He’s quiet. Too quiet. For a moment, I genuinely believe he’s about to tell me to shove it where the sun don’t shine. But then he lets out a frustrated sigh and grumbles, “Ten million. I want Ten million or I won’t do it.”
“Done,” I say.
“Hey!” Heath grumbles.
“You get ten million as well.”
“Where are you getting this money?” Heath asks.
“The less you know, the better. Just know I’m good for it.”
“When and where do you need us?” Knox asks.
“I’ll text you the info.”
“Do we need to bring anything?”
“No, I’ve got that covered. Just get down here as soon as possible. We have a lot of work to do.”
I hang up the phone and sit at the kitchen table, rubbing my hands over my face. The gravity of the situation is starting to set in, but I refuse to let it get to me. I’ll have time to relax when the deed is done. Right now, I need to be at the top of my game. There’s too much at stake to let my guard down.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Renata entering the kitchen to sit down next to me.
“I don’t remember agreeing to pay ten million out of pocket,” she says amusedly.
“You’ll honor it, won’t you?”
She nods. “I will. Twenty million is peanuts to me, but are you sure they’re worth it?”
“My brothers and I may be retired from military life, but we’re the best at what we do. Heath might come across as a jokester, but he was the finest sniper of our whole squad. Knox was our logistics expert. His quick thinking saved our asses more than once. We’re trained for this sort of thing.”
Renata smiles gently. “I have no doubt you are.”
“Do you have any information that might give us a leg up?”
As if on cue, Renata produces a thin folder from beneath her arm and slides it across the table. “We have his last known location. Many of the minor members of the Becerra Cartel are running scared. Esteban’s security team has been reduced to a handful of his most loyal lieutenants, and even they’re far and few between. We’ve picked off most of them. The sharks are starting to circle and he knows it.”
“This is helpful, thank you.”
“If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask me. You’re a part of the family now. We look after our own.”
I set the file down, regarding the woman carefully. “You have been nothing but kind to Willow, and for that reason you have my respect. But…”
Renata arches one of her thin brows. “But?”
“After this is done, I’m taking her away from here. She needs peace and stability.”
“And you think you can give that to her?”
“Yes, without a doubt.” I gesture vaguely to the space around us.
“And this is your way of asking for my permission to leave?”
“You misunderstand, Renata. I’m not asking. Willow deserves a life away from the cartel and its influence. It’s all she’s ever known, and it’s never benefited her in any way. I’m going to change that.”
For a moment, we’re at an impasse. I’m not going to fool myself into thinking Renata is will willingly grant my request. She may look like a darling old grandmother, but I’ve been more than aware of what she truly is the entire time I’ve known her—a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
I’m no fool. She may hide behind her smiles and caring words, but I see her for what she is. In many ways, I worry she’s just as bad as Arturo. I can’t allow myself to forget she’s still the head of the Marrones Cartel. You don’t run a criminal organization as lethal and merciless as this one without getting your hands dirty, and dear Abuela Renata is no exception.