Hell on Wheels (Four Horsemen MC Book 6) (26 page)

What the fuck drug dealers did with exotic pets, Axel didn’t want to know, but he kept imagining them being fed a steady diet of human arms.

Don’t go there.

Sweat broke out on the back of his neck, and he swiped it away with a handkerchief. The main house came into view and it had an Eastern feel to it. Axel couldn’t swear to it, but he’d say the mansion had been hand-carved out of teak wood. As they approached, he could make out more detail. Little flourishes had been engraved into the wooden eaves, like lotus flowers and elephants. Even some gods and goddesses. Axel didn’t know much about Hinduism, but it seemed to be a peaceable religion, focused on not harming others.

Why would a drug kingpin act like a yoga-loving pacifist?

They pulled up in front of the main house and more gun-toting thugs greeted them, pulling them out of the van and pressing them flat against the vehicle. They all got patted down. Axel didn’t get a chance to go for the glove compartment pistol before they were ushered inside at gunpoint. They entered a living room with an enormous Buddha statue in the center. The guards stood at both doorways, their guns raised and ready to fire, if need be.

Axel examined the room to distract himself. He wished this was all over with and he was headed back to Hell. The mural on the walls depicted elephants and what Axel assumed were gods and goddesses in bright colors, just like the outside. Several red and orange chaise lounges filled the room. A coffee table held burning candles, as well as a cast-iron pot filled with burning incense.

A long table set against one wall was stacked with cash in several rows. All in one hundred dollar bills, from what Axel could see. It was a guess, but he bet there was a cool million sitting out there in the open.

Like it was nothing.

A woman spoke in Spanish, and they all turned to her as she entered the room.  
What do you know? It’s the wicked witch.

She sat down on a chaise and smiled at them. Beauregard had called her
Bruja
, and it seemed like a fitting nickname.  Bruja was beautiful with long, dark brown hair, bronzed skin, big breasts, and a small waist. Axel thought she looked more like a model than the head of a cartel.

But her beauty left him cold. She wore a pair of jeans and a blouse, with a pair of heels. Casual, but still dressy. Clearly, she didn’t pretend to be a businesswoman, like Beauregard. She pointed to the chaises and said something in Spanish. But Axel understood what she wanted anyway.

“Welcome to my home. Sit, gentlemen,” Coyote translated.

They sat.

Axel didn’t tell her his name and didn’t ask for her real name in return. The less he knew about her, the better.

 Again, she spoke in Spanish and Coyote translated for her. “You are friends of Mr. Beauregard?”

Axel wouldn’t put it that way, but he nodded. “We’re here for the shipment. If it’s all the same, we’d like to pick it up and go.” He wanted to get the fuck on out of this hellhole.

“It is being loaded into your vehicle as we speak,” Coyote translated for her. “The guards found your hidden panels and we’re placing the product in the floorboards, so there is no hurry. We have this time to talk. Besides, I would not be so eager to reach the border, if I were you. Crossing it can be…problematic.”

“Tell her to fuck off, Coyote,” Steele muttered. “We’ll wait outside and play with a one of her pet tigers. It’d be more relaxing company.”

“You should watch your mouth,” the woman said in perfect English.

Oh…fuck.

 Axel hadn’t been expecting that. “I apologize for my brother. We’ve had a long trip,” he said quickly, hoping he could head off any trouble.

Her smile was nasty. “Of course I speak English, since the United States is my best market. It pays to know the language.” She nodded to Coyote. “But I must say your Spanish is very good.”

Coyote gave her a dead-eyed stare. “Thanks.”

Then she turned to Steele. “And if I were you, I’d watch my mouth in the future, gringo.”

Axel tensed.

Steele was smart enough to keep his trap shot and bob his head in agreement.

“I will accept your apology now.” She stood up and held out her hand to him, like a queen addressing a subject.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” Steele said taking her hand in a courtly gesture.

“You are forgiven,” she said.

Axel blew out a breath.

She paced as she spoke. “You are new to this business. I can tell. The drug wars in Mexico are actual wars. Fought with guns and bullets. And blood. And I own the crops, the mountain, the village, the villagers, and about a quarter of Mexico. Give me time, and I’ll drive all of my competition out of business.” She pinned Axel with her gaze. “Underestimating me can be fatal, boys.”

“I can see that, ma’am,” Axel said. He knew she’d be scary, but he hadn’t counted on her being a psycho.

“My ex is living proof of that,” she said, and then laughed. “Well, maybe not
living
, but proof nonetheless.”

Axel couldn’t help but gape at her. Call him sexist, but he never expected such ruthlessness from a woman.

Bruja addressed Axel. “We were used to dealing with the Raptors. Why have you taken over these duties?”

“I think you should take that up with Beauregard.” A surefire way to get caught in the crossfire was to talk shit about one asshole to another. He’d let the two crime bosses duke it out themselves.

 “But I’m asking you.”

“And I’m politely telling you that I can’t answer the question,” Axel said with as much diplomacy as he could. He didn’t want to end up in a pile of bodies.

“Do you know what the villagers call me?” she asked, leaning forward to hold a hand over the burning cast iron on the coffee table.

Axel wasn’t going to bring up her unflattering nickname. “Not a fucking clue. Do you think your men are done loading?” he asked. “I’m anxious to get your shipment to Dallas.”

She ignored his question. “Bruja. They say I’m a witch. That I have supernatural powers. Do you think I could put a spell on you?” she asked.

The only power she wielded was fear. “I don’t believe in magic, ma’am.”

Her lips curved, showing some teeth. “Neither do I, but I do believe in information. It’s the cornerstone of my business. If I’m in the know, I can predict difficulties. You won’t be taking the shipment until I get a few answers.”

And if they didn’t take the delivery home, they’d have the mafia crawling up their asses. Axel thought it through, trying to come up with the most tactful statement he could find. “Beauregard chose to end his association with the Raptors. He’s working with us instead.”

“Why?”

It took all of Axel’s patience not to be flippant. “He felt we were better suited to a partnership.”

She frowned. “I don’t see why. I’ve done my homework on you. The Horsemen haven’t moved drugs for a very long time. How do I know you won’t lose my product at the border?”

Product she’d called it. Like they were hauling coffee or chocolate. “Because we aren’t fools,” Axel said. “And we’d be the ones doin’ time if we did.”

“You wouldn’t sell me out to the authorities to lessen your sentences?”

“We don’t rat,” Axel said. “Ever. Horsemen shut our mouths, keep our heads down, and do our time.”

 “Do you know what happens to people who cost me money?” Bruja approached him slowly, until she stood over him.

Steele tensed beside him. Justice got to his feet but Axel held a hand up, hoping they wouldn’t start any shit.

 “Yeah, I have a good idea,” he said, thinking back to the Jenga-ed pile of torsos.

“I don’t think you do. My ex, Mateo, and I were engaged. Did you know that? Childhood sweethearts. I was supposed to marry him next spring. I was going to be his queen.”

What kind of coldblooded bastard would marry her? Axel couldn’t comprehend it.

 “And then, after an unfortunate incident,” she said with a sneer, “he started to change.” She glanced around the room. “He found this religion, started questioning this life. Mateo wanted to give it all up.”

“And you didn’t like that decision.”

Bruja laughed. “I did not. And it was the last one he ever made.” She brought one sharp fingernail to Axel’s throat, idly scraping it along the length of his neck. “One night, he went to bed after having too much to drink. And I waited until he fell asleep,” she said. “And I slit open his throat with a knife.” She locked eyes with Axel. “He choked on his own blood. I loved Mateo.”

Axel didn’t move. “What’s the moral of this story?” She was fucking cold as ice. Bruja had just confessed to murder in front of several witnesses. She must feel like she’s untouchable. She was probably right.

“If I’m willing to kill the man I love for this business, what do you think I’d do to you if you disappointed me?”

“Point taken,” Axel said smoothly. “We’ll get the…shipment…over the border.”

“Why should I believe you?” she asked.

“I gave you my word.” And to Axel and the rest of the Horsemen, that actually meant something.

Bruja laughed. “I see. We’re making a handshake deal, then?” She still stood over him, uncomfortably close.

“Something like that.” Out of the corner of his eye, Axel watched as Justice paced the room like one caged tigers outside. The guards watched his every move, but said nothing.

Bruja held out her hand to Axel, as though she wanted to shake on it.  

Axel hesitated for a moment before he took it. He didn’t want to touch her.  He felt like he needed a shower from just being in the same room with her, she was so fucking evil. And she was infecting him and the club, too.

They shook hands and then she gripped his tightly, nails breaking the skin. “I know who your mother, Eddie, is. And your brother and his fiancée. Congratulate them tomorrow for me. I know all about your little shop, Seventh Circle. And the pretty little thing who works for you, Dani. Lose my drugs and I’ll kill your family. I’ll kill your friend. Everyone you know. And only then will I kill you.”

Holy fuck. An image of Charlie flashed in his mind.

Coyote warned him this might happen. The cartel either had spies or they’d dug up dirt with Beauregard. Either way, this hit close to home. Part of him wanted to dump the heroin in the nearest river, or turn it over anonymously to the local police. But neither of those would work. He had to deliver the drugs to Cotton Krug as planned.

“Understood,” he said.

“Good,” Bruja said, dropping his hand. “We have an agreement then. I have a border agent who works for me. He can help you, provided you don’t attract any unwanted attention to yourselves.”

“And who’s that?” Axel asked.

“He’ll approach you,” Bruja said. “I’ve made him aware of the shipment.”

Axel stood up, ready to get on his way, when she stepped in his path.

“And there’s one more matter before you go. Beauregard informed me you won’t be taking a cut of the heroin to sell. Why?”

Fuck. Another awkward-as-fuck question to answer. “I’m sure you make a fine…product. But the club doesn’t sell drugs other than weed.”

She cocked her head to the side. “Why?”

“It’s not one of the ways we earn.” Circular logic, but he hoped she’d give it up.

Her nostrils flared. “If I hadn’t already promised this delivery to Mr. Krug, I’d send you home. I need distributors in Texas. We’ll revisit this issue next time you come.”

Coyote, Justice, and Steele stared at her.  “What do you mean, next time?” Axel asked.

“We have a partnership,” she said pleasantly. “The Raptors couriered for me once a month or so, and you’ll do the same.” She motioned to her guards. “Now, let’s get you on your way.”

***

The brothers drove back to the border in tense silence.

Axel had been laboring under the delusion that this was a one-time deal. But now, he’d be placing his men in danger on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, he couldn’t dwell on that right now.

They had to get across the border first. He’d built the truck to spec. The hidden compartments didn’t stand out. He hoped they’d sail over the border and get home in no time.Then they just had to chuck the drugs in the warehouse he’d rented with a dummy LLC, break them up into smaller amounts and take them to Dallas. After he went to Ryker’s wedding, of course.

No problem.

When they finally reached the station, there were several lanes of traffic on either side of the border for miles. None of the vehicles were moving. Up ahead, Axel could see flashing lights.

Some people had already gotten out of their vehicles and stood on the side of the road. A few family types with coolers and little children. Some business men and women. They must work in one country and commute to the other.

“Dammit. I want this over. We’re gonna be here forever,” Coyote said, slamming a hand against the steering well.

Axel undid his seatbelt and opened the door. “Me, too, but…surprise, we’re gonna have to do this the hard way. We’d better blend in, brothers.” The trick to this thing was to appear normal. They couldn’t give the agents any reason to suspect they were up to something.

 An hour later, they still leaned against the moving van. They hadn’t even traveled an inch further down their row.  In front of their van were a couple of old folks in a sedan. Axel approached the passenger window and the woman nodded to him.

 “What’s the hold-up?” he said, jerking a thumb at the commotion ahead. Axel hoped he came off as annoyed rather than alarmed.

“Looks like random searches to me,” the old man replied. He pointed to a brown smudge in the distance. “I think those are drug-sniffing dogs up ahead.”

Oh, fuck
.

And they couldn’t back out now, double-back and call Ace for an airlift. A couple dozen cars blocked them in from behind, and if they tried to go, they’d raise suspicion anyway. The agents would radio for air support to track them down.

 But the longer they sat there, the greater the chances were of being caught. It might be easy to get past a stupid or lazy agent, but the dogs could smell the heroin. All it would take was one good sniff, and they’d spent the rest of their very short lives in jail.