part0026

E arlier that morning, I had received a phone call from one of Dávilo’s men, telling me that my boss, Dante was in the area and that he planned on stopping by. Only, I knew he wasn’t in the area because I lived on an island in the middle of the Southern Pacific Ocean. I preferred it that way. Defensively, there were only two ways to get to the island—by boat or aircraft. Both of which were easily detectable from my position.

The island was equipped with its own short runway and helipad, and because of the steep rocks on the west, the points of entry were limited. There was always the possibility of someone scaling the cliff, but even then, their boat would have been thrown into the rocks long before they made it halfway up the wall.

It was defensibly a fortress, but that’s just it, the island could be my own death trap if invaded correctly. I had taken a few precautions should that ever happen but have yet to have to test them.

It had been a long, rough night, I had barely slept and now, first thing in the morning, I had already read the package Enzo had put together, confirming my speculations about Addy’s father and the role he secretly played in the Mendina Cartel; I had dealt with her second panic attack, and survived a shit show of a lunch with Addy and Dávilo.

As we approached my office doors, I grabbed Addy’s arm, pulling her to me so that there was no denying my words. “You have no idea how dangerous he is. He’s a shark, and you’re just blood in the water.” My voice was hushed but sharp, “Not another word,” I hissed.

A second later, Dávilo opened the doors, swinging them wide as he made his normal grand entrance. Always so dramatic. Being the head of a cartel afforded you that right. As expected, three of his armed bodyguards rounded the corner and stationed themselves at the end of the hallway. He was traveling lighter than normal, I thought to myself.

“He can’t be any worse than you,” she snarled, pulling her arm free and walking ahead of me into the office.

She walked with a newfound courage and confidence, or maybe it was hope. I could see how she looked at him, completely oblivious to the nature of the man before her. She knew nothing of the world I lived in, nothing of the dangers that surrounded her, and part of me didn’t have the grit to be the one to tell her.

I watched as Addy circled around my desk, trailing her hand across the mahogany wood and looking me square in the eye as she took my seat behind the desk. The wine had given her an unbounded amount of courage.

Now was not the time to be difficult , I thought.

In Dávilo’s eyes, she was my guest, but that didn’t give her the right to disrespect me. Walking over to her, I fought the urge to grab her arm again and pull her out of my chair. But instead, I gritted my teeth, trying my best at civility first, “Get up. Now.”

She grinned at me, knowing full and well she was getting under my skin. Smirking all the while, she got up and moved over to the chair she always sat in while Dávilo stood a few feet away, admiring from a distance .

Dante laughed as he watched her little show. “You’re quite brave,” he said, looking at her. “I know men who wouldn’t have the balls to do that.” She only shrugged her shoulders. “I can see why he can’t take his eyes off you,” he laughed. “You’re trouble!”

Dante Dávilo, a rugged man, as tall as I was but heavier, laughed, amused at her audacity. His laugh was full of warmth and affection heavy on his voice. That was the part of him that people rarely saw. To anyone else, he was a firm, fearful leader, and he taught me everything I know. I owed this man everything I had today, and if he hadn’t picked me up off the street that night, I wasn’t sure where I’d be.

I respected Dávilo; after all, he had taken me under his wing when I was young, but I didn’t always agree with his business tactics. He had worked his way up, all the way from a mule to the man in charge and in an impressive matter of time too. Dávilo had raised me, introduced me to this life, and in so doing, I became the best at what I did. Even Dávilo had to wonder just how far I’d go, but for now, he believed I was content with where I was—his number two.

Looking down at my watch, I saw it was only one in the afternoon. It had been a long day already; my head pounded, and now I found myself unprepared for these surprising turn of events.

Suddenly, I wondered how Dávilo had arrived here without me hearing it. Was I so distracted with Addy, I hadn’t heard him arrive?

There was no way he had brought the jet; the runway was being used to house some of Savoy’s empty shipping containers at the moment. They would be gone shortly, I reminded myself. It was a bit comforting to know it was only his helicopter and not his jet, at least it brought the number of men he had with him down to a few instead of a small task force. Had he heard about the incident at the Arauca border? Was that why he was here?

I was never one for pleasantries first. I’d much rather get straight to the point, getting the business out of the way. There could have been a handful of reasons for his visit today, some being of lesser concern, but it wasn’t those I was worried about.

“Lily,” I said, reminding myself to use the name I had just given her, “Why don’t you head back to your room? We’ve got some business to discuss.” Once again, I tried pushing her away from Dávilo, but the man was impossible.

“I know what you’re doing,” he laughed, “So quick to get to business. Can’t I just enjoy the company of mi hijo ?” he asked, patting me hard on the back and walking toward the bay of windows on the far side of my office.

He stood at the window, watching the water crash down on the rocks below, just as Addy had done the other day. Addy . I glanced over to her as she watched us both intensely. She was looking at the phone on my desk again, hoping I wouldn’t catch her, but when I did, and our gazes met, she only smiled.

Don’t do it. I shook my head, warning her.

Dávilo turned his attention back to us. “Let her stay,” he said, “I’m not worried about those beautiful lips of hers. And besides, there’s still so much more I want to know about your lovely friend… Lily, was it?”

Just then, I recognized that hesitation, or really, not hesitation at all, but a purposeful jab. Dávilo was toying with me. Did he know who she really was? Or was this visit about something more?

Maybe he hadn’t heard about the mess with Savoy yet. Dávilo walked over to the sofa, unbuttoning his suit jacket as he took a seat. “Lily, dear, would you pour me a drink, please?” he asked, nodding toward the decanter on the table behind my desk.

She looked up at me, shocked but willing. She got up and walked over to the scotch and poured two neat glasses of the hundred-fifty-year-old delicacy. She handed the first glass to Dávilo and then held on tight to the second glass as she clanked her glass with his and took a sip.

As she walked past me back to her seat, I grabbed the glass from her hand and gave her another chilling warning.

“You know,” he started to say, “It’ll be a real treat to have you at the Showing. I can only imagine my friends’ and colleagues’ faces when they meet you.” Turning his attention to me, I was still watching her, waiting for her to ask him for help. “You’ll need to get this woman something more presentable for the party, and I’ll take care of everything else on my end,” Dávilo said.

“The Showing. I want her there,” he said flatly. The atmosphere had shifted in an instant. It wasn’t the friendly, fatherly Dávilo that I had grown up with. No, this was his power persona.

That’s not why she was here, and clearly, Dávilo was clueless about her real purpose to me, but it was the only way to keep her identity a secret. I had to play along.

He couldn’t be serious—the Showing was in two weeks. “No. I don’t think that’s wise,” I said, my voice was hard. And there it was; we were talking business.

“That’s not your call to make,” he said, but when he saw the confusion on Addy’s face, Dávilo quickly recovered, “I invited her, and after all, she’s our guest.”

“She'll be leaving soon. She won’t be here for the Showing,” I rebutted with the only thing I knew might stop him from pressing this issue further.

Dávilo shook his head. “It wasn’t a request, Gabriel,” his voice was authoritative and hard. “I trust that you’ll make it happen. Delay her trip for a day or two if necessary. It would be a shame to send her home without a proper celebration,” he said, placing his arm on the top of the couch; he looked at ease. Dávilo grabbed his drink again, taking another sip as he looked at me, “Don’t mess this up.”

He knew I wouldn’t be comfortable with the idea, so he was twisting my arm. So now I wasn’t only disappointing him if I didn’t deliver, but he was risking my reputation. Well played, Dávilo, you fucking bastard. Well played.

Dante took another sip of his scotch, setting the glass down on the table in front of him. “Alright,” he said, “You know I’ve always respected you, Gabriel, but even so, some are saying that I’m showing you favoritism. That I’m showing you leniency.”

Favoritism ? I was just about to interrupt him when he continued, “Year after year, you’ve come to the Showing and to the Fall Auction, but never with anyone. Now…I’ve overlooked it on the account that you exceed my expectations in everything else, but I can’t turn a blind eye anymore. You have to step up, take part in the Showing—do your job .” he added emphasis on his words. “Or, I can’t promise I’ll be able to hold off the hyenas at my heels.”

“You can’t be serious Dante. You just said she was a guest ,” I spit his words back at him. My anger started to build, at him mostly, but at myself for not wanting to accept what I had suspected was his motive all along. “Since when do you give a flying fuck about what the others think?” I spat. “After everything I’ve done for this family?”

A moment later, he waved his hand, trying to soothe my anger, “Mi Hijo , you misunderstand me. She is a guest. I’m only saying, come to the Showing, shake a few hands, show off the beautiful woman on your arm—placate them. Put them at ease.”

I ran my hand through my hair, he was making me aggravated. I couldn’t believe what he was telling me. “I’m not in the business of placating people. I’ll run your empire, protect your interests, keep your secrets. But I’ve told you, I want no part of that.” I said, my voice on the edge of a growl. “I’m already doing more than I care for.”

“This isn’t a choice. Do this. Prove everyone wrong, and I can promise we won’t have an issue like this again,” he said.

I had to find a way around this, but I needed space, time to think, and I couldn’t do that with him here in my office, so I nodded my head and placated him as best I could.

Addy looked up from him to me in confusion. I didn’t expect her to understand the words we were exchanging. Dávilo was being vague for a reason—there was no reason he should have to deal with her alarmed tantrum when she found out.

This wasn’t like him. Unless someone else had put a word in his ear, pushing to see her at the Showing. There weren’t many who had influence over Dávilo. I just had to figure out who.

He was making the damage worse. Addy looked lost, confused, and angry as she listened to his words. Any chance I had of gaining her trust was now set back significantly. Not that our visit to the tank had helped.

“Jesus, Gabriel,” he said, laughing. “I’m only asking for you to bring her to the Showing and let her meet a few people.” he continued, “She’s got more balls than most men here. Look at that,” Dante said, “that fire in her eyes. She’d be an asset .” There was that word again. He was talking as if she wasn’t sitting right there, hearing every word he was saying.

Only, I knew what asset implied.

As he said the words, I wasn’t sure if I knew how to reply. Could I tell him that I didn’t think she belonged in our world? She wasn’t like the other girls; she had come from much more, and in the course of a few months, she had it all taken away from her. Her parents, her childhood home, her aspiring job, and now I had taken everything else from her. I needed her safe until I could find out what her father knew.

Quite frankly, I didn’t think she could handle that knowledge right now, so instead, I said, “I’m taking her home after the Showing, and that’s that.” My words implied I wanted to be done with this conversation. Dávilo raised his bushy eyebrows, shocked that I was getting so agitated with him.

I pulled out my phone again and sent him another message and then one to Kane. She didn’t need to hear all of this. The damage already caused by this conversation was going to be hell to pay later on.

“Perhaps we can discuss another matter, then. How about your fiasco with Savoy?” he asked, walking me right into the conversation I was trying to avoid.

Addy sparked up when she heard the name, but thankfully, she remained quiet, watching us carefully. I thought in that moment she was more curious to know what Dávilo had to say than I was, and while it wasn’t ideal, maybe this was salvageable after all.

Rubbing my hand through my hair, I said, “Yes, I’ve had some issues, but it was dealt with.” I was short for a reason, and hopefully, Dávilo would see that this wasn’t exactly a conversation I wanted to have and leave it there.

“That’s what I just said.” I was getting snappy, losing my cool. Why was it that more and more I was losing my control? Was it the mess with Savoy and his now dead mistress and son, Dávilo’s unexpected visit, or was it her ? Was she getting under my skin?

The situation with Savoy was unfortunate, and I would likely have to deal with the repercussions shortly. Dávilo would be leaving soon; I could relax then. He rarely ever stayed more than a day or two. Maybe then, I would feel a bit better. Either way, I needed to blow off steam, and preferably before I lost my cool completely .

Dávilo leaned forward and pulled out a small glass bottle from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. Addy was instantly annoyed when talk of the Mendina Cartel ceased. He removed the small cork and started tapping the contents out onto the table.

“Our latest batch,” he said, “We’ve been working with a new chemist, the purest we’ve ever made. More of a bite in the beginning, but the effects are more stable, longer lasting.” He explained as he sorted the pile into three little lines of snow.

He ran his nose across the first line, snorting nearly all of it in one pass and gestured to me. I knew the second line was intended for me, but I never dared. “No thank you.” And I assumed the third had been for Addy, but that would not be happening. Not under my roof.

Dante quickly made the lines disappear. I had been around the effects of cocaine most of my life; I knew what he was experiencing.

“You know, it’s not a good sign to be giving everyone,” Dávilo said, his eyes already starting to dilate.

With a casual look, he caught my stare. “The one where a high-ranking official in one of the most powerful drug cartels won’t even touch his own product.” he said. “I never understood how I could raise you to the top, teach you everything there was to know, and yet you never touch it.”

I smirked, “Maybe I am where I am because I don’t touch it. I prefer a clear mind and a level head. Both of which I can’t have while under the influence of your drugs.” I snickered.

Dávilo smiled, “Right, because you prefer the women,” he said, chuckling, turning his attention back onto her. “And somehow, I think you’re the wiser of us two. Who needs drugs when sex is so much more powerful?” He grinned wickedly at her.

She’s not yours. I glared possessively.

Shit . What was she doing to me ?

Addy looked disgusted for a moment but quickly regained her composure. The alcohol made her expression much less guarded than normal.

I don’t know what overcame me just then, but I didn’t want him looking at her like that, like she was his for the taking, which was incidentally what he was trying to do by forcing me to bring her to the Showing.

Before Addy could refuse him, the Captain walked in and interrupted. “Sir, sorry to disturb you but Mathias is looking for her.”

“Alright, we were just finished here,” I said firmly. Looking at Addy, I nodded my head in the Captain’s direction and gave her another concrete glare. I wasn’t taking no for an answer.

But she gave me no issues. She wanted out of the room, away from Dávilo the moment she had started to put the pieces together. How much had she figured out?

Later that evening, I found myself still in my office. Dávilo had been gone for a few hours now, and I was finally able to sit down and focus on my work. I had just finished reading the Captain’s report on the Arauca border crossing when I noticed a second one below it. I quickly skimmed the paper, threw it down on the desk, and stormed out of the office.

This was a fucking disaster. It was one thing to deal with yesterday’s fiasco, but no amount of alcohol had made the situation any better, and this latest report, if anything, had my blood boiling.

I pushed past the kitchen and parlor and headed straight for the cargo bay, each step I took was forceful, with purpose. Several of the men looked up at me as I passed, but none of them were bold enough to say anything, knowing full and well to stay clear of me.

The doors to the cargo bay swung hard, hitting the walls with more force than I intended, but my point was made. Both the Captain and Mathias looked up at me, setting their work aside immediately. Approaching me cautiously, the Captain walked with a defined limp still, but it was improving slowly. Ignoring the wandering eyes of the others, I met Mathias and Kane off to the side of the large bay, so that no one could overhear us.

He had no idea what I was talking about judging by the blank look on his face. “Sir, I’m not sure I follow.”

I ran my hand through my hair, “Savoy ambushed one of the outgoing shipments last night—shot the driver and balcaceros dead—walked away with over three hundred kilos of product and burned the vehicle to a crisp.” I gritted my teeth, to keep from saying anything I’d regret later. “How the fuck did this happen?” I asked, my voice slightly more level. “How did Savoy know the shipment route? They were waiting, Kane—they were fucken waiting!” I was fuming, but miraculously, I managed to keep my voice hushed.

Kane knew right then and there what I was thinking, except his problem was that he was always thinking about it, only now, it had happened. Somewhere in my organization was a mole, a traitor to the entire foundation. First the guard and now a shipment—the intruder was stepping up his game. Kane and I made the realization without any spoken words. If this got out, even a rumor, the chances of catching the individuals responsible were slim.

“Be cautious and quiet. I don’t want to stir the men,” I said. The Captain nodded and walked off almost immediately to do what he did best, leaving me alone with the doctor .

Pulling a towel from his coat pocket, Mathias wiped away some of the soot from his hands. “I’ll see what I can do about contacting their families. It’ll have to be closed casket if the bodies were burnt,” he said.

I nodded. That would be another dreaded phone call this week. “No,” I said. “I’ll do it. They were my responsibility.”

Finally, the doctor spoke up, “I know this isn’t good timing, but what do you want to do about Addy?” he asked, “She’s been on edge since yesterday. The last I heard, she had barricaded the door to her room. She is refusing to come out.”

Well, that was a first. I half expected her to start swimming to South America by now. I knew what she had to be thinking, and it was time I dealt with her.

“Try not to trigger a panic attack this time. I’m busy enough as it is with this deadline approaching.” He gave me a warning look. Whether or not he was trying to make light of the situation, I didn’t find it amusing.

Out of everything I had done in my life, the things I had to do to get where I was now, a symbol of power in the cartel—was nothing compared to making that phone call. It was the sixth one this week, far too many.

There was nothing worse than telling parents that their son was never coming home. Some of the men I was responsible for were barely the legal age, and some of them didn’t have anyone or know anything other than the cartel. It wasn’t an easy life, but it was theirs, and they were my responsibility. They deserved better than being washed up on shore or burnt beyond recognition.