by Ali Vali
“Thanks,” Shelby said softly, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. “And I really am sorry. After the chance you took, you didn’t deserve that betrayal.” Shelby’s car arrived, and she waved before tipping the valet and leaving.
“I had them wrap it to go,” Kristen said when she got back inside.
“I’m sorry.” And she really was since her body at the moment didn’t understand or care about her heart or her head.
“The night’s not over, baby, but maybe the next part should be Vincent’s chicken on the sofa and an old movie.”
“How’d you get to be so smart?” she said as the waiter came back with a bag and instructions to leave without worrying about the bill.
“My sister’s taught me many things, but the most important is that nothing you want for your future can be built on the wreckage of the past. You’ve got to sweep it away so you can lay a new foundation. That woman was your past, and in the light of day, maybe tomorrow or the next day, you’ll see a glimpse of the future.” Kristen reached for her hand and smiled. “This time, though, you don’t have to worry about the soundness of what you want to build.”
“I’m beginning to see that even in the darkness.”
Chapter Twenty
“I’m not telling you what to do, but keep your mouth shut and listen to this guy carefully,” Santino said as they sat outside on the veranda of their suite. The resort they’d picked was full of tourists trying to escape the cold of the northern United States, but the crowd would also prevent a surprise attack if Roth tried to double-cross them.
“I know what I’m doing,” Nunzio said, already aggravated.
“How the hell do you think I’ve lived this long and your father didn’t?”
The question was as effective as a slap, and Nunzio peered at him, remembering who his grandfather was and how important he was to his future. Santino was older, but he’d built an empire out of what his father had left him, and he’d done it one vicious act at a time.
“I didn’t spend all my time trying to prove something to everyone around me except to the most important person.”
“In my case I guess that’d be you, right?”
“Where in the fuck did I go wrong with your father, because as sure as hell whatever he taught you, like him you’re always the victim no matter the situation?”
Nunzio cocked his fists and moved back, ready to hit Santino and send him packing to Florida to rot. “You’re just like him. When things are out of your control, you lash out at me because you think I’m stupid.”
“Keep acting like this and you’ll prove me right. The person you have to prove yourself to isn’t me or any other man you know. Look in the mirror and try to gain some respect for yourself.” Santino got up and buttoned his jacket. “Until then you’re like a little kid going around trying to be the loudest, as if that’ll prove you’re the smartest and the strongest. That’ll get you killed before you leave here, and I refuse to sit around and watch that. I’ve already buried my son, so one of your goons can take care of that for you.”
The old man started walking, and if he called him back he’d be right back where he started when he was under Junior’s thumb and disapproval. “Wait,” he said, not having the guts to chance it.
“Before you say anything else,” Santino said, not turning around, “I’m not here to put you in your place. I’m here to teach you what Junior refused to learn. That’s it. Agree to that, and you’ll live to see your grandson take over what you’ve built. Don’t, and you’ll be keeping your father company in that marble box.”
“All right, but you should know my father thought you lived this long because you’re a coward not capable of taking chances.” He couldn’t help but throw out the one shot he knew would inflict the most pain.
“We have in common our feelings for my son, Nunzio, but stop wasting your time trying to find ways to hurt me. If you think I didn’t know exactly who Junior was and what he thought, then you’re as stupid as he told me you were, and I’ve given you too much credit,” Santino said, skillfully twisting the knife he’d unsheathed himself. “That you said it at all means I’m wasting my time with you, so good luck.”
“Wait,” he yelled, but this time it was from fear of being alone. “I’m sorry, Nino. I know I’ve got to control myself better, but I can’t get my father out of my head.” Santino had stopped but hadn’t turned around. “I need you here and with me. Please…I’m sorry.”
The knock came before Santino could answer, and Nunzio fully expected his grandfather to open the door and keep walking, but Santino welcomed whoever it was. “Thank you for coming, Mr. Kalina. My grandson is right out here.” Santino walked back with him and smiled at him as if to say they were fine.
They all shook hands, and Kalina’s men waited outside the door, so he poured the sangria he’d ordered and put his sunglasses back on. “Considering Roth Pombo set this up, I want to thank you for coming. I realize it’s not something you had to do,” Nunzio said.
Cesar glanced between him and Santino but said nothing as he took a few sips of his drink. “Santino Luca, you I recognize, but you I don’t know,” Cesar said finally. “I seldom talk, much less do business with someone I don’t know.”
“Have we met?” Santino asked, and Nunzio decided to follow his advice and stay quiet.
“I was at one of Junior’s infamous parties, and you were sitting in the corner looking down your nose at everyone there.” Cesar drained his glass and laughed. “I’m sure it’s because there was a time people like me bowed and scraped at your feet and were happy with the scraps you gave us. To treat us as equals that night seemed to be too much to bear.”
“A healthy ego is necessary in this business, but I was fair with everyone I dealt with.”
Cesar laughed again as he poured himself another drink. “I’m shitting with you. I’m here because you did business with my uncle years ago. Roth can’t touch me now, so I’m not here because of him. My uncle, though, he vouch for you, so what you have in mind?”
“Roth and his representatives are under the impression he took the fall for you, or something like that,” Santino said, and brought his glass up, but Nunzio doubted he tasted the sweet wine. “Are you done with him?”
“Roth Pombo’s a smart man and a loyal man, so I’m not done with him at all. He make me a lot of money when things were good and stayed quiet when he could help himself by talking.” An uproar came from the direction of the pool, but it was only a group of kids having fun so they all relaxed. “Roth want out, I know this, but not to restart the business he had. If he out he can still be valuable.”
“What’s he interested in then, revenge?” Nunzio asked, and Cesar shook his head.
“It happens to all of us some time, but you have to learn to control it, or you land in a place where the lights never go out and it make you crazy.” Cesar twirled his finger next to his ear. “He went loco before the federales stuck him in that fucking cement box, but it was because of the woman he meet, so he fell in love and he surrender to protect her more than me. I never thought it was because he owe me too much. Many look, but we all know she end up with the money. A lot of it.”
“What do you want with him?” Nunzio asked, and his grandfather cleared his throat.
“The same thing you want. Roth make the route, and the product always get there safe. No problem through customs or anywhere.”
“How do we get him out?”
“It take a little time and plenty pesos, but I have a business deal for you,” Cesar said and held up his glass for a toast. “We must all show a little faith in the other to make it work though, so think about it.”
“Give us something to think about,” Santino said as he tapped his glass to Cesar’s.
“I’ll give you that and a shipment. You don’t need no money.”
“What’s the catch?” Nunzio said, knowing no one in this business gave you anything except a bullet to the brain if you let your guard down.
“The shipment will be your responsibility from here to the street. Once you see how much you make, you buy Roth’s freedom. You see from this how hard it’ll be, so you understand how important it is to get him out.” Cesar got up and shook their hands again. “You have a few days to decide. If your answer no, don’t stay here too long. Mexico is not safe for tourists who go looking for trouble.”
*
Freddie dipped his finger in a pile of coke and ran it along his gums. For the last few days it was the only way to keep the boredom away, but he’d had enough. Nunzio and the old man had left him here like some fucking flunky, no matter what Nunzio said about it being an important job. At least Santino had been more honest about it when he’d come by to see him before they left on the trip he was supposed to go on. The old man had promised to kill him if he didn’t start learning to take orders, and until he did, he’d be doing this kind of shit.
Proving himself worthy of the great Lucas, though, was about to make him go fucking mad staring at the empty apartment except for the mounds of drugs they’d stolen from Hector.
“Fuck this,” he said, heading to the bathroom and turning on the shower. His buzz was driving his need to be around people, even if it was in a bar. When he was clean, he dressed and headed out with the keys and pass Nunzio had left by the door.
It was late, and all he could find open was the bar at the Piquant, but all that mattered was it was full of people having fun and getting drunk. He smiled when he saw all the women sitting alone. Maybe fucking someone would be motivation enough to finish packing all that shit waiting on him back in the condo. He hadn’t let go of the notion that Nunzio would actually share it with him since the mountain of white powder was there because of him, and him alone. The fucker would eventually show a little gratitude and respect.
“Beer and a shot of vodka,” he said to the bartender when the woman got close enough.
He glanced around the room, and none of the women he stared at seemed too interested since they gave that usual disgusted expression when he looked them up and down, so he concentrated on the beauty sitting close to him. “Can I get you something?” he asked, and the woman turned her barstool toward him. Fuck, he thought as he saw the scar that ran up the otherwise pretty face.
“Does this bother you?” she said, outlining the entire thing with her index finger.
“Nah,” he lied, figuring he could always fuck with his eyes closed. “I just want to buy you a drink. Give her another of what she’s having,” he said when the woman put his order down. “You new to town or just visiting?”
“I’m a new resident, but I needed a drink before I went to bed. You use all your FEMA money on that suit?”
The dig broke through his high, but he didn’t say anything rude. “How’d you know it’s a new suit?”
“You forgot to uncover one of the expensive buttons,” she said reaching over and taking the tissue paper off the bottom one, and her accent intrigued him. “Off the rack but nice.” She ran her fingers along the lapel and went back to her drink.
“I work for Nunzio Luca, so money’s not my problem.” He threw the shot back and coughed a little when it burned the back of his throat.
Nicolette was about to leave to get away from this loser, but the name he mentioned sounded familiar. “Give my friend another shot and I’ll be right back.” She stood and placed her hand on his chest. “Promise you won’t run off.”
“I’ll be right here, beautiful.”
In the bathroom, after checking to see if she was alone, she called home and smiled when she got Luce. “Remind me again who Nunzio Luca is.”
“He’s a dealer trying to rebuild what his father had before he got killed, from what I understand,” Luce said, not bothering with small talk since she hadn’t either. “Compared to Hector, he’s small and not worth wasting time on.”
“What about—” She started to ask another question, but the line had gone dead. “You were always a child, weren’t you?”
She came back, glad to see this idiot had followed directions, so she smiled at him and chose to sit next to him. “So you really work for Luca?” she asked as she put her hand on his leg. “I hear he’s a bad man, but that sounds so exciting.”
“He’s not too bad, but like every boss, he can be an asshole. I’m like his right hand, so pretty soon I’m going to be a big man here. At least a guy with a load of cash who can buy you nice shit.”
From the look of him and his eyes, he was high, and probably not from beer and vodka. “Really? Does he really sell drugs?” she whispered in his ear as her hand went higher. “I always wanted to fuck someone like that.” It would’ve been too fast had it been any other guy, but she figured this little man full of himself was as easy to break as straw. If he had what she guessed he did, she could cut Marisol and her father loose. She wouldn’t need either of them going forward.
“Fuck me instead then,” he said and laughed, putting his hand over hers as if to make sure it didn’t disappear. “I sell the drugs for him, and we’re about to make a killing.”
Hell, this was so easy she thought it might be a setup. “Are you sure you should be talking about this?”
“Who you going to tell?” Freddie said and laughed as he downed his second shot. “I’m glad I got out of that fucking room for a little while, because you were right here waiting for me.”
It amazed her that someone this stupid could function on a daily basis. What was Nunzio Luca thinking having someone like this on his payroll? “What room?”
“That I can’t tell you.” He shook his finger in her face, his pupils so dilated she wondered if he was seeing her clearly. “Nunzio would kill me for that. What’s your name, anyway?”
“I’m Nic, and I’m good at keeping secrets,” she said, moving her hand again until it covered his crotch. “If we go back to your place I’ll show you just how badly I want to fuck someone who’s no nice guy.”
“We can go to your place. Can’t take you to mine.” He held her hand and rubbed it over his hardening dick, closing his eyes.
“Not unless you want to meet my husband.” She broke his hold and stood up. “Maybe some other time.”
“Wait.” He ran his hands over his head, messing up his hair to the point it was standing straight up on his head. “Fuck me.” He kept at it as if trying to make a decision in his inebriated state. “Okay, but if you tell anyone I’ll kill you. Understand?”
“Perfectly. Hell, I don’t even know your name,” she said, shaking her head slightly when her people began to follow them out. “So you scored big, huh?” she said as they walked in a weaving pattern down the street, the guy practically hanging on her, trying to reach over her neck to her breasts. She figured she was on her way to finding Hector’s stolen stash.
“Real big, and twice too. It was all me, and I brought it to Mr. Luca, so that’s how I got up that ladder so quick. A year ago I was selling dime bags on the corner, and now I’m sitting on a big pile of shit waiting to make my fortune.”
“Then you need to tell me your name, so I’ll get wet thinking about tonight when I hear them mention you on the news.”
“It’s Freddie, baby, and you’ll get plenty wet tonight when I take care of you.” The building behind the Hilton by the river wasn’t where she thought they’d be going, but Freddie came to a sudden stop when he saw the front of the place swarming with cops. “Fuck, no,” he said holding on to her for what now felt like real support. “I’m a fucking dead man.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Katlin stood in the shadows of Harrah’s casino across from Remi’s building and watched the cops respond to the call she’d placed earlier. After an extensive search, it would’ve had to be the third-to-last apartment they looked in, but it’d been worth it. The condo two floors under Simon and Juno’s place was full of drugs, and a lot of it had Hector’s markings on the bags. That answered the question of who’d stolen from Hector, and it also meant their call to the police effectively kep
t it out of Hector’s reach. A double win as far as Katlin was concerned.
“So Sept got the cavalry there in time?” Cain asked over the phone.
“The cavalry and the marines, from the looks of it. Place is swarming with cops, so hopefully Remi’s home to keep them from getting creative.”
“I called her so that’s not a problem.” Katlin heard someone come in and say something. “Hang on,” Cain said as she obviously listened. “When?”
“What is it?”
“Merrick said the alarm on the warehouse in Destrehan just went off. Someone broke in.”
“You want me to go?” she asked, starting her two-block walk back to her car.
“I want you back here, but call and pick up Finley before you get here. We need to have a talk.”
“Cain, are you sure?” She quickened her steps but didn’t run with so many cops around. Running in situations like this was like screaming you were guilty of something. “That place is full of inventory, so we need to get someone over there unless you want to see what’s happening here play out over there as well.”
“We’ll talk about it when you get back, but be careful with Finley for now. Eventually she’ll be free to come and go as she pleases, but I’d like for the Antakov thing to die down a bit.” Cain hung up and glanced at Merrick. “This’ll be the shortest vacation ever.”
“Not necessarily, but we knew this might happen. You can plan for everything, but someone’s still going to blame you for something.” Merrick sat down and rubbed the side of her head.
“You feeling okay?” she asked, coming around the desk to join her. “I don’t want you pushing yourself to the point of pain.”