“He’s not expecting me?”
“He’s expecting you, but not this way. You take Verónica and he’s going to lose it. She’s his hermana, but he’s got a weird ownership over her.”
I shrugged. It wasn’t that unusual. “I’m sure he’s hoping to marry her off to another cartel, make an alliance.”
“He shot that chance taking out Morales. The other cartels are watching him to see what he’ll do. He’s already moved in on all the Morales ports. It came out that he was Morales’ hijo.”
“How was that received?”
A shrug from him. “There was less resistance to the transition. I think that’s all that was achieved, also made sense to the other cartels about why Morales let Marco live so long and how he expanded so fast.” He leaned forward. “But, compadre, I’m telling you, they are wary of him.”
I eyed him, hearing what he wasn’t saying to me. “You think a cartel war is going to happen?”
“Unless he leaves them alone and focuses only on moving north? Which, I don’t think they think he’ll do.”
“But that’s his plan.”
Abram gave a wary nod. “I think so. He’s pissed that his distributors up north were taken out. Blames you. Does not like your boss.” He whistled, shaking his head. “I gotta say, I’d be shocked if he doesn’t send sicarios after you and your boss at the same time.”
I figured he’d go that route, but not after both of us. I’d need to warn Downer.
I asked, “You know who he’d send?”
He eyed me, then a stiff and slow nod. “I do.”
I’d ask for those names after we handled this first order of business. “We have to move. Did you do what I asked?”
He paused, not answering, and then, “She knows you’re coming and if we leave, we’ll get there in the window she gave us for the approach.”
That’s what I assumed, coming in earlier so I could rest and scout the area. I needed to make sure Abram was coming in on his own. If I’d seen more police activity or any added Estrada men, I wasn’t going to do the meet for Abram. He didn’t know this, but I would’ve bugged him and tracked him, finding my sister on my own and making my own approach. Using him had been a risk, but I needed to see if he’d be an asset for me later.
“Raize.”
I narrowed my eyes, hearing a sudden seriousness come from him. “Yeah?”
As if reading my mind, he said, “I know you want to use me against Marco, but I can’t do that.”
Alarm hitched inside of me. I straightened from the wall. “What do you mean?”
“You called and I knew I either had to turn you into Marco or go with you.” He stood, picking up his gun. “Marco’s going through his men like candy. He’s either popping ’em or tossing them out. He’s dangerous right now. I can’t stay with him. He knows you and I were friends back in the day, that I did reach out for you in Texas. I’m shocked he hasn’t ordered my execution by now.”
Now it made sense. Some of the tension eased in me. “You’re deflecting?”
“I gotta come with you. I’ve heard about your boss, heard he’s ambitious. I figure if you’re still working for him, that says something to you. You think he’d take me on?”
Now we were in a whole different game here.
Abram might’ve reported my call to Marco, and now Marco was being smart, trying to insert one of his men into Roman’s employment. Or not and Abram was being genuine, needing protection when he deflected.
“You still in love with my sister?”
Abram’s eyes got big, and a surprised bark left him. “How’d you know that?”
“You’ve been in love with her for years, the only reason I could think that you stayed with Marco when I left.” It’d been a hunch, until now. “Marco doesn’t know?”
“Hell no.” A hollow laugh ripped from Abram. “He’s—you’re right. He’s eyeing the Colombians to marry her off, and make an alliance with them. When she goes, there goes that connection and they’re going to take it personal. When you whisk her off, he could be facing a war against them, too. You called and stated your case, I knew this was the right path. Not just for Verónica, but this is the move that’ll cripple Marco enough where he might lose some of his power. You’re going to be striking a blow, taking out one of his knees. He’ll fall and we can then see who pounces on him, if they keep him down or not. Everyone’s going to be watching and everyone’s going to know who you are, and what you did. There’s no going back after this, if we get her and get out safely.”
“We will.”
Another laugh from him, this one short and clipped. “Let’s see, brother. But you gotta know that there’s no turning back for you either. You’ll either have to go all the way up the ladder or you become a ghost.”