Page 40 of High

I gritted my teeth and forced a smile on my face. “Can I see him or not?”

“Ask nicely.” He spread his legs and crossed his arms again, smirking. The bastard was enjoying this.

Rafael and Arlo made noises that sounded suspiciously like laughter. Even Manny had his lips pressed tightly together, trying not to look amused. It didn’t work.

“If you don’t let me see him, the moment you walk out of Pleasant Beach, I’ll put a bullet in you, cousin or not.” I smiled meanly. “Is that nice enough?”

Santi’s mouth twisted wickedly, and he stepped in front of me. “You haven’t changed a bit.” He hauled me into a hug, and we gave each other manly slaps on the back before he pulled away again. “How’s Tía Rosa?”

“She’s fine. Healthy.”

“Good. Come on. Odin’s been expecting you.” He waved at us to follow him up the steps and in through the double wooden doors. I’d only been here once before, and it was as grand as I remembered. Inside was just as stunning, with wooden floors, and a winding black-and-white staircase to the left of the door. The foyer was open and wide and led to a couple of different rooms, one I knew as the public area for the bikers that functioned as their clubhouse, complete with a bar. Odin’s office was to the right, past an entertainment room I thought looked more like a living room with plush red leather couches, and a large flatscreen TV connected to the wall.

Santi led us to the right, and when he came to Odin’s office, he knocked gently until Odin gave him permission to enter.

I turned to Rafael and Arlo. “Stay here.”

They nodded and took their spots against the wall just outside the office. Meanwhile, I entwined my fingers with Manny’s, tugging him in with me. While this was work business, he had a right to be here. After all, the trouble had been caused by his father.

Odin’s office was crisp and clean, not something you’d expect from the president of a biker club. The floors were white-tiled with light cream walls and black furniture. To the right was a dark gray couch and two leather armchairs, and to the left was Odin’s desk, made of a dark wood, with two seats in front. Odin sat in an executive chair behind the desk, staring at some papers in his hand with his fingers massaging his forehead. Two bookshelves were carved into the walls behind him, and I took note of some classic first-edition books that had likely cost a small fortune.

“Mr. Reyes.” Odin settled the piece of paper he was reading on the desk and leaned back in his chair, smiling at me. “Or should I be more exact and call you Mr. Reyes-Montero?”

I chuckled and led Manny toward the chairs in front of Odin’s desk. “I’ve learned to respond to my Americanized name. We had to fit in.”

“Yes, Fenrir explained it to me once. I always found the last-name tradition interesting. It makes sense to include your father’s and mother’s family name. Why should your mother’s name be forgotten when she’s done so much work in raising her children?”

I wanted to snort at Santi’s ridiculous biker name, Fenrir, but I didn’t. The chained wolf. As in, the son of Loki and Angrboda, the one who was foretold to kill Odin. I wondered if this Odin had any idea about the mythology behind the name. He wasn’t a stupid man, though, and I didn’t doubt Santi’s undying loyalty to Odin. If Santi was anything, it was loyal to those he respected, which in this case extended to his family, even though he’d chosen not to join our cartel.

“Yes, well, I never did understand why a child should only have their father’s name. Manny here has both.” I gestured to him and raised our joined hands so I could kiss the back of his.

“I don’t think we’ve met. The men around here call me Odin.” He held out his hand and Manny leaned forward, taking it in a firm handshake that made me proud.

“Emmanuel Méndez-Beltrán. It’s a pleasure.”

“So how does it work? Is there an order that it must be in?”

“Our father’s last name is first, and our mother’s second. In my case, my father’s is Méndez, my mother’s is Beltrán. If I have children, they’ll take the Méndez name from me,” Manny answered.

“Interesting.” Odin stroked his chin before he nodded. “And when a woman marries, she keeps her own name, correct?”

“She does, yes, but she can choose to take on her husband’s name if she wants to. In my Tía Rosa’s case, she became Rosa Luna Montero de Reyes,” Manny said, sending me a smile. He squeezed my hand and I returned the gesture. I knew he wanted to be part of my world, and I suspected he thought getting along with and charming Odin was part of it.

“I find it interesting. I’ve lived my whole life in America, and I had no idea until Fenrir and I got to talking one night, and he told me his Mexican name was Santiago García-Reyes. I’m Jewish, but I know nothing about my heritage, except that it’s why my mother named me Israel and my older brother Ezekiel.” Odin’s gaze dropped to our hands and he smirked.

“Is there a reason for this conversation, Odin, or are you merely passing time?” I asked in a bored tone. “Because I promised Manny we’d spend the night together, and unfortunately, the date I had planned was interrupted. Which is what I’m here to talk to you about.”

Odin laughed and lines formed around his eyes. He looked young for his forty-five, the only real thing aging him was the color of his hair—fully gray. I imagined he’d had dark hair once, not unlike the color of his biological son’s. I’d done my research on him. I always liked to know a man’s weak point, but apparently Damian Hyatt wasn’t one of them. Santi had told me they’d never gotten along, with Odin having a problem with his son’s blindness. Seeing the pictures of Damian left no doubt he was Odin’s son, though. They looked very similar.

“I know what you’re here about. I know everything that happens in this city, Mr. Reyes. I do prefer to call you Thiago.”

I waved my hand at him in permission.

“I’m aware of the attack on you. Some of my men are there right now, with yours. The soldier was from Mexico?”

“Sí, from Baja. He belongs to Manny’s Papá,” I said, gripping Manny’s hand tighter.

“I see. Clearly my reputation hasn’t reached that far south yet. I’d be happy to remind them why Pleasant Beach is under my protection. The only time someone can harm another man or woman is with my permission. I’m assuming he was killed by you?” Odin gestured at me and I shook my head.