Chapter 26 #2
My mother’s an entirely different story. She’s not equipped to handle the things Pablo can. I’m not equipped for it, and my mother’s not as physically or mentally sturdy as I am.
“Oh, you don’t like the idea of us going after your mamacita. Maybe we’ll string your abuelo up right next to her.”
I grin at that. I finally decide to speak.
“You can do whatever the hell you want to that viejo pendajo. Hell, I’ll even watch.” Old idiot.
“Oh, what do you know? You even speak some real Spanish.”
“That’s what you call Mexican Spanish? Real Spanish? I didn’t expect you to string three words together when I saw you approaching me.”
I practically bite my tongue to keep from saying more. Cabrón Uno’s the only one on my side right now. I don’t need to antagonize him.
“You really have a death wish, don’t you, senorita? I could easily turn you over to somebody who won’t have the restraint I do. I could walk out of this room and let these men do whatever the fuck they want with you.”
I don’t shift my gaze from him, but I’ve already been observing all the men in here. I’ve done my best to memorize their tattoos and scars. I’ve looked at their faces to memorize their eye color and any distinguishable features. These are men who aren’t new to cartel life.
I don’t know which ones may have grown up in the U.S. and which might have grown up in Mexico, but none of these men are that young. I put them all in their early thirties to early forties. They’re seasoned veterans in this world.
I’m hoping against hope I’m wrong, and they are holding me for ransom.
Nobody’s said anything to me about what will happen after this.
They aren’t trying hard to get information out of me.
Even though they’re rude, they’re still asking rather than torturing me.
Since I don’t want to answer any of their questions, I’ll ask some of my own.
“How much am I worth? The last hit on me cost a quarter million. I’ll be insulted if it isn’t at least that much.”
“This isn’t a hit.”
Good to know I might live.
“All right, then what’s your boss asking for in ransom?”
“It’s not a ransom either. We want information only you have.”
“We know that already, but how much is your boss paying all of you to grab me and hold on to me? Again, if it’s not at least a quarter million, I’ll be insulted.”
“Don’t worry about what we’re getting paid.”
“Ah. That means it’s nowhere near how much the original hit was. Isn’t that rather insulting that one man was supposed to get all that money for killing me and not even that much is being divided among the six of you?” I gesture at each of them as I speak.
“Senorita, you’ve gone from being silent to talking far too much. If you don’t shut the fuck up or give us the information we want, I’ll gag you.”
I open my mouth and say, “Ah,” just like you would at the dentist. The man sitting in front of me lurches to his feet and with his hand open.
I think he’s about to break his own rule and wrap it around my throat when I hear his pocket ring.
He pulls a phone out and answers it in English.
He puts it on speaker so the rest of his men can hear it as well.
Whoever this guy is on the other side of the phone has no accent. Not one that hints at a foreign language, or even one that tells me a region in the U.S. As I listen to the two men go back and forth, I’m positive now this group of cartel men is from Boston.
“Senorita Aguilar.”
“Sí, senor.”
“You have a choice to make. I know you’ve understood everything you’ve heard so far.”
That declaration surprises the men who realize they’ve talked, and I’ve understood everything.
“You have information many men want right now, probably even several women. It’s dangerous for you to be in New York. You can’t rely on the Diaz family to protect you.”
“Why is that?”
“Because they’re using you.”
“And you’re not?” I barely keep myself from snorting since his claim is so fucking ridiculous.
“Oh, I am, but at least I’m honest about it. I won’t play you for a fool like Pablo is.”
“And just who are you keeping me safe from? Is it only the Diaz family or someone else?”
“It’s everybody else, senorita. You have people on every continent but Antarctica interested in your knowledge.”
“And yet, you won’t pay these men you hired as much as a single mercenary would’ve made if they’d killed me.”
“You don’t need to worry your pretty little head about who’s getting paid how much. My men know this job is worth it.”
I ignore how he tries to antagonize me. It won’t get me anywhere if I let my irritation fog my mind.
“If you want me to believe all this shit you’re shoveling, then let me speak to Pablo.”
“I already talked to him. He knows I have you, and he knows I’m keeping you safe.”
“If that’s the case, why didn’t your men tell me that from the beginning instead of trying to coerce information out of me?”
“Because if they have to keep you company, you may as well have something to talk about.”
“You know I don’t believe a word you’re saying about Pablo, but I don’t doubt there are people after me. You’ve made that obvious, but I know I’m safest with the Diaz family, so I can be patient.”
“You’re smart not to trust me, but it doesn’t change who you are in this scenario and who you’re with. Your choice, senorita. Tell my men what they want to know, and we keep you safe, or we’ll turn you over to the wolves.”