Free Consume: A Standalone Romance by Lauren Hunt Page A

supplier.”
     
    “That's very generous,” Miguel replied. “But don't worry, we found one on our own across the border.”
     
    So that's why they've been so friendly at the meeting . They don't need us anymore either. This meet could have gone in a whole different direction.
     
    “Good to hear.” Jasper smiled.
     
    I noticed one of the Mexicans in the back staring me down. His eyes burned through me like fire. I returned his stare. “You got a problem with me?” I yelled over.
     
    Hammer looked at me with wide eyes, slowly shaking his head to warn me to stop.
     
    The Mexican in the back walked through the row of his brothers. His head was shaved and tattoos covered his face and neck. He was built like a prized fighter. But I could take him. I stepped off my bike and approached him in the center.
     
    Jasper put his hand on my chest. “We're done here, Axe. Let it go.”
     
    His words meant nothing to me. All I could think about was pounding this guy into the ground. I was going to make him pay for endangering Winter.
     
    Nobody hurts my girl.
     
    “Let them fight, Jasper,” Miguel said. “It'll be good for them to get some of this aggression out.”
     
    Jasper let me go and I walked to within an inch of the Mexican. I gazed right into his eyes, imagining every way I was going to hurt him. He swung first, but I was quicker—my left forearm blocked his punch. I put all the power in my right fist as I pummeled his stomach. His abs were tough as nails but he bent over and groaned. I laughed at him and he reciprocated with an uppercut to my jaw. My head snapped back and I collapsed to the ground.
     
    Everything was blurry and in an instant, the Mexican was on top of me punching me over and over again. The taste of iron hit my tongue and I spit out a quart of blood. The image of Winter flashed before my eyes and brought me back to my senses. I flung the Mexican off me and stood up. I put my hands up for defense and began jabbing left and right. I ducked and weaved through his punches, connecting a right hook to his face.
     
    The Mexican staggered backwards, blood running down from his broken nose. I ran forward and shoved my clenched fist right into his skull. The Mexican collapsed to the ground like a bag of bones. The Dark Steel members cheered and even some of the Los Diablos.
     
    My feet could barely hold me up. Zane came to my side and put my arm around his shoulder as he walked me to my bike. Miguel was right—I did feel a lot better.

Chapter Fifteen
     
Katherine

This job was my life. I had no boyfriend, family, or friends. I spent every waking moment focusing on the task at hand. That's how I liked to live—that's how I got through each day without wanting to kill myself.
     
    “We brought him in Agent Swift,” Malarkey told me. I entered the abandoned building the FBI was using as their headquarters for this district. We weren't usually able to conduct any business in here since being condemned to the closet in the parking garage. But today was different. Things were finally going to go my way.
     
    “Let me handle this one alone, Malarkey.”
     
    “Are you sure. This guy might be a handful.”
     
    I winked. “Don't worry, I got this.”
     
    “Whatever you want, boss.”
     
    I slid my key card in the slot next to the door. A chime rang and I opened it. I went into Interrogation Room 1-B and set my folders down in front of the Mexican with a gray goatee.
     
    “How are you doing today, Miguel?”
     
    “Fucking puta,” he muttered.
     
    “I'm doing fine, thanks for asking.” I sat down across from him at the steel table. Miguel's wrists were handcuffed and a short steel chain connected him to the cement ground. He wasn't going anywhere. I looked over at the two-way mirror, knowing that Malarkey was watching us.
     
    “So the FBI makes the women do all their dirty work now.” He spat through his teeth.
     
    Since joining the FBI, I'd heard it all. Nothing phased me anymore. When