Devil's Claim: A Dark Mafia Romance (Devil's Syndicate Book 2), page 25
She huffed her annoyance and squeezed my arm, leaning in. “Don’t let him bother you. He’s this way all the time. Insufferable.” She tossed her husband a hateful look before walking away.
Suddenly two of the men Diego had been talking with moved closer. I guess I’d make my point while in the company of a few hundred people. At least my finesse could come into play. I took a sip of my drink, keeping one hand shoved into my trouser pocket.
He shifted from foot to foot, waiting until his buddies moved closer. “I’m surprised you’re here, Mr. Blanco.”
“Why would that be? I’ve come to reclaim a shipment that was wrongly obtained. As you might imagine, theft of my property isn’t acceptable.”
“Your property.” He laughed and so did his minions. “I thought you worked for someone. Am I to assume you’ve taken control?” He believed he could make me uncomfortable. He had no clue what I was made of.
“Well, let’s just say I have total control of product development and sales. What I say goes. With everyone.”
“I see,” he mused. “What a shame I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you were attempting to sell illegal product, using our beautiful country to traffic your wares, then I applaud my hard-working men in their efforts to sweep the streets of a dangerous substance.” His voice was loud enough the deep baritone provided a show for those closest to the circle.
I laughed along with the group as I took a step forward. He took it as a threat, his entire body bristling.
He was right.
While a smile remained on my face, I was direct with my comments. I had no interest in belaboring the bullshit or spending more time with the man. He reeked of lies and scandal. While patience wasn’t my virtue, I allowed myself a long swallow of the expensive liquor before responding to his soliloquy. “I’m certain that a man like yourself can appreciate every organization’s struggle to keep product on their shelves. Some even risk their lives to ensure quality and timely service. When something gets in the way of the production model, that makes upper management cranky as fuck. In turn, I’ll do anything I can to ensure the mishap, which is what I’m going to call the situation, is rectified. At all costs.”
I allowed the words to linger, taking a few seconds to look his minions in the eyes. They were both annoyed and concerned. I was getting somewhere.
“Are you threatening me, Mr. Blanco?”
My grin was wide. “Not at all, Diego.” I purposely used his first name. His title meant shit since he was on the take. “You understand and value profit. Even if you are serving the good of your people. I’m certain you’re intelligent enough to comprehend what I’m promising. After all, I owe it to the hardworking men and women working in my employ. Now, I’m certain there’s been a mix-up and that’s acceptable. What I won’t accept is any further delay. Do I have your assurance that the cargo will be provided to the shipper of my choice by tomorrow evening?”
Diego’s eyes flashed and he gritted his teeth. The tension was palpable, but I could tell by his unfocused gaze he knew the threat was very real. “I’ll check with my people.”
“You do that. If I need to go over your head, which I don’t want to do, then I will. However, I doubt you’ll appreciate the method that I use to rectify the situation.” I held out my hand for him to shake, curious if he would continue the charade for his lavish guests. While he accepted the handshake with a smile, his eyes had narrowed. The asshole was determining whether I’d made good on my… word. Perhaps I’d need to provide him with a sample of what I could do. “Thank you so much for inviting me to such a fabulous event. I wish you much continued success in your career.”
“Likewise, Mr. Blanco. I’m always happy to make friends with someone of such high esteem.”
His words were said with conviction, but the fear in his eyes and the sweat beading across his forehead were a dead giveaway he knew he was on thin ice.
I nodded to the others before backing away, once again scanning the room to see who’d been playing close attention. As expected, there were several leaders of gangs rival to Eduardo’s operations, brutal savages who pretended to cater to Diego’s needs. As with almost everyone in the room, they were merely playing a game of cat and mouse.
Something I couldn’t quite ascertain nagged the back of my mind. I stopped long enough to sweep the room again.
The use of games had no place in the Torres regime. We prided ourselves in being straightforward in every aspect of business.
Which was why for me the night’s business had been concluded. I’d stated the consequences for continuing to follow the path Diego was on. However, I remained inside the estate, pretending to admire Diego’s collection of garish art while I finished my drink. I’d seen Eduardo chatting with the man in charge of the Mexican military, another blowhard with little sense of responsibility. He was also the second most corrupt man in politics. But he did have an affinity for Cuban cigars, which Eduardo supplied on a regular basis.
I checked my watch, more than eager for the evening to be concluded. Tomorrow would be spent ensuring Diego did as instructed. If not, my trip would need to be extended. That wouldn’t make me a happy man. Leaving Christine had raised several red flags. While she was in good hands with Genevieve and the soldiers guarding her, my absence made for a perfect opportunity for a personal attack.
Before I had an opportunity to inform Eduardo it was time to leave, the discussion he was involved in took a turn. Diego was red-faced and close to shouting. His uncontrollable anger was another reason I loathed the self-indulgent pig.
Before I had a chance to intervene, Eduardo abruptly turned, slammed his drink on a table, and walked into the hallway leading to the foyer. Whatever had been said inspired a smirk with the others in the conversation.
I placed my drink on the bar before heading out, finding Eduardo already instructing two of his men to retaliate.
“We’re leaving,” I told him. “Before you do something stupid.”
Eduardo snarled. “You don’t know what I just lost in there. I had everything under control until some fucking Moroccan asshole came into the picture.”
“What did you say?” I stated in a calm voice as I got in his face.
He remained flustered. “Some asshole attempting to weasel his way into Mexico. That’s not going to happen.”
“Jamal Fassi?”
His eyebrows furrowed. “You know him.”
“I know of him. Have you had contact?”
“Are you shitting me? I doubt he’ll step foot in this country. He has more than one target on his back.”
Exhaling, I took a few seconds to scan the area. “I suggest we leave now.” Did that mean I could trust the man? No, but I doubted he was double-crossing us. If Fassi knew about his relationship with Jago, Eduardo also had a target on his back.
“I’m here for one reason only, Eduardo. Because you refused to come through on your end of the bargain with regard to our shipment. If I had my way, we wouldn’t be standing here talking. Since it seems Diego has had a change of heart, spend your time and energy on ensuring he follows through instead of inciting a war. And stay away from Fassi.”
Jago had learned to deal with Eduardo’s constant push at doing things his way. I hadn’t and never would. At least tonight, he knew better than to push.
“Fine, amigo, but I don’t appreciate your tone. You are my guest.”
“And you’re our business partner.”
Eduardo shook his head. “Get the valet. It would seem we’re leaving,” he told the two men, immediately turning away from me. As usual, he pulled out a cigar and a cutter, concentrating on lighting his smoke while his men obeyed his orders.
I shoved my hands into my pockets, eager to return to the hotel. Nights like this had always put me on edge. Too much wide-open space. Too many distractions. Very little security, although Diego had long ago deemed himself impenetrable, a force to be reckoned with.
Much like Eduardo.
There was no such thing as being too cautious.
Fassi was in too many places. Perhaps he was attempting to play us for fools.
Benito headed in my direction, but I waved him off. This wasn’t about siding against Eduardo but about preventing him from doing something stupid that would place both our lives in danger.
From where I stood, the outdoor music had a direct line around the end of the house, loud enough I could no longer hear even a portion of Eduardo’s conversation. However, a man in my position had learned early on to pay attention to the anomalies. When I noticed a single man standing in all black smoking a cigarette, I paid attention. When it was obvious he nodded to someone then stubbed out the smoke, I unbuttoned my jacket.
The nagging feeling increased.
The moment I noticed movement coming from two directions, I had my fingers wrapped around the handle of my weapon. No matter the age, training, or anger within an assailant, they always glanced toward their intended victim prior to pulling the trigger.
In this case, there were three men, their faces pinned on Eduardo. There was no time to shout a warning. I simply reacted, racing toward Eduardo and lunging off the ground just as the sound of rapid gunfire shattered the night’s festivities.
With the house a solid fifty yards away, the moment Eduardo was on the ground, I twisted and rolled, firing off several shots without fear of hitting innocent guests.
Screams erupted, chaos ensuing. I sprinted to my feet, firing off another shot as an unknown assailant launched himself in my direction. The bullet caught him in the chest, the close proximity and the force of the Glock pummeling him backward. Guests were running from the house, another horrified scream tearing the air as I pumped another two bullets into the bastard.
When I swung around, I caught sight of Benito and one of Eduardo’s men racing toward the direction of the initial gunfire. Another was attempting to shove Eduardo into the back of the SUV. Drowning out the other noise, I concentrated on scanning the perimeter just as a vehicle careened up the driveway.
The windows were down, assault rifles sticking from the open, shadowed space. There was no time for hesitation. I fired off several rounds, Benito doing the same. Several pinged off the side, more off the windshield. The vehicle was basically bulletproof. I followed the line of sight as the driver tried to speed off, catching the assailant in the front passenger seat just as he passed.
His limp body hung out the window, the man in the rear jerking away from sight.
People were everywhere, spilling out onto the front lawn, trying to flee the scene.
I turned in a full circle, surveying the scene. One of Eduardo’s men was down, his vacant eyes staring toward the sky. Another was injured, blood seeping through his fingers from where he was holding his arm.
Exhaling, I turned my head toward Eduardo, the man’s eyes staring directly at me from the comfort and safety of his SUV.
After taking a deep breath, I headed in his direction.
“You’re the one who has a target on your back,” I hissed.
“I guess I owe you,” he stated so no one else could hear.
I glanced down, taking a deep breath. “Keep that in mind.”
CHAPTER 28
Christine
Mirrors could be cruel or kind.
Reflections told no lies.
Christine Callahan no longer stared back at me. Gone was her signature long, fiery red hair that taken her years to grow out. It had been replaced with a stylish haircut, the length just past my shoulders, lightly feathered on the sides with thick bangs. Even the color was different, more a deep copper, the vivid hue highlighting green eyes that could only be changed with contacts. I’d put my foot down there.
The look was different, adding a sophisticated touch that up to this point hadn’t mattered to me. The change was recommended for two reasons, one being able to hide in plain sight if anyone from the United States was looking for me. The other was all about appearing knowledgeable in a field still heavily dominated by men.
With the dark pantsuit and blood-red lips, I looked ready to annihilate a Fortune 500 company. The thought brought a smile and I blew a kiss at myself. I’d never thought I was pretty, partially because my father had made snide comments about my appearance my entire life. Well, I had to wonder if my father would recognize me now.
As I headed from the bathroom, I studied the flurry of activity. The catering company was putting the final touches on our little soiree being offered to the three men from the county here to sign off on the first occupancy permit.
I studied the beautiful space, the lighting spectacular and perfect for accentuating sparkling jewels. The walls were muted shades adding warmth while the fixtures themselves were modern and sleek, providing ample opportunity for customers to see the products while being protected behind bulletproof glass. Even the artwork and plush furniture worked perfectly with the store’s design. I was no expert, but it seemed Genevieve had outdone herself.
The only thing missing were the diamonds.
I walked closer to the front, checking my watch, the very expensive watch. To the tune of almost one hundred thousand American dollars. From the time my father had started making money, he’d purchased my mother pricey watches. Why the hell had Kruz bought it for me? While exquisite, I’d never had or wanted anything so expensive.
“Stop fidgeting,” Genevieve told me. “You look incredible and tonight will be a breeze.”
“Why is it every time I hear something like that, the opposite usually happens?”
She laughed and headed toward the selection of fancy canapes. The entire scene reminded me of the parties my mother had thrown when I was a teenager. By then, we were living in a big house with a small staff that catered to my parents’ whims. “Stop.”
“I mean it. I feel like I’m going to throw up in my mouth a little bit.”
“Don’t do that. It’s a short meeting. Within forty-eight hours, everything will be approved and the property deeded. This is merely a formality.” I knew her well enough after spending almost a week working with her that her eyes told no lies.
She was also nervous, but for a different reason than feeling out of place like I did. What hadn’t she told me?
The two soldiers that stood watching everything like hawks on steroids were also antsy, although I’d gathered being on edge was in their job descriptions. They were huge, rarely saying anything, but I had a feeling they could easily beat anyone to death with their bare hands. Forget the lethal weapons.
The one man I did like was her commander, Emiliano Sanchez, who stood off to the side. He acted more fatherly than anything, although he also worked with and for Jago so his presence was on and off. Tonight, he was on guard, making certain we were both protected, his viewpoint allowing him to see the comings and goings on the busy Barcelona street. The funny thing was that he was beaming for Genevieve. I could see it. Even the brooding man couldn’t hide his emotions.
Like Kruz could do. Sure, he’d gotten much better at bantering with me, even laughing, although not often. Rarely now did he stare at me as if I had green skin and antennas for ears. Yet his expressions were almost blank. Only his dazzling eyes gave any indication he was angry or frustrated, his two favorite emotions.
“The store is incredible,” I told her.
“Come here. I want to show you something.” She moved toward the back of the first group of counters. As she reached down, I sensed she was unlocking one of the drawers. When she pulled out a huge tray holding rings, brooches, diamond watches, bracelets, and necklaces all in an artistic display, I was floored.
“My God. These are stunning.”
“Aren’t they? When this entire diamond thing started, I drew some rough sketches of designs and had a jeweler friend of mine create them first in cubic zirconium, then in priceless diamonds.”
I lifted a single eyebrow as I looked at her. “Didn’t you tell me this all came about a couple weeks ago?”
She shrugged and tossed her long hair over her shoulder, her smile full of mischief. “Maybe I’ve been planning this since Jago captured the millions of dollars’ worth of the finest diamonds in the world.”
“You’re incorrigible. You didn’t keep any of the dazzling baubles. Did you?”
The sly woman smiled as she held up her wrist. The diamond bracelet she wore was incredible. “Shush. Maybe one or two. Honest. That’s all. Here. I thought you might want to see this one.”
She pointed to a ring that was bedazzled under the 5000 Kelvin bulbs. The sparkle was almost blinding. “Beautiful.”
“Try it on.”
“Why?”
“I’m your boss. Just try it on.”
I’d come to value her immediate friendship as well as her tutelage. We were kindred spirits in many ways, although I had a feeling she was much tougher than I was, given her upbringing. “Not until you tell me why.”
“Because you’re getting married.”
My sigh should be a clear indication I wasn’t ready to consider talking about the wedding or any aspect of the marriage. “I don’t think so.”
“Just do it. I understand you’re still under the belief your marriage is by contract only, but fate has a way of changing everything without you realizing it.”
“That’s not going to happen. Kruz has no interest in anything but earning money and keeping his reputation.”
Genevieve laughed and pulled the ring from the soft velvet, holding it out. “Is that what he told you? If he did, that’s bullshit. His reputation is intact, his actions legendary.”
I wasn’t certain what she was getting at, but I slipped the ring on my finger. “That is gorgeous.”
“Absolutely perfect for you.”
My actions were playful, taking a step back and holding out my arm while offering a goofy pose. We both laughed since that was so not me, but it felt good to be with a friend for a change. Even if tonight was all about moving forward.
