Free I'll Remember You (Hell Yeah!) by Sable Hunter

for us. Many of the, so-called, hits you put out on our enemies are carried out either by our men dressed in police uniforms or actual cops providing paid assistance. It’s so prevalent that when the government scores a big arrest which makes the papers, the police and military officials pose for the camera in ski masks to protect their identity. In our society, the cops dress like bandits and the bandits dress like cops.”
    Martina was bored. “We could find another source. Alvara is not the only game in town.”
    “We know him. We trust him.” Esteban paused. “He has a family.”
    Martina sat up straighter. “There is no room for sentimentality.”
    “I want to do this. We are talking a twenty percent increase.” He jotted down some numbers. “You will make up the difference in other ways.” A frown came over his face. “I am aware of your little side-line business, Martina.”
    She knew exactly what he meant. Extortion, kidnapping and human trafficking were the next steps for most operations. “Those girls were rescued off the street. They’ll be well taken care of, with protection, food and a safe place to sleep.”
    “While you sell their bodies to the highest bidder.”
    Was the look in his eye a warning? She locked gazes with him. “All right, Tío. Give him his twenty-percent.” She rose from her chair. “You can bring him in. I want to talk to him first.” Martina intended to demand faster delivery and the highest quality in exchange for the money.
    “One more thing.” Esteban sighed, shaking his head. Martina realized whatever he was about to say was the real reason for the meeting. She waited. He cleared his throat and spoke. “The war with the Toro Cartel is costing many lives, both ours and theirs. Four hundred people were killed in the last two weeks, thirty-four were slain yesterday.”
    She knew this. The six charred bodies found along the roadside near Ascension was her doing. “So, what’s your point?”
    Setting his mouth in a thin flat line, Esteban persisted in his argument. “We need to find a solution, stop the bloodshed. There has been an offer.”
    “What kind of offer?” Where was this coming from? She did not like to be last to receive information.
    “Javier Rios wishes to join our two families in alianza de sangre.”
    Alliance of blood? He was speaking of a dynastic marriage, a marriage to make peace. Fury flashed over her. “You wish me to marry Joaquin Rios? To sacrifice myself for the sake of sparing unrest?” She was the Diosa. He was second-in-command. The audacity of his request almost caused Martina to attack her uncle with claws unsheathed. It was out of the question. She would not lower herself to marry that sniveling weakling to procure any kind of peace with the enemy. Her priority was Aron McCoy. Already she was planning their marriage and no one, no one would get in her way. “Never!” She threw the word at her uncle like a grenade.
    “Not you, Diosa.” The words were quiet amid her turmoil.
    “What?” She whirled around to stare at her uncle.
    “Alessandra.”
     
    ***
     
    Los Banos Ranch
     
    “Hello, my name is Alessandra.”
    “My pleasure.” Austin tipped his hat to the pretty señorita. “They tell me my name is Austin Wade.” Talk about night and day. Where Martina was aristocratic, elegant and self-assured, her little sister was easy-going, sweet and soft-spoken. They were both beautiful, but Alessandra was warm and made him smile.
    “Oh, we’ve met.” She led her horse out of the stall. No elaboration.
    Tomas led two other mounts to the rear of the barn. “Here you go, Austin. Let’s check out my herd.” The horses were magnificent. He could tell they were pure bred Arabians, sleek and eager to be given free rein. They wanted to run. Just being near the animals made him feel good. Placing one booted foot in the stirrup, he lifted himself into the saddle. Yes, this was familiar. He knew horses. The clothes he wore didn’t feel