Chapter 17
When she was alive, my mother was a cartel princess.
As the only daughter of the Colombian cartel leader, she’d spent her life preparing to be a gangster’s wife, just like I had. She’d even had a groom ready and waiting for her to come of age. Until she’d run off with my father at sixteen. Enraged, my grandfather had disowned both her and the children in her belly before the ink dried on the marriage certificate.
But Mario Marcosa wasn’t stupid. He knew his father-in-law wouldn’t care if his enemies came after us, especially after my mother died. He paid a lot of money to bury the connection so deep, even Greyson couldn’t find it without some serious help.
Almost no one knew I had ties to the Colombian cartel. Frayed, nearly severed ones, but ties, nonetheless. So how the hell did Two-Bit find out, and what did he want to keep that information quiet?
We glared at each other while I weighed just how badly I wanted my secrets to remain unknown and what it would cost me. The cartel wasn’t something to play with, and considering how much my grandfather had hated my father, it wasn’t an option.
“The only family I’ve got worth mentioning are the ones you already know.”
A glance at the rest of the table showed calculating looks being thrown at Two-Bit and me. People digging into my family history was the last thing I needed, so I pushed my confusion aside and refocused on the task at hand.
“Beckstrom is getting bold and messing with product distribution in the city. He’s tagging safe spaces and causing mayhem for not only the underground, but those above it as well. He places little to no value on the lives of those around him, not caring if he causes mass casualties. He’s dangerous and drawing attention.”
Dominic opened his briefcase and tossed a stack of files into the middle of the table. “The FBI is looking at Seattle hard. Interpol and other agencies too. Hell, even the DEA has a squad heading our way. They’ve all said they’re bringing heat because of the destruction the Aces are leaving behind.”
All thoughts of my family were wiped off the map when they opened the folders. It was one thing to think your leader had friends in high places; it was another to see government seals and memos from deeply respected senators in a meeting with criminals.
“You’ve been keeping secrets.” Ajilon’s amused tone on top of the absolute shock the others had shown was nearly enough to crack my Marcosa Queen mask. Nearly.
“You expect me to keep things in check here. To do that, I need to know what’s coming down the pipeline. It was common sense to get some higher-ups in my pocket.”
“Just how many do you have, Marcosa?” Haru asked.
“Enough,” Greyson answered. His grin was less than friendly, and it made me smile too, even knowing I shouldn’t. He’d been the one to find the dirt we needed to turn our newest allies, and he was the one who reminded them just how much they had to lose if their eyes glanced in another family’s direction.
Haru looked at me for confirmation, and I shrugged like it was no big deal to have the federal government in my pocket.
Mind games, mind games, mind games.
“So, we take the boy out and get the Feds off our back. Is that what you’re saying?” Kosas sat back in his chair, linking his fingers over his navel like he was relaxing after a good meal.
“Essentially,” I agreed sweetly.
He snorted at the vagueness, and I finally smiled. We weren’t friends, but we weren’t outright enemies either. All Kosas cared about was the bottom line. If I paid him for his time and his men, he’d be on board. It was the others I wasn’t sure about.
“What do we get if we help you?” Two-Bit asked, tapping his fingers against the tabletop. “My crew isn’t going to go into a war without some assurances.”
“I don’t expect you to. I’ll pay for any damages that come your way, including the loss of revenue or members. We’ve got evacuation plans in order in case things get a little more difficult than I’d prefer, but the goal is to disrupt daily life as little as possible. I want this taken care of quickly and quietly. As you said, I have other options, but they’re the last resort.”
That was an understatement. Calling in the cartel for the Aces was like calling an airstrike on a carjacking. Overkill and infinitely more dangerous to the long-standing stability of my territory and my reign. No, best deal with Cash myself and call in reinforcements if I absolutely had to.
Two-Bit and I stared at each other, an unspoken conversation passing where he agreed to keep his mouth shut and I agreed to give him more leeway the next time he came asking for something. Finally, he rapped the table with his knuckles. “I’m in, but my crew won’t go after him for blowing up your club or anything else he’s done to you directly. The Marcosa empire can clean up its own messes. We’ll help because he’s a threat to Seattle as a whole. That’s it.”
It was more than I expected from the smallest member of our little group. “Agreed.”
“Set up a meet first. We’ll sit Beckstrom down and talk through his demands. See if we can get through this without bloodshed. War’s not good for anyone’s bottom line.” I knew Ajilon was just making plans on the information that I’d given, minuscule as it was, but the time for conservative measures was over. It was time to strike hard and hot.
“One meeting,” Kosas countered. “There’s no time to let him get a bigger hold of the city if he’s already calling in the big guns.”
“Agreed,” said Haru. “If talking doesn’t work, we kill him quickly. No mercy.”
Ajilon, Kosas, and Two-Bit agreed, leaving me relieved. We had allies. We had a plan. All we needed was to find Cash, a feat we already struggled with.
“Agreed, though I’d prefer to discuss the specifics of my payment in private,” Sean drawled. In other words, his price was the same one he’d already asked for and the one thing I couldn’t give up.
“I appreciate your help in this matter. I’ll reach out once I’ve gotten everything sorted out for a meeting with Beckstrom. O’Bannon, stay behind.”
The men got up at their own speed, each taking the elevator down alone until only the Irishman remained with my men and me.
“I’ll be ready in a few,” I told Grey and Dominic. I knew they needed to know about the offer, but I had to know for sure there was no other way to get Sean’s help first. They both narrowed their eyes at Sean as they stepped over to the elevators with Sean’s men to give us privacy.
“Coming to us for help, little queen. I’m shocked.” Sean’s mocking gaze met mine, and I had to resist the urge to snark back.
“It’s in everyone’s best interest to get this shit sorted out. The last thing we need is the Feds sniffing around.”
“True.” He leaned forward, eyes sparkling. “Let’s talk price.”
I relaxed in my chair, letting him keep up the overeager routine. “I gave all of you the price already.”
“You did,” he agreed. “But no one else has an offer in discussion like I do already. Or do they? Are others coveting your pretty little second?” His lips spread into a mocking grin, and I had the urge to beat him with something for the first time in weeks.
It felt nice to get back to normal.
“Watch it, O’Bannon,” I warned. “Regardless of potential alliances, I still hold the city. Don’t forget it.”
“I haven’t and I won’t. It’s why I’m so keen on Andrews becoming an O’Bannon. Besides, it’s obvious that my daughter adores him. I’ve never seen her smile as much as she did at your club.” His brow tipped suggestively, like he knew something I didn’t.
What a fucking joke.
The attempt to make me jealous was so ridiculous, I laughed. “Don’t attempt mind games, Sean. You aren’t good at them. Besides, we both know you don’t give a shit about a love match. Proximity is what matters.”
He didn’t even attempt to disagree, hence why Ash had a handful of failed engagements under her belt. O’Bannon wanted power first and foremost; his daughter was just a vessel to make it happen. And now he’d set his eyes on Greyson. A marriage between our families would give him untold power over the other heads, because a threat or insult to him would be a threat to me.
There was no use discussing alternative terms. He wouldn’t accept them. I was the ultimate prize, and I could see that the depth of his greed wouldn’t allow him to give it up.
“I assume your terms are the same as before.”
“They are,” Sean agreed, and a pit grew in my stomach. “I have something you need almost as much as I want your man. It seems like a simple trade to me.”
That was the fundamental difference between O’Bannon and me. He cared about his family only as long as they got him more power, while I held on to my power to keep my family safe.
So how would I get what I needed without giving up what I wanted?
“Everything okay here?” Grey asked, slipping into the conversation easily. Dominic was still by the elevators with the rest of the Irish.
“Fine, Andrews. Just fine.” Sean stood and clapped him on the shoulder, winking back at me when Grey wasn’t looking. “Don’t forget what we discussed, little queen. The quicker we come to an agreement, the quicker your little problem goes away.”
There it was, the threat I’d been waiting for. I kept my face impassive as I waved him away. “There’s a lot to consider, but I’ll let you know when I’ve come to a decision.”
Sean snorted, shooting me a snarky finger wave as the elevator doors shut on him.
“Are you okay?” Greyson asked as soon as they were gone.
Of course I wasn’t. I had no clue what to do. Instead, with the room completely emptied of everyone but our people, I tucked myself under his arm. The warmth of his body seeped in, while mine was achingly cold all of a sudden.
Dominic shot me a meaningful look, and I shook my head. He gave me a sympathetic smile and nodded toward the elevators. “Let’s get you home, mariposa.”
Grey tightened his arm around me, kissing my hair as he whispered, “It’ll be okay, reina.”
He was wrong, but I decided to let him live in the fantasy for a little longer.