Chapter 4 #2
I shook my head slightly.
Even when I stepped away, the work followed me.
“What is it?”
“We got a problem.”
“When don’t we?” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.
Marcos exhaled into the phone. “Customs snatched one of the shipments coming through Tucson.”
I went still. “Which one?”
“The smaller run. Nothing tied to us directly, but the driver panicked and ditched the car.”
“Idiot.”
“Yeah, well, idiots exist.”
“And they get replaced,” I reminded him.
Marcos chuckled. “Already handled. She won’t be panicking about anything ever again, unless she’s down there arguing with the devil instead of walking through them pearly gates.
As for the car, it was retrieved and wiped clean…
no prints, no trace, nothing left behind but metal.
Also, the stash house has been cleared out. ”
I stayed quiet for a second, listening past his words.
I gotta replace another mule.
What the fuck is going on?
Of course this shit would happen right after Alejandro slid that responsibility my way.
I rolled my shoulders, forcing it off.
It was cool, though.
I wasn’t built to question pressure; I was built to apply it.
“Good work,” I finally responded, nodding. “But I want every route double-checked, every weak point tightened, and every driver reminded of what comes with losing their nerve. And keep eyes on customs. I don’t deal in coincidences.”
“You thinking a tip-off?”
“I’m thinking Alejandro doesn’t pay people to guess. He pays for answers, so find them.”
“Aight,” he said, tone sharpening. “I’ll do another rundown of customs, routes, everybody. If something slipped, I’ll find it.”
That’s what I like about Marcos—he never rushed a report, never overexplained, or tried to sound bigger than the work.
He was the kind of man who understood that one mistake could cost more than money and moved like it every time.
Men like that were rare. Most needed pressure to perform; Marcos applied it to himself.
If I ever stepped higher in my position, he’d be the one standing to my right.
“Do that. Because if you don’t, I will, and I won’t be as patient about it.”
“Aight. But aye—I heard about Iya,” Marco said, shifting the conversation.
I shrugged even though he couldn’t see it. “Yeah.”
“That’s it? Just yeah?”
“She knew the rules.”
Marcos went quiet for a beat. “Damn, Domino.”
“What? You want me to cry about it?”
“I’m just saying, shorty was around for a minute and y’all was fuckin’.”
“And now she ain’t, and now we ain’t. End of story.”
“You cold, bro. But what Alejandro planning to do about her route, including Nia’s, who is also no longer with us.”
“He ain’t planning nothing,” I replied calmly.
Marcos whistled low. “Meaning?”
“It’s on me now,” I said. “Mules fall under my watch. So I’m the one finding replacements.”
“Nah, now. When did all this shit happen?”
“The day I handled Iya,” I answered flatly. “But that ain’t the focus. I need two girls—fast.”
Marcos huffed a short laugh. “And how you plan on finding them if you’re somewhere laid back, chiefing on a fat blunt and sipping drinks with a view?”
“I said I’m over the mules, not the one out here scouting talent. That’s yo’ job. You shop; I just check out the final product,” I reminded him.
“Check out is crazy,” he said, laughing. “So I’m what? The personal shopper?”
I hunched my shoulders. “If that’s what you gotta call yourself to do it right.”
“Aight. I’ma bring you something worth swiping your card for then.”
I chuckled, then got back serious. “Actually, don’t worry about finding a replacement for Nia.
She only had one route. That’s why I can’t understand how she fucked this up.
But I’ll make a call to Hector. He’s usually understanding when things get disrupted out of our control, long as he hears it from me or Alejandro first. Iya’s route on the other hand?
I need a girl lined up by the end of this week… Friday to be exact.”
Marcos wheezed. “You really expect me to find a qualified mule in four days? Bro, you say that like I’m ordering one off .”
“You right… might actually take longer. But Marcos, people find crack in fifteen minutes, so I’m pretty sure you can find somebody who needs money by Friday.
Scope out the desperate females, though, not the greedy ones.
Greed makes people sloppy. They’ll risk the whole play trying to get extra.
A desperate person, though? They’ll protect the opportunity because they need it…
and they already know what it feels like to lose. ”
“Yeah, yeah. Well, I’ll let you get back to your little ‘I’m not working but still running everything’ vacation. I’ll keep my eyes open and let you know what I find in the coming days.”
“That’s all I ask.”
“Just know, though… if this goes left, I’m telling Boss it was your idea.”
“And when this goes right? You can thank me. Now, if something else pops off, call Alejandro. Otherwise, it can wait.”
I hung up, tossed my phone onto the bed and stretched out across it, staring at the ceiling.
Four days to find a mule.
Alejandro trusted me with that. And in our world, trust was heavier than anybody I’d ever had to bury. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem, but Alejandro was picky, and the wrong choice could get everybody killed.
I rubbed my chin, thinking.
Somewhere out there is somebody desperate enough, smart enough, and quiet enough, to move weight without asking questions… I just have to find her.