Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 49215 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49215 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
I ran a hand through my hair and scrolled through the photos I’d taken throughout yesterday, and I hoped the others could make use of them. We had eyes on us all the time, so I’d had to take each shot from my hip or when I was sitting down and could hide the phone in my lap.
Main estate to the west, a fucking village area in the middle, then the grand patios for parties and entertainment in the east. All surrounded by thick rainforest—and at this point, constant cloud cover.
The upside to the size of the place was that we felt confident our guys could find hiding spots on their way from the estate to the patios. The lady who was helping us, Liliana, was my new rock star. Fucking Christ, she had to be pushing eighty, but she was so determined to bring down the men who’d gotten her sons killed. She knew this place like the back of her hand, and she had all the access too.
“Come on,” I whispered under my breath. I had to get back out there. Adrien was waiting for me. He had another sit-down with Marco in twenty minutes.
I really wanted to see Shay too. If I could give him a heads-up somehow—
Finally, Coach texted again.
A dozen is better than three. Do you know when the fight begins?
I hesitated, then texted back.
Nothing is fixed around here. the fight is after dinner but that can be anywere between nine and past midnight.
I gave myself twenty seconds. If he didn’t respond in that time, I’d have to check in with him later.
I flushed the toilet once more, in case someone walked by outside.
The guest villas were a perfect blend of luxury and modesty, lots of marble and white-painted structures, then decorations and lights in rich colors. Rugs, art, flowers, tapestries, murals—they hung Colombia and Italy on the walls around here. Inside and out.
Adrien and I had a two-bedroom to ourselves, complete with kitchen and hot tub, not to mention an actual servant we could call whenever. Rafael Delgado was a man of importance to the Blancos. Some of them called him Don.
Relief hit me when Coach’s last text popped up.
We’ll do our best to be ready by nine, could be later. Regardless, you’re there as Mercier’s bodyguard. When the bullets start flying, don’t make yourself a target. Protect Mercier and act like you’re on their side. You can do more damage to the Blancos by pretending to be one of them. Don’t worry, though. We’re not doing anything until we have Mercier on board.
When the bullets start— Fucking great. Shit was gonna blow up.
I had to talk to Adrien.
Reese Tenley
I peered down at the truck and signaled to Joel on the rooftop across the alley. The driver had left, as promised, to make a call in the corner shop nearby.
“All clear up here,” Danny reported behind me. He was keeping watch on surrounding rooftops.
I gave Joel the green light, and he hurriedly jumped over the low wall and down onto the fire escape. Danny and I followed on our building; only, we didn’t have a damn fire escape. We had a rickety drainpipe, one ladder, and two windowsills to jump between. But then we were back on the ground, and Joel opened up the back of the truck.
“Go, go, go,” I whispered.
Joel and Danny went in first, and then I jumped in and closed the doors as silently as possible. After flicking on the headlight on my helmet, I turned around and saw all the crates and boxes with food and beverages.
We all dug out our hiding spots in between the goods, ’cause we had to be prepared for at least a cursory inspection once we arrived at the Blanco gates.
“Get comfy, boys—it’s going to be a long and bumpy ride,” Danny murmured.
Four hours on dirt roads. Fun times. We were finally here, though. We’d made it.
“I’ll give Em an update,” I said quietly.
Crew Finlay
I suppressed a yawn and resisted the urge to check the time.
Cartel fuckers sure could talk forever.
I remained standing outside the doors of Marco Blanco’s office, in his not-so-modest villa, and I wasn’t alone. He had four of his own personal security detail watching my every move.
It had to be past noon. Maybe an hour or so before Reese, Joel, and Danny would arrive.
I cleared my throat quietly and tried to listen in. I’d caught bits and pieces of what Adrien and Marco were discussing earlier, all thanks to Enzo, who seemed to have an interest in occasionally speaking English. Unfortunately, it wasn’t technically his sit-down, and he’d left after about an hour.
Marco wasn’t a fan of English.
What I’d learned was still important. Marco was in touch with Luiz Gajero directly. Just as Adrien had begun suspecting yesterday. And Marco was torn between killing off Luiz—and Carillo and Vincente, for that matter—and making that deal. Because the deal would result in a fuckload of money. A whole new operations network in Europe—and holding a past betrayal over Carillo’s head meant Marco could squeeze a bigger profit out of them. You want my forgiveness? You give me more. And so on.