14. Shane
14
SHANE
E ven with his cartel’s recently diminished power, Marco Estrada was one of the most powerful men south of the border.
And the entirety of the Red Demon MC helped transport his products throughout the States.
He went through Maxwell for everything, and I wanted to think Stripes had misspoken on the phone a little while ago, but he hadn’t. This could only mean a handful of things, and none of them were good.
I rolled up to the meeting spot, a place outside of Callyspo, near an abandoned store. Weeds grew up through the pavement, but on one end of the lot was a line of Red Demons on their Harleys. I counted all of them except Machete’s. Across the lot were three black SUVs, and as I rolled in, the back door of the middle one opened.
Marco Estrada got out, dressed in a business suit. Tall. Wiry. Dark features.
I parked next to Stripes and turned my back only once. “Prez called?”
I’d tried calling Maxwell on my way over here, but got no answer. Judging from the small shake of Stripes’ head, it was the same response.
Well, shit. I didn’t know what this meant.
I turned and took stock.
Every charter had voted to remove ourselves from a working relationship with the Estrada cartel. We just hadn’t made the move yet. So Marco being here… I was hoping that didn’t mean he’d found out and was making his move instead.
A phone started ringing, and one of our members called out, “It’s Heckler.”
He came over, holding out the phone.
I took it. “You heard who’s here?”
Heckler was with Maxwell. He was also the national sergeant at arms, which meant he ranked right below me. “Maxwell’s in the hospital. Somebody put a hit out on him. He’s in surgery, and we’re hoping he’ll pull through.”
Fuck.
Fuck!
Damn!
I’d process later. Had to.
“Estrada order that hit?” I turned, looking right at him. “Because he’s here.”
“Right now, we don’t know. It’s possible.”
“Why would he be waiting for me to finish this call, then? He would’ve made a move by now.”
“He might be there to ask you to take over the Red Demons.”
I didn’t like that idea.
“You want me to send some of my guys?” he asked. “We’ll keep a group here for the prez.”
Estrada had three SUVs, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have more men here. We had twenty-four men, with Machete off playing babysitter for Claudia.
I made my decision. “Wait for my call.”
“Will do,” he said before hanging up.
I handed the phone back and started forward.
“You want us with you?” Stripes asked.
I paused, but shook my head without looking back at him.
Marco met me halfway, which was a good sign. He was alone— also a good sign—but all of his men did step out from the SUVs, assault rifles in their hands.
He nodded. “Buenos días, Ghost.”
I nodded back. “Se?or Estrada. What’s the reason for this visit?”
A smirk started to show before he smoothed his features. “To the point. I always liked that about you.”
“I was just told someone shot our national president, and now you’re here. I’m wondering how you’re going to convince me that’s a coincidence.”
A hard look flashed in his eyes. “You were in the Army, special forces.”
“You telling me about myself doesn’t convince me of anything.”
“I’m letting you know that I’m aware you could kill me right here, but still, I’m here. I’m standing, talking to you.” He held his arms out, opening his suit jacket. “You see, I have no guns with me.”
“The assault rifles behind you say otherwise.”
“But I’m standing here with you. I was notified about the attempted hit myself not long ago. We were in the area. I was told the Red Demons’ national VP was a two-hour ride away. I came because I wanted to reassure you that I was not behind the hit.”
“You were in the area?”
A shadow of a smile crossed his face. “I enjoy my business relationship with your MC, but you are not the only connection I have in the States. Yes. I was in the area visiting.”
“Why would you think I would assume you were behind the hit?”
He moved his head back, assessing me. “Am I the only one who doubts my own business alliances at times? If so, I must work on this paranoia. I assumed. Was I wrong?”
I didn’t know what to think, but he hadn’t pulled his guns on my men. So far, we were peaceful. Making a move right now, with him in front of me, would be a stupid decision. I had to go with caution, and caution meant being polite.
“Se?or Estrada, I thank you for your reassurance and for taking the time to travel, rather than making a phone call. It’s appreciated by myself and the rest of the club.”
He gave a small nod. “Muchas gracias, Se?or Ghost.”
Se?or Ghost. That was a trip, but fuck. I couldn’t do anything here except play my part.
I stepped back and motioned for the local VP of the Frisco charter to come over. He’d been waiting outside the line of Red Demons. He came forward at my signal.
He was an older member, a little grizzly and rough around the edges, but he was smart.
“This is Crow. Crow, this is Se?or Marco Estrada. He’s up for a short visit. Do you think we could get some of the old ladies to help with a cookout?”
I had to give him props. He didn’t miss a beat, holding his hand out immediately for Marco to shake. “We sure can. My missus will send out the call. We’ll have a big roast tomorrow night. You like pork, Mr. Estrada?”
Marco smiled. “I love a good roast.”
I ignored the double meaning and clipped a nod. “It’s settled. You’ll stay the night then, Marco?”
“I have men in the area. I can stay with them.”
“Will your men be joining us tomorrow night?”
“Just myself and perhaps plan for ten of my men, for the food. The rest will have eaten.”
Jesus . A fucking roast with the head of a Mexican cartel. This had happened before. A surprise visit from someone as powerful as Marco also had happened before, and I remembered. It was always a reminder of the ramifications and implications of this life, this world I was in. I knew when I’d signed up to ride next to Maxwell that he was going to take the Red Demons far, and he had.
Crow turned back toward his bike, but Marco called out, “Ghost. A word.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve told you why I’m here, but I’m wondering why the national vice president of the Red Demons is in the area as well. Since your president is in Texas.”
Crow froze.
I heard it, though I didn’t see it. His feet sliding over the gravel came to an abrupt halt. I looked back, and he was watching me. I nodded for him to keep going.
Once he’d gone a few more feet, I answered.
“With all due respect, Se?or Estrada, that’s internal Red Demon business, and I’d like it to remain that way.” I hadn’t a clue if he bought what I said. At this point, I was starting not to care. But my spine was itching, and when that happened, I paid attention. I just needed to suss out what was making my spine itch.
As soon as we went our separate ways, with a plan worked out for Marco’s arrival and where to go for the cookout, I called Heckler back.
I’d need any and all Red Demons he could muster up. There was nothing coincidental about Marco Estrada being here. He knew our plans, and because Crow froze the way he did, it made me wonder if he did too.
Heckler picked up after the first ring. “What’s he there for?”
“He knows.” I ignored Heckler’s sigh. “What’s the plan with Prez?”
“He’s here. We’ve got security around him, but until the doc says he can move or he’s in the clear, he’s here. We don’t know anything else. They won’t tell us.”
“I want you here.”
“You sure? Max was just shot.”
Damn . I still needed time to process that.
I shook my head. “Wait until he’s in the clear. I’m moving forward on the belief that he will be, because Maxwell is a stubborn asshole. If he’s going down, it won’t be that way. Once you get the clear, and he’s hidden and safe, come. Send half your men now. The head of the cartel is here.”
“I know. The guys will be on the road in an hour.” He sighed. “They’ll ride all night.”
“I’ll bring everyone up to date here.” Goddamn , that was going to be a bitch to explain.
And fuck, Kali was here too.
I made another call.
Machete picked up, sounding out of breath. “Yeah?”
I did not want to know why he’d be out of breath answering the phone after one ring. “I need you to come back.”
“The sister’s gone already?”
“No. Marco Estrada is in town.”