but I didn’t look at him. Instead, I gazed just beyond him as if he didn’t exist, because to me he didn’t—not anymore. He had his chance to have my attention, to do his job. There were no second chances. There were no ‘get out of jail free’ cards in the game of life we lived. One time was all it took, and he decided today was his day. This shit was done. He was done.

  “Bossman, I’m sorry, I was negotiating,” he muttered, and the words assaulted my ears like needles poking into the center of my eardrums, making them bleed.