Those cuffs should hold Jax for a while, but it didn’t matter. I still had the gun tucked away in my purse, and I’d threaten to shoot anyone that tried stopping me. My tiny frame swam in the hoodie, but the larger size only aided in hiding my face. A lazy gust of wind teased the hood, and I tugged it low over my forehead. Picking up my pace, I headed toward the barn, and the building grew bigger as I approached.

A door in the front stood ajar. I tiptoed toward it, my back stiffening as male voices filled the air. I recognized Rafe’s instantly, but a second voice, tone deep and even, wasn’t familiar at all. Then I heard my brother speak, and a chill rivaling the temperature crawled down my spine.

“I don’t have a problem with these terms at all.”

A scuffle sounded, and when I risked peeking through the crack in the door, I saw two men holding Rafe back from Zach. He swung his fists anyway and missed Zach by a few inches. My brother stood between two additional men, but his hands were cuffed behind him so he couldn’t defend himself.

“Of course you don’t have a problem with it,” Rafe said, one lip curving upward in a sneer. “You sick piece of shit. You fucking wrecked her.” He spit on Zach’s sneakers. “I’ll die before I let you get your hands on her again.”

“Hmm,” Zach said, tilting his head, appearing unfazed by the spittle on his shoes. “Yeah, I don’t have a problem with that either.”

“Enough.” A man cut the air with a firm hand, and the way everyone grew silent, I figured he was the guy in charge. “How about we calm down and have a civilized conversation?” He swung his gaze between Rafe and Zach. “I get it. The two of you got issues. But that’s what the cage is for. Work it out there.”

Rafe glowered at him. “I don’t care who the fuck you are, Shelton. You’re not involving Alex in this.”

“That ain’t for you to decide. We’re playing on my turf, so we’re playing by my rules. You and De Luca junior here will each have a fair shot in the cage. Winner walks away with a hundred grand and the girl, and that’s my final word on this.”

“Like I said,” Zach said, tilting his chin up. “I don’t have a problem with this plan. Better than rotting in that Mexican prison.” He glared at Rafe. “Thanks for that, by the way.”

“I’ll pass on your regards to Jax. If I had my way, you’d be a fucking corpse. You might rethink your decision to escape after I’m done.”