Stolen Dove: Stolen Hearts Series by Blake, Carina (novels in english .txt) 📗

pull out my gun, slide it back to empty the chamber, and unload the magazine to check it before reloading the fucker. “Do you know how many are still loyal to him?”

He shakes his head lightly in frustration. “Not many. The unrest is growing. After Benito’s death and lack of retribution, the men aren’t happy.”

Right before I finished school, my father had them moving a shipment of stolen metal out of the Sicilians’ personal cargo freighter. They were caught and bullets went flying, killing one of the family’s longest, most loyal employees. No retaliation, no vindication, and then he played it off as Benito doing the heist on his own, disavowing all connection to it and essentially apologizing to the fuckers, which is why they didn’t hesitate to steal our shit. His cowardice will make it easier for me to gain the loyalty and trust of my father’s men.

“Understood.” Tucking my gun under my suit jacket, I straighten my shoulders and say, “Vámonos.”

We leave my office inside the winery, exiting the opposite direction of the restaurant area to my vehicle in the back. He clicks the unlock button and hits the remote start, causing the explosives inside it to detonate.

I don’t know what comes first, but the impact of the explosion sends us flying back on our asses. A crowd of employees getting started for the day forms. I stand up, a little shaken but a hell of a lot pissed the fuck off. “Cameras, horita!” I bark as I help Fernando to his feet. He’s got a cut on his face from a shard of glass or shrapnel. “Medicos,” I add. I can’t have my man down like that. “Take a seat. We’ll get you some help. Then we’re going to put bullets in their heads.”

He nods, but I’m not sure he’s all there. He’d been two feet in front of me and had felt the full impact, shielding me.

Two minutes later, the manager of my winery comes with the hidden surveillance cameras. We watch the footage in the security of my office to see it’s my half brother Julio’s buddy, who works for my father. “He’s a dead man. Pull all his calls. I want them yesterday. All hush. We don’t know who’s the traitor, or if he came from my father or my stepbrother.” Julio has been looking to replace me since the day he was born. I fucked up his plans by coming home. With me out of the way, he’ll think that he takes over. He’s the stupidest motherfucker because I’m deadlier than any of my father’s men, and blood means shit to me. I owe no one my fealty, especially my father’s leftovers.

A waitress, Marisol, brings out the first-aid case and works on Fernando’s face, gently cleansing it. “Basta. I’m fine.” He brushes her hand away and then stands. “I’m going with you. I want answers.”

I don’t argue because I’d demand the same. This won’t go unanswered. Retaliation will be had. My head’s still fucking spinning as we attempt to make ourselves presentable. I check my weapon, and so does Fernando. We’re ready to take heads.

After checking security footage for the front of the restaurant, we head out to our other vehicle, starting it and jumping in. We barely pull out of the lot when my phone rings, and it’s Hector. “Que te paso?” I answer without hesitation for him. He should be up getting ready for his last week at school.

“Mama. She’s in the hospital. There was an accident,” he blurts out, voice cracking.

“I’m on my way. How is she?”

“She’s in surgery.”

“Accident, my ass. There’s a lot of shit about to go down after today.”

“I’m with you.”

“No. You’re going to finish school and go off to college,” I ordered. He might refuse me as his brother, but not as jefe.

“Enough with that bullshit.”

“We’ll talk about that later. I’m on my way. I need someone to look at Fernando too. Someone we trust. Sabes?” I look at Fernando who rolls his eyes, thinking that he doesn’t need medical attention.

“Si.” I end the call and speed like the devil is on my shoulder. I know he’s not just on my shoulder but embedded in my soul, and the war is just getting started.

“I don’t need a doctor,” he insists, and yet I’m the one driving because he’s not sturdy enough.

“I need my best man one hundred, sabes?”

He grumbles but relents. Not like he had a fucking choice anyway.

The second I arrive at the hospital, Hector’s there with Marcelino, waiting for us.

“Park it,” I tell Marcelino.

He nods and looks at Fernando. “War’s brewing, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Bueno.”

He pulls away to the parking spots, and I hook my arm around my brother’s shoulder. “Lead me to her.”

“She’s still in surgery, but they say she’ll make it.”

“She better, or more heads will roll.”

“Is this the man we’re supposed to look at?” A petite nurse comes up to us, cocking her brow up at Fernando with more attitude than she should have for her size. Then again, the little ones are the most feisty.

“Si, por favor.”

She nods and says, “Follow me.” Fernando wags his brows, eyeing her round ass. All of a sudden, he wants to be seen.

“Have you called our father?” I ask Hector while watching Fernando until he disappears out of view. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about there. Fernando can handle himself, or at least I hope so.

“Yes, but he didn’t seem concerned.”

I nod, looking around the room for trouble before saying, “Fuck him. He ain’t gonna be shit soon.”

“About time.” The smirk on his face says it all. My brother has been waiting for me to return and take over—just like many of these guys.

Marcelino comes in and says, “So what’s the plan? What do you need from me?”

“Loyalty.”

“Without a doubt.”

“Even if it means cleaning house?”

“Whatever it takes to keep from ending up like Benito.” We shake hands.

Hector turns his attention to the hallway, gaining my attention as well to approaching medical