Chapter 65 #2
She smiled. “My uncle’s cartel makes over $50 million every year.
That’s as it currently is. With your distribution network, you would easily double or triple that.
You would more than make your money back very quickly just from the cartel income.
And you will be realizing profits from the research division. ”
He sipped his coffee but did not respond.
She continued. “It’s a bargain, a pittance. I’m only asking for an advance on the profits from the cartel, and a stake in the research division. If your organization is as skilled as it purports to be, none of that should be an issue.”
He studied her for a moment, but she didn’t speak, waiting, knowing he was trying to unsettle her.
But she was used to dealing with men whose egos puffed like peacock tails.
She waited.
Finally, he asked, “What, exactly, do you think is the focus of our research?”
“I think you’ve discovered evidence that there is a race of people sharing the earth with us who are far more than human.
Who can shape-shift into other creatures.
Who have long lives and incredible strength and healing powers, even while in human form.
And I believe you wish to research and exploit that for bio-weaponry purposes. ”
He slowly nodded. “You are very perceptive.”
“I am my father’s daughter.”
“Where did you acquire all of this information?”
She smiled. “I’m sorry, but I’m not about to tell you that.
No offense, but I won’t give up my considerable leverage.
Also, I’m not greedy. I will abide by the terms of our contract.
I have no desire to risk exposure from the cartel business, and you need assistance locating and capturing research subjects.
This is a business arrangement that will benefit both of us. ”
“It sounds like the wrong Segura has been in charge of your family’s more profitable business,” he said.
Her smile widened. “You are not wrong.”
They chatted during their meal. “How do I know you can deliver what you promise?” he asked.
She removed a thumb drive from her purse and slid it across the table to him.
“To show you I am negotiating in good faith, I’m giving you an advance on the information.
On there is all the information someone needs to take over Uncle Manuel’s cartel.
Contacts, information, logistics—everything.
Also, there is information for an offshore bank account that I control.
I’ll give your organization fourteen days to drop $2 million US into that account as acceptance of our deal.
That should be plenty long enough to evaluate and verify the data. ”
“And if we refuse?” He picked up the thumb drive.
She shrugged. “Then that same information gets handed over to not only the police and military, but to well-known journalists around the world, and five other cartels who would literally kill for it. They can battle it out amongst themselves, and it effectively cuts your organization out of the picture. Not to mention, the added attention of international law enforcement would effectively disrupt any business of that type for months, if not years, while they try to reroute and rebuild their production and distribution systems.”
He slowly nodded. “That is very cutthroat of you. You would get nothing if that happens.”
“True. But I would not lose anything I currently have, either. I do not wish to be an active participant in that business. What I’m looking for is power.
Money with the incredibly high risk that venture poses doesn’t interest me.
Not enough return on my investment. Your organization, however, has the infrastructure in place to step in and take over.
You are designed for it. All you need are the keys. ”
She nodded toward the thumb drive he still held.
“There are the keys. And if you have any thoughts about taking that and killing me, don’t bother.
I have poison pills in place that, if I don’t cancel, will distribute the information anyway.
It is in your best interest to keep me alive and well.
And it is in my family’s best interests to…
divest ourselves of the potential risk we are exposed to because of that business.
We lose nothing but stand to gain quite a bit. ”
She signaled the server for the check, but Ilya reached for his wallet.
“No, this is on me today,” he said. “I insist.” She didn’t miss that the thumb drive went into his pocket.
“Thank you. I hope we can do business. I believe this joint venture will be profitable for both of us. I don’t want control—I just want the benefits.
Unlike the men in my family, I don’t need the trappings and the power to boost my ego.
I look to the future, to securing my comfort.
And if your organization can fully realize the potential I believe is there, I prefer to be on your side and protected in the shadows. I am not greedy—I am practical.”
“Fair enough. Is there contact information besides the banking info?”
“Yes. A secure email address. You can use it to define the contact methods for future communications. If you decide to go forward. There is a copy of the terms on the drive as well.”
“Just out of curiosity, why are you so willing to risk blowing up your uncle’s cartel instead of taking over?”
She shrugged. “Because I’m petty. I like knowing that all his years of work and sweat and blood can be dismantled like that.
” She snapped her fingers. “Nothing left. No legacy. It was a family business, but only for men. Ironic that a woman can easily destroy it in a matter of minutes without even breaking a sweat or shedding a drop of blood.”
He smiled, a genuine one that reached the depths of his blue eyes and crinkled the corners of them. “We will be in touch.”
When she stood, so did he, and he kissed her hand. “It has been a pleasure, Ms. Segura. I look forward to doing business with you.”
“Likewise,” she said, resisting the urge to crow with success.
As she walked to her hotel, she also fought the urge to skip. The opportunity to acquire everything she’d laid out in the thumb drive? Irresistible to the Russians. It was a turn-key operation. It would vastly expand their Latin American footprint.
Had this meeting not gone well, she would have jettisoned the cartel because she’d insulated herself and her father.
It wasn’t a tenable situation that could be maintained for any length of time without her involvement.
Without a full-time leader, the cartel risked devolving into infighting and eating itself.
But now?
Now it is my turn to build an empire.
Abundio Segura
“I found his hotel room before the meeting. I believe he is a representative from a Russian gang. Ilya Baranov. At least, that’s the name he’s using.”
“Interesting.” Abundio stared out the window behind his desk as he talked on the phone to his man. “How much could you hear?”
“Not much. We couldn’t risk getting too close.”
“Did they act romantic toward each other?”
“Not at all. She passed something to him that I believe was a thumb drive.”
“Hmm.” Abundio tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. “I would certainly be interested in learning what was on that thumb drive.”
Although he felt reasonably certain he already knew exactly what was on that thumb drive.
“How badly, sir?”
“You have contacts?”
“I do. He appears to be staying alone. A reservation for three more days. I can follow him and make contact.”
“Don’t kill him. If possible, drug him and copy the drive, leaving it there. If forced to, steal it. I would prefer it looks like he simply passed out from drinking.”
“He’s a Russian.”
“Yes, but vodka is their specialty, not tequila. I’ll leave the details to you. Let me know how much money you need.”
“Yes, sir.”
Abundio ended the call and remained still, staring out the window.
Perhaps she has more of her uncles in her than I realized.
As far as Abundio could tell, his daughter had not yet veered into illegal territory.
Yet.
But from the moment he’d turned control of the company over to her, he’d had her watched, followed, without her knowing. Partly because he wanted to ensure her safety in the early days, and partly because he wanted to make sure she wouldn’t do something idiotic.
Like reach out to the Russian mafia, become embroiled in illegal activity, and risk everything he’d carefully built.
Miranda was ambitious, and that could be a useful trait in business. She wasn’t a child fresh out of college, either. She was nearly forty and highly focused on her work.
Personally, he’d planned to let Miguel’s cartel disintegrate organically—cannibalized by his remaining men and other cartels, the power vacuum naturally filled.
Except that hadn’t happened. It confused him at first, but now he understood why.
Miranda was behind it.
He would not have his decades of hard work risked by her impetuous actions. She’d never blatantly defied him before. Abundio needed all the details before making a decision.
The other unknown factor—what was her interest in following up on Manuel’s outlandish claims? He wondered if perhaps his daughter had more knowledge about Manuel’s fate than she said.
If so…
That might be an avenue worth pursuing.
Abundio was awake and waiting when Armando returned that evening. He played him the video that their people shot.
“Your orders, Sir?” Armando asked when it finished.
Abundio stared at the tablet screen for a long moment, the freeze-frame of Miranda sitting at the table and passing something to him.
“I never imagined she would betray me,” Abundio finally said.
“Sir?”
“Miranda. The only reason she would go behind my back and speak to the Russians is that she believes she can give them the cartel. But we know from her digital activities that she’s digging into Manuel’s activities. The two must be connected.”
“Your orders, sir?”
“Search her condo immediately, while she’s out of town.
Secretly. Make sure nothing is left out of place.
I want you there, personally supervising our best men.
And have our computer expert do whatever’s necessary to her personal and work computers to find out what she is up to.
Hack her work and personal phones. And I want cameras and listening devices planted in her condo immediately.
And in her office at work. I want to know her every step. ”
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, and Armando?”
He turned. “Sir?”
“Keep this circle as small as possible,” Abundio ordered. “Only your most trusted. Even if it takes longer to accomplish.”
“Yes, sir.”
Once he was alone, Abundio turned to stare out the window.
Father, you made this look easy.
With a lot of hindsight, Abundio knew it was because their father was a ruthless bastard who had no conscience.
Which, despite what many of Abundio’s detractors might believe, he actually possessed.
Certainly, he had resorted to unsavory methods to achieve his ends, but he had not run a cartel.
He’d had ethics.
Honor.
He’d tried not to harm people personally, only to be a shrewd businessman.
And now that all comes back to haunt me at the worst possible time.