Chapter 7
Chapter
Seven
Emiliano
J ano sat at his desk swearing in two languages, his stare transfixed on the video on his screen. Much was grainy and pixelated. From reports from soldiers on the street, a gun fight broke out at Pacific Beach last night. Two people were killed and three wounded. None of them cartel or bratva soldiers. It was the innocent who paid the highest price.
The press blamed the entire incident on the cartel despite the street camera footage showing that our soldiers were fired upon first. My cousin, Nick, also a soldier growing in stature among the Roríguez cartel, stood behind Jano, pointing out specifics. I sat across the office at my laptop. With access to the cartel’s larger computer network, I had access to other cameras, from those of residents’ doorbells to commercial-grade security systems.
This was the hacking el Patr?n wanted me to do. My job wasn’t to find evidence to change the mind of the police. They’d never be convinced that we didn’t start it. This diligent search had another purpose: to provide Jano with the proof of who needed to pay.
“It’s Kozlov’s men,” Nick said.
“You don’t think it’s Volkov? We know Volkov is communicating with Herrera.”
Nick shook his head and squinted toward the screen. “Stop the video there.” He had my attention. “Go back. Stop.”
I stood and walked around the desk to see what they were seeing.
Nick pointed at the screen. “Can you zoom in on that man, the one who just fired his gun?”
Jano pulled the picture to increase the zoom while at the same time decreasing the clarity. “Fuck.”
Fuck was right.
Nick pointed. “Look at that tattoo. That’s definitely Kozlov’s mark.”
Jano sat back against his chair and raked his fingers through his hair. His dark eyes smoldered black and his nostrils flared. “Fucker is upping the attacks. Herrera is funding him. I feel it. I know it.”
“We should up the number of guards at Wanderland and the apartment building,” I said, thinking of the woman arriving today. “With both the Herrera cartel and the bratva watching us and willing to take out bystanders to make their point, we must protect what is ours.”
Jano roared as he stood, slapping his palms on the maps littering his desk. “How did they know we had a crew at Pacific Beach? We’ve changed our pickup schedule, and they still fucking knew.”
“They could have gotten lucky,” Nick said. “Casing places in case we show up.”
“That takes a lot of men,” I said.
Jano clenched his jaw. “Or someone told them we changed collection day.”
“No one would do that,” I replied. “Jano, the dealers know not to double-cross you.”
He paced to the wall and back. “I need more men.”
“Bring some down from the north,” Nick suggested.
“No. We’re vulnerable there too.”
“Mexico?” I suggested.
“No. Except for a few, our men in Mexico are compromised.” Jano stopped walking and turned to us. “It’s time to call in a debt.”
“Which debt?” I asked.
“Rei and I went to Kansas City and took out Myshkin. Now, we need the famiglia to back us up out here in our territory. Fucking alliance works both directions.” He rubbed his fingertips over his beard growth. “Herrera isn’t risking his own men to bring us down. Somehow, he’s convinced Kozlov to do the dirty work. We need reinforcements to get Kozlov out of the way so we can get to Herrera.”
There was no arguing with Aléjandro. Ever since the execution of his father, he had been hell-bent on Herrera’s destruction.
El Patr?n stood tall, looking more like the boss than he did a few months ago. With the stress of his new position, he’d lost weight but not muscle. His cheekbones were more defined and a vein in his forehead bulged with each word. “Tonight, I want all the lieutenants and available soldiers at the warehouse. Leave a skeleton crew of soldiers on the streets.” He turned to me. “And keep Wanderland and the apartments well-guarded. Everyone else is to be there, including both of you. Ten o’clock. Be my eyes and ears when I can’t be. I need to see their faces, to watch their eyes. If there’s a traidor among us, I’ll fucking gut him in front of an audience.”
“Do you want me to keep looking for more evidence?” I asked.
Jano went back to his tall chair behind his desk and shook his head. “Both of you, go. Tell your fathers what’s happening. Have them deal with Wanderland. Em, secure the apartments and Nick, get word out about tonight’s meeting. If any soldier isn’t where you tell them to be, there will be consequences.”
“ Sí, jefe ,” we said in unison.
Aléjandro picked up his phone. “I’m calling the capo.”
As we were walking out, Jano called to me. “Em, so I can tell Dario, who did you find to babysit the princess?”
The princess.
“Horace Torres. He works with the whores at Wanderland. That familiarity will help Isabella.” Plus, he was married to the same woman for over fifteen years. He’d kept his hands clean of abuse with the women at the club. I believed I could trust him with Isabella. I may also have threatened him.
Jano nodded. “He should stay here tonight during the meeting. I’ll take Silas with me. The outside guards stay here too. No one is using our meeting as a time to get to my wife and son.”
He forgot Isabella, but I wouldn’t.
“I’ll tell him when he gets here.”
“He’s here. I received the message a half hour or more ago.”
My eyebrows rose. “They’re here…Isabella is here?”
“ Sí ,” he said dismissively. “ Vete .”
Stepping into the hallway, I closed the office door behind me. Despite the hell that was happening on our streets, a strange twinge of excitement sped through my circulation at the knowledge that Isabella was in this house.
I contemplated going out the front door, but that would be disobeying an order. Jano told me to talk to Horace. That would be my first stop. If I happened upon Isabella in the process, all the better.
Walking toward the living room, I scanned beyond the open doors to the pool and the glistening ocean beyond. Nothing was as beautiful as the sight of Isabella seated under an umbrella at a table with Mia. The two of them had glasses and plates before them and were looking at the screen of a laptop.
As I passed through the living room and by the kitchen, I saw Silas’s wife, who was el Patr?n’s cook and housekeeper. “Viviana,” I greeted.
Her smile grew. “Emiliano, quieres almorzar ?”
“No, gracias.” I could ask Viviana if she knew where Horace was, but that wouldn’t get me out on the pool deck.
I squinted against the sun as I stepped out onto the travertine pavers. “ Buenas tardes .”
Mia and Isabella looked up. While Mia smiled, Isabella turned her attention back to her lunch. Determined, I walked closer.
Mia stood and reached for my arm. “Thank you for your help. Horace is the perfect choice for Isabella. I don’t know why I didn’t think of him. And he’ll be able to help her with the names of the club workers.” She waved her hand. “Honestly, pregnancy brain doesn’t go away when you give birth.” She turned to Isabella and back. “Em, you know my cousin, don’t you?”
Isabella’s stunning chocolate orbs were once again looking my direction, and her slender shoulders were back, making her pert breasts push toward the material of her sundress.
I bowed at the waist and stood tall. “Isabella, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Hi.”
“Oh,” Mia said, “of course, you’ve been together as recent as Ariadna Gia’s birthday. I just figured with Uncle Carmine’s overprotectiveness, you hadn’t been properly introduced.”
“We spoke,” Isabella said with more confidence than she showed in Kansas City.
“Yes,” I replied. “And not to worry. The punch came out of my shirt.”
Isabella’s eyes opened wide. “No, there wasn’t a stain. Was there?”
I felt my cheeks rise. “No. I am just teasing you.” I spoke to Mia. “I need to discuss something with Horace. Do you know where he is?”
“Yes, he’s out in Silas’s security building. Felipe took Rafaele back to the airport so Silas could show Horace the equipment he’s installed to make this house as safe as possible.”
“Thank you. I’ll go out there.” I tipped my chin. “It’s nice to have you here. I’m certain Liliana will appreciate your help.”
“I’m trying to get Isabella accustomed to my program.” Mia looked at me. “Em, you and Nick helped me design this. Could Isabella call you if she needs help?” She rolled her eyes. “I’m mostly on house arrest. My husband is a little stressed.”
“In his defense, he has good reason.” I grinned. “Of course, Isabella. Mia will give you my number. Call or text anytime.”
“Perfect,” Mia said.
Isabella’s only response was a pink glow to her cheeks.
“I’ll go find Horace,” I said as I turned and entered the house.
“Emiliano,” Viviana called. “I made one too many beef sandwiches.” She smiled. “Could you be so kind as to take one off my hands?”
Shaking my head, I walked to the long kitchen island. “If you make it to-go. El Patr?n has my afternoon scheduled.”
She handed me a small paper bag and a bottle of water. “You men must eat to stay strong. It is easier to attract the damas bonitas .”
Pretty ladies.
My Adam’s apple bobbed as I smiled. “ Me mataría si mirara a Mia .”
“ Sí , he would. I don’t think that’s who you were looking at.”
I lifted my finger to my lips. “Can you keep a secret, Viviana?”
“How do you think I’ve worked for the Roríguezes for so long?”
“ Gracias .”
Taking my homemade lunch—a hell of a lot better than what I usually picked up from a food truck—I went in search of Horace.