Chapter 14

EPOV

I dropped down onto the bench in the same dimly lit park as a few weeks ago and waited.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the Glock in my waistband as a reminder of what I was getting myself into. It also reminded me of who I had at home sleeping restlessly, waiting for me to come back in one piece. She gave me the desire to get up and face each day, so there was no way I'd let her down.

I heard his footsteps as he approached and tensed for a moment as I felt the barrel of his gun placed against the side of my neck. It was almost as if he'd been expecting me to be here waiting.

However, I knew there wasn't really a threat. Demetri was good at scoping out people, finding them, and bringing them back to Marcos, but he never did the dirty work himself.

"Put it away, hijueputa," I growled, grasping for my own gun. "I need to talk to you."

He lowered his gun slowly. "Talk? The fuck you think I'm gonna talk to you for, Cullen?"

"Because we got a common goal. We both wanna take out the fuckin' Kings."

He barked out a humorless laugh. "I see you spoke to McCarty. But, no, there ain't gonna be no talkin'. I got no reason to believe your ass ain't sittin' here wired because your girl's daddy asked you to."

I stood up quickly, catching him off guard as I whipped out my gun, pressing it to his temple. My voice was low as I spoke. "You think they're gonna wire me and let me have a Glock? Huh? You think those fuckin' sapos are just going to sit back and watch me kill you? I mean, if I was one, I would. But you know that's not how it fuckin' works. ¿Hablás o te vuelo los sesos?"

He took a risk, shoving me backward. "I don't fuckin' speak Spanish."

"Even better reason for you to take me to Marcos then, don't you think?" I snarled.

"Whatever. You fuck us over and it'll be that pretty head of yours next to your girl, and your body floatin' somewhere in the sound. Comprende?" he mocked.

I rolled my eyes. "Sí, entiendo.Where can we talk?"

"You know that pool hall over on Madison? Be there in a half hour." With that, he walked away.

—

I pulled out a cigarette, lighting it as I waited for Demetri outside the pool hall. I glanced around, taking in the barely dressed women walking along the sidewalk. Some stumbled as they held onto the arms of a guy, most likely their pimp. The thoughts of how I used to hang around these places almost every night ran through my mind. I felt like that was a different person.

Suddenly, something clicked, and I realized I wanted nothing to do with this life after this was all said and done. Bella deserved better. She deserved a stable life with babies and a husband, and like fuck was I going to let anyone else but me give her those things.

I was more determined than ever before to find the motherfucker who started all this shit. I had better things to do with my time.

"Yo! Come on!" Demetri called, pulling me from my thoughts. He gestured for me to follow him and we walked behind the building and through a heavy metal door.

Just as I expected, the room was filled with smoke and the stench of pot filled the air. My gaze wandered the room, landing on a table in the back where Marcos, Aro, and Caius sat. Demetri let out a loud whistle, and suddenly all eyes were on us.

Marcos stood from his seat, striding over to where I was. "Would you look at that? You finally found me." He smirked.

"Fuck you, just tell me what you know so I can get outta here," I demanded.

"Yeah, I bet you're dying to get back to that pretty little puta of yours. Anything could happen to her while you're not there, you know." His grin was sinister.

I reached for my gun, but he raised his hand, stopping me before I could pull it out. "She's fine for now, right where you left her in your bed. Pull that gun out, though, no te haré promesas."

"Just fucking talk!" I yelled.

"No need to get so upset. Ven conmigo, we'll talk over here." He led me through another door into a room that was empty aside from a few tables and chairs. He gestured for me to sit.

"No thanks, I'm find standing."

"Suit yourself. Ask your questions."

"Why lead me to believe it was you who killed my father?"

He shrugged. "With me out of the picture, this whole gang would fall to pieces. I call the shots. They'd have everything. The run of every drug cartel, all the girls, everything."

"Then why not just take you out and let me think it was done?"

His chuckle was dark. "Oh, they would have tried to eventually, but they're sloppy. I imagine it was just more fun to lead you on."

"Who killed Rosalie and my father?"

"¡Muchas preguntas! What am I getting in return for all this?"

"A bunch of dead motherfuckers not standing in your way any longer."

He tilted his head to the side, eyeing me carefully. "Valid point. Rosalie's death is a tricky one. To be honest with you, I don't know who killed her. Your father, though? Royce King himself put out that hit. Your father knew too much, I imagine."

"He knew one fucking word!" I shouted.

"Like I said, he knew too much."

"How do you know all of this? How do I trust your fuckin' word?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I've got eyes and ears everywhere. Even in that gang of yours. As for my word? I don't really fucking care if you trust me or not."

"Who's the chismoso in the Kings?"

He tapped his finger on his temple. "I'm much smarter than that. Now get the fuck out of here."

I wasn't about to press my luck with him, not when I had someone to worry about aside from myself. I had no clue if he really had Bella being watched or not, but I wouldn't put it past the sick fuck. I hadn't gotten nearly as much information as I wanted, but it was more than I'd had a few weeks ago.

—

"I'm back, mami," I whispered in her ear as I shed my clothes and climbed into bed beside her.

She startled, jumping up from her sleep. "Oh, thank God," she said, slumping in relief. "Did you find anything out?" Her voice was still thick with sleep.

I pulled her against me, wrapping my arms around her. "Yeah. We'll talk in the morning. Sleep, mamita." I kissed the top of her head, breathing in her scent before letting my eyes close.

—

Spanish:

Hablás o te vuelo los sesos - Talk or I blow your brains out

Comprende - Understand

Entiendo - I understand

Puta - Bitch

No te haré promesas - I will not make promises

Ven conmigo - Come with me

Muchas preguntas - Many questions

Chismoso - Snitch