A/N

I usually avoid Author Notes at the beginning of the chapter (unless it's a warning), but I want to give you a quick heads up for this one. Death & Tequila is a spin-off from my novel, King of Hawkings, which is a story that is set in high school.

 I wanted D&T to be an entirely standalone novel, so you have the freedom of reading it without wondering if you are missing anything from KoH. I have alluded to the group of friends from high school before in D&T, but I am sprinkling in the old Hawkings boys in this chapter and the next.  However, you do not need to know anything about KoH to understand it. Just know that they are supportive friends from high school living in different states who miss Jaiden.

For those who have come from KoH, this may have been a long time coming, but I hope it was worth the wait.  ❤️👑

••••••

Jaiden and Toni made it back to their home when it was late at night.  Jaiden finally checked his phone and grimaced.  He was right to turn off notifications.  The amount of missed calls and text messages was terrifying.

His phone rang again while he was going through the number of messages.  Toni chuckled.  "Popular tonight?"

Jaiden blushed.  "I may have let my high school friends know I'm with someone."

Toni raised an eyebrow. "Finally bit the bullet."

"I'm finally not chasing a murderer and beaten to all hell." Jaiden smiled but gave Toni a concerned look.  "I was never hiding you. You know that, right?"

"Mi sol, we already discussed your hesitations in bringing your friends into your world.  I'm happy you are letting them in and am honored that I'm part of the world you're showing them.  Answer your phone, and I'll get us a drink." He kissed him and went to the kitchen.

He answered the call that was currently coming in from his friend Hugh.  "Hola."

"Don't 'hola' me, you ass!  Go to the Zoom meeting link we sent you ages ago! Now!" Hugh shouted through the phone and hung up, leaving Jaiden to stare at the dark screen.

He shook his head, grabbed his laptop, and clicked the link to bring up the meeting. He was waiting for it to load when he saw Toni approaching.  He stood up, took the glass, and hummed with delight when he sipped it.  "What's this?"

"Casa Noble.  It's one of my favorites, and I only drink it during celebrations." He said. He kissed Jaiden and savored the light tequila flavor on his lips.  "You know, mamá is already planning a party in two weeks for us."

Jaiden laughed.  "I'm not surprised. I'm looking forward to a matanza and copious amounts of alcohol."

"Don't forget the mariachi." Toni chuckled.

Jaiden paused for a moment.  "She wouldn't, would she?"

Toni grinned. "My dad is friends with a pretty well-known local group."

Jaiden shook his head in disbelief. "Really?"  He didn't know if he should grimace or feel special that they would go that far.

Toni set his and Jaiden's glass down on the coffee table, and he pulled Jaiden's arms around his neck.  He slowly ran his fingers down Jaiden's sides.  Once his fingers grazed Jaiden's hips, he brought his hands around his lower back, pulling him close.  "Don't you want to dance with me to Volver Volver? Sería romántico."

"I like dancing with you; I just don't dance in public." Jaiden said quietly.

Toni smirked, "Dance with me, mi sol." He started to rock him, making him dance to a silent beat.  He pressed his forehead against Jaiden's and softly sang the first verse of Volver Volver in a deep voice.

"Este amor apasionado, Anda todo alborotado, por volver. Voy camino a la locuray aunque todo me tortura, sé querer."

Jaiden sighed.  "Damn you.  Tequila, Spanish love songs, and you... Is this a bribe to let you have your way? Don't you know that bribing an officer is against the law?"

"So is arson, but I didn't put you in cuffs when you started a tire fire." Toni laughed, still dancing slowly with Jaiden even though their conversation was the only music they had.

"Unfortunately." Jaiden smirked.

Toni's chest rumbled as his hand ran up Jaiden's back and past his neck, allowing him to twist his fingers in his long hair. "I can remedy that."

He pulled Jaiden towards him and took his lips, savoring his taste. It was desperate and hungry—and unfortunately interrupted by hollering and whistling from Jaiden's laptop.

"Fuck." Jaiden said with a groan. "I forgot about you guys." He said towards the computer, seeing the faces of all his old friends on the screen.  He was the last of his friends to find his partner, so the couples were huddled together on the screen.

Hugh and Jonas
Travis and Eli, Jonas' brother
Rodgers and Lucy, Hugh's sister
Sam and Emilia
Millan and Robin

"Don't stop on our account." Hugh said with a laugh. Jonas nudged him with an elbow to get him to stop.

"Don't let him get to you, Jaiden.  We all have caught Hugh and Jonas in various compromising positions." Eli chimed in with a shudder.

The video call erupted with stories about how everyone present had somehow caught Hugh and Jonas.  They had trouble keeping their hands off of each other.

Jaiden laughed and pulled Toni to sit with him on the couch as they picked up their glasses.  Jaiden turned towards Toni and smiled warmly.  "Toni, meet the family that has been with me the longest."

Toni pressed his lips to Jaiden's forehead before he spoke to them.  "I've heard a lot about you.  It's good to finally meet you all."

Travis was practically bouncing in his seat. "It's about time Jaiden introduced us to a boyfriend.  It's been ten years!"

Jaiden laughed.  "He's not my boyfriend."

Travis' face fell.  "But why? You two look so good together."

"We do, don't we?" Jaiden flashed a cheeky grin.  "But he's my work partner, Detective Toni Alvarez... and my fiance."

Jaiden wished he could take a picture of their shocked expressions. This was a group that was not easily rattled.  Suddenly, they found their wits again and fired off their hot-seat questions.

"Wait, you said you met someone!"  Hugh protested.  "You said nothing about being engaged."

"I did meet someone, but it was six months ago.  Today was our first date." Jaiden laughed at how backward their timelines were.

Travis had his mouth hung open.  "But you're engaged?"

In the background, Jonas was laughing.  "Hold on, everyone.  I know how crazy rumors and speculation can get, so stop the chatter.  There's so much more to this story, so I think you should start from the beginning."

Jaiden sighed happily.  "I want to.  Actually, I'm hoping you all can come down and meet everyone.  Then we can grab some drinks, and I can tell you everything... But, it's a long story."

"I heard something about a party in two weeks," Hugh said.  Jaiden noticed that everyone was pulling out their phones, checking calendars, and clicking away.  "We should be free if you don't mind us inviting ourselves."

Jaiden turned towards Toni, who gave him an affirmative nod. "That would be perfect. The more, the merrier."

Everyone followed suit and confirmed that they could take time off, and suddenly, they were booking plane tickets to come down to New Mexico.

Jaiden ran his hand over his mouth, emotional to see his old friends dropping everything again to be with him. The first time, it was to help him recover and mourn Carlos.  Now it was to celebrate the new life he had with Toni.

So much had changed in two years for Jaiden.

After the chatter had died down regarding plane tickets and hotels, Hugh turned to the couple in question. "So how about the Cliff's Notes version of your experiences." 

Jaiden released an exasperated laugh. "A lot of death and tequila."

Hugh grinned. "Smartass.  Fine, at least tell us how you two met."

Jaiden and Toni glanced at each other and chuckled.

"Well, fuck.  It all started six months ago when I woke up next to a bad one-night stand that sent me running into an elevator..."

••Two weeks later••

Jaiden was sitting on the fence while sipping on a beer with Toni.  They watched the horses run around in the pasture.  Jaiden was tempted to grab a saddle and ride off to the river with Toni because his nerves were getting to him.

Toni grabbed his hand and kissed it.  "When are they coming in?"

"Later tonight," Jaiden said with a sigh. His friends tried to get tickets earlier in the morning, but Hugh had a meeting he needed to take care of, and Eli had a quick consultation, so they decided to delay their flights, get a hotel, and meet tomorrow.

"Then what's wrong?"

Jaiden played with his mother's ring on his finger. "I'm finally going to be honest with them... Let them see the ugly..."

"Are they going to hate you for it?" Toni asked softly.

Jaiden shook his head. "Not at all, but I will be lectured for a while because I pushed them away."

Toni reached out and grabbed his hand to help stop the nervous fidgeting. "I'll be sure to fill your glass."

"You're an angel." Jaiden laughed and leaned against Toni's shoulder.

They sat in silence in this position until they heard several children shrieking. "Lobo! Lobo!"

Jaiden and Toni quickly turned. "Lobo?" Jaiden asked.

"Mierda. Wolves come on the land sometimes. Probably just a coyote, but dangerous nonetheless. Come on. We should have some traps to capture and transport it to a less populated area."

Jaiden nodded, and they quickly made their way to the group while Gloria and Valeria were hurrying the children indoors.  The kids initially yelling about the lobo were trying to protest, wanting to see it again, but they were pushed into the house. 

Everyone fell into a routine because they had obviously gone through this before. Antonio waved towards them with two tranquilizer guns, trusting their aim more than his own. Everyone was on edge about the coyote, and even Jaiden felt tense. He hoped it was a coyote and not really a wolf.

But then Jaiden's steps slowed. "Wait... do the kids watch the UFC?"

Toni stopped and frowned. "I don't think that matters against coyotes."

"Toni." Jaiden laughed nervously. "Just answer, please."

Toni raised an eyebrow. "It's New Mexico. Some great fighters came from here, so yeah, the family watches it."

Jaiden's face brightened with a childlike smile. "Those assholes." He laughed happily and started to jog to the front where the kids ran from.

"Jaiden! Stop! It's dangerous." One of Toni's brothers called out to him.

Jaiden looked back for a second, the smile still prominent. "It's fine! I promise!"

He ran to the front and saw several rental cars parked with the others and a large group standing around and arguing. There were five couples and several kids hanging off of them, and although they seemed annoyed with each other, there was a warm familiarity between them. Nate and Patricia approached them hand in hand and said something to make the group laugh. It was obvious it was Nate who lead them here.

Jaiden slowed his steps, his smile was wider than before.

"You better turn back around, strangers. You're trespassing!" Jaiden yelled and chuckled when he saw several of them jump.

Travis raised his hands up a little. "We're here for a friend!" He called out, panicking and unaware of who yelled out.

Jaiden laughed at the spectacle. "No friends here, only family."

Jonas already recognized Jaiden and smiled broadly. It had been a couple of years since they have seen each other in person, and the last time Jaiden was a wreck.  He was gaunt, with a hollow face and circles around his eyes. This Jaiden was healthy, bright, and practically glowing under the New Mexican sun.

"Then we're in the right spot." Jonas called out with a chuckle and quickly made his way to Jaiden and wrapped him in a tight hug.

Jaiden hugged him back. "You guys are assholes for lying."

Hugh was right behind Jonas and hugged him next. "But you love us."

"Somehow I do." Jaiden said. "But I better tell the others to put the guns and traps away."

Hugh and Jonas stiffened. "Why?"

"When people start yelling about seeing a 'wolf' around here, they take it seriously. The last thing they think about is a UFC fighter's nickname." Jaiden said with a chuckle, especially when Jonas' face paled.

The rest of Jaiden's friends were still shocked by Jaiden's appearance, the difference from the past was monumental. He was soon tackled by the smaller blonde who practically sobbed in his chest. Jaiden ruffled his hair.

"Hey Travis." He said quietly. Travis was his best friend in high school, a pretty little blonde that he was always next to. His heart use to skip a beat when he was around, but now, he was simply content with being near a friend. 

Travis still clung to him while he hugged the others and kissed Lucy and Emilia on the cheek. "It's amazing to see you all." He said happily.

Toni stayed in the background, watching the reunion with a smile as he leaned against the house. Mercedes was next to him with a beer. "Shit... does he have models for friends? They're all goddamn gorgeous."

But then she dropped her beer. "He's friends with Jonas King? The Wolf?"

Toni raised an eyebrow. "That name seems familiar... isn't he a fighter?"

"Fighter? Hermano, he isn't just a fighter. He is the welterweight champion. No one can last against him.  He's the KO King.  The unbeatable Wolf.  Papa is going to shit a brick. That's his favorite fighter!"

Toni laughed. "Well, no wonder Jaiden gets along with dad so well."

He saw Jaiden wave towards him and took a deep breath. "I guess it's time to meet the family. Wish me luck, sis."

"Please, like you'll need it." She scoffed.

Toni made his way over the group and was immediately bombarded by the men and pulled into hugs. 

This was family.

Later that night, Jaiden, Toni, and his friends sat inside of their home, drinking beers and tequila. They were silent, processing all of the information Jaiden had divulged.

He told them why he left home and how he wound up in New Mexico as a cop.  He even explained everything that happened in the church two years ago when Carlos died and how he killed Terrance.  He revealed the truth about his depression, how for a moment it became worse after they visited him. But then, he laughed  about his mistakes and poor choices in his relationships when he got to Albuquerque.  

When telling them about the Lady of Guadalupe murders, they were silent again. Although Jaiden left out the gory details, he did explain how he was targeted. His friends were distraught knowing how he was taken and beaten, struggling to escape and survive.

They never knew how close they were from losing him.

What was more astounding was that Jaiden was telling them all of this with a smile. A genuine smile. It wasn't because he was over the trauma, but more appreciative that he was alive with the ones he loved.

Toni had his arm wrapped around him with a smile and both held a glass of tequila. Jaiden took a quick drink from the glass, trying to hold in a laugh. 

"I told you, lately it has been nothing but death and tequila... but it was the perfect prelude to finding my soon to be husband."

****

A/N

We're almost to the end!  Thank you so much!  ❤️