Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
brUNO
“Tell me what you know.” I grew excited as one of my men filled me in on what he had discovered in North Carolina.
“It led to a dead end, but then how could a car just vanish like that? It’s in the middle of the woods. One second, I was following taillights, and the next they were gone. I’m close to finding the house. I can taste it.”
Heat surged like fire beneath my skin and awakened parts of me that I had suppressed for years.
But as fast as the joy went through, me it was replaced by a call from Mama.
Fuck.
“I’ll call you back.” I hung up and accepted the call. I tightly closed my eyes and wondered what in the world she wanted to yell at me for now.
“Mama—”
“I’m twenty minutes out. You better be at your place when I get there.”
The call ended, and I whirled to Armondo. “Get everything out. Get Nicole out of here.”
He pulled in his chin. “Where to?”
I thought for a moment. Mama was unpredictable, and I didn't trust she wouldn't leave someone to stay with me - to watch over me. She sounded very angry. No, I needed to play this out right. “Take her to the farm.”
His face dropped. “Are you sure that’s a wise idea?
” I raised my head and shot him a careful look.
“I just mean that’s your headquarters for everything you have going on,” he sputtered in Spanish.
He saw my look and switched back to English.
He held up his hands in apology. “It’s just that it’s your space now that your mother moved her business out of there.
What if Nicole sees something she shouldn’t? ”
“She won’t.” I didn’t have time to think everything through; I just knew Mama never went to the farm anymore. Since my uncle was killed, she said it held so many memories of her brother that it was too painful to return. “It’s the last place Mama would ever think I’d take someone.”
He hesitated, and I fought not to lose control. How dared he question my actions? “What?” I snapped. “You are very close to having your throat slit, Armondo, so speak carefully.”
“I have only your best interests at heart.” His earnest expression delayed his death. “Every time that woman is involved, situations seem to go sideways. Maybe you should kill the bitch. Look what she’s done already.” He glanced at my foot. “And now she’s back? You’ve killed for much less.”
I licked my lips as anger swept through me again, but I pushed it down and forced myself to think.
Against my better judgement, I decided to reveal my plan.
“If I kill the bitch now, she won’t live to see the one thing I want her to see.
I have hurt her before, but it’s not enough.
I want the satisfaction of seeing her bleed. ”
“I understand, and that’s what I’m trying to say. The bitch needs to—”
I held up my hand to stop him. Suddenly, I wanted him to see, as I did, my vision for her, for all she’d done.
“I want her to see everything she cares about slip through her fingers. She sees herself as a savior to help the people and save Mexico. All those years of pain and sacrifice, I want her to see it gone.” I snapped my fingers.
“Like sand in the wind, her life’s work will crumble and fall to nothing at her feet.
” I paused to let my words sink in. “I want her to stand next to me and watch the soldiers fall, the so-called saviors of the north, and then she’ll see me rise from the ashes and claim my place at the top.
All of Mexico will kneel to me, as she will.
After I finish using her body, then I’ll kill her.
” I could see it so clearly, and a thrill went through me.
Then I focused on Armondo’s open mouth and made a motion for him to speak.
“I understand.” He swallowed hard.
“I hope you do, Armondo, I hope you do. Because if you want to live to be a part of this, you will not question me again.” I slit my eyes in a warning.
“No, boss.”
“Good,” I snapped. “Now, go! Get the woman to the farm.”
“Yes, boss. Right away.” He turned to leave.
Then an engine roared, and its tires squealed.
I jumped toward the window. “Shit! She’s already here.
” I rubbed a hand over my face; it was just like her to trick me.
“It’s too late to go now. Keep Nicole upstairs and don’t say anything to alert her something is happening.
Just keep her quiet! At the first opportunity, take her out the back way. ”
He nodded and raced out.
“Archie!” I yelled. “Bring Mama to the study, straight through, no stops.”
“Understood.”
Christ, she was maddening. When did she get back? I thought she was away for the next few months, at least. She was such a control freak. I grabbed my cane and headed toward the study. God forbid I’d keep her waiting.
Mama stood looking out the window with her arms crossed. Her fucking pet, Rio, stood watching. I hated him and refused to glance his way. I knew she could see my reflection in the glass.
“You were always my favorite son.” She kept her back to me. “I could see great things in you, even as a child. Your father favored your brother, and look where that got him. I never let him live that down.” Her arms fell to her sides as she turned to look at me.
Oh, shit, she had that look—cold and disconnected.
“You know I don’t like to look the fool, Bruno.”
“I know, Mama.” Where is this going?
She clucked her tongue and moved to the bar to make herself a drink. “I gave you a direct order, and you disobeyed me.” Clinking ice filled the dead silence as my stomach sank. She knew I had Nicole.
“Mama, let me—”
“You told me you wouldn’t make a move until I said so.
” That made the words I was about to say dissolve from my tongue as I fought to keep up.
“This is your mess.” Her voice was acid as she put her hands on the back of a chair.
“You’re going to have to do damage control and rope your people back in line!
” she screamed, and it made my whirling head instantly ache.
“Mama, please,” I raised a hand in total confusion, “I’m not following you at all.”
She slammed her glass down, and it broke, sending liquid everywhere. “How could you be so stu—” Her eyes suddenly widened, and the mood in the room shifted as she went still.
“What?”
“Shut up!” she snapped then plucked a little black square from my pen holder. Her murderous gaze traveled to mine as we both realized what it was. A bug.
What the hell? How? Who was I going to have soak in gasoline and set on fire?
Mama used her broken glass to smash the device into the top of my desk. Rio looked smug as he reached to flip on my office scrambler. It only had a short range, but it would have to suffice. I needed the place swept, and fast.
Mama crossed the room, and before I was ready, she slapped me hard across the face. “You have disappointed me twice today. Do I need to stay home and take care of this side of the business?”
I licked around my mouth and tasted blood as I fought to control my temper. She was dangerously close to me pushing me to remind her who was younger and stronger.
“No, Mama, I have things covered.”
Her laugh made my fists clench. “Do you?”
“Yes.”
“You better think hard about who is in this house, who you can trust, and what you can see on your cameras.” She ordered. “Come, Rio.” He shot me a look as he trailed Mama out of the room. I’d like to crush his face.
I walked to the window to make sure she left, and as I watched the car leave, I wracked my brain about what had just happened. I thought back over the last day. Nicole and Chili had been cleared for bugs, so it wasn’t them. Grim and I went back far too long. That only left the house staff and…
“You!” I pointed at one of the girls wearing rubber gloves. She jumped, and her eyes widened with surprise then terror as she froze in place. “You clean my office.”
“Sí.”
“There was a bug in my office. Who planted it?”
“Bug?” Her brows pinched together. Christ, she was stupid.
“Listening device, a recorder.”
She shook her head. “No, I just clean and listen to this.” She held up an old tape player.
“El senor,” another maid stepped forward, “I don’t know who would do this thing, but I saw the American man in your office this morning.
” I stared at her hard to see if she’d show a sign she was lying.
She didn’t blink, just held my gaze. I waved her off and knew I’d have to check the cameras.
She gave me a small bow then hurried out.
“Hey!” I called to one of my soldiers. “Where’s Armondo?”
“He’s downstairs waiting for the woman. She’s gathering her things.”
“And the American, Archie?”
“Not sure, senor.”
“Find him,” I ordered. He picked up his radio and began to speak.
My vision went red. “Turn on every scrambler we have!” I yelled.