“I hear many good things about you, Carmine. My cousin Iago, he speaks highly of you. He says you didn’t leave him behind when you could have. That shows a lot in a man.”
“I don’t let my soldiers die if I can help it.”
Alejandro nodded gravely. “And yet sometimes they do. But I am glad you took care of my cousin. I am very, very glad.”
“And I’m glad he made this connection.” I held the duffel higher. “I brought what you asked. Two million.”
Alejandro snapped his fingers. One of his men walked forward, the gun slung over his shoulder. He accepted the duffel and carried it back.
“This is a good start,” Alejandro said. “Two million is a very good start, but I’d like to do more. I’ve been looking for a man like you for a long time. A man with guts and ambition. You have both, yes?”
“I have both,” I said, nodding slowly.
“Very good. Very, very good. Because I brought what we agreed on, plus a little surprise. But first, what I promised.” He snapped again and two of his men returned to the trucks. He took out bags of their own, heavy and wheeled. They dragged them over, put them down, and unzipped them.
Inside were thick bricks of cocaine.
“You taste?” Alejandro asked, eyebrows raised. “To test it, yes?”
“I trust you.”
Alejandro laughed. He seemed to like that. His men zipped the bags up again.
I waved at Mal. He brought over the rest of the cash and Alejandro’s men took it. Mal dragged the drugs back to the truck and loaded them into the back. More bags appeared, and Mal took those, until there was hardly any room left.
Alejandro watched approvingly. He stroked his chin with a finger.
“The deal is settled,” he said, nodding. “I like this. Very easy. No surprises. I bring drugs, you bring money. We trust each other. Trust is an important part of any relationship. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s right.”
Alejandro came closer. “How much can I trust you, Carmine Falsone? Can I trust you with my life?”
“I want to be in business with you, Alejandro. The Suarez cartel’s strength would guarantee control over San Antonio. From there, we could take all of Texas.”
“Ah, yes, all of Texas. American markets are very nice, I will agree. We need each other, Carmine. I need your connections here. You need my money and drugs and guns. Together, we can do good things.” He stood inches from me, grinning like a monster. “But can I fucking trust you?”
“You can trust me.” And I meant it. I needed Alejandro’s help. If I let this war drag on too long, the Oligarch for the southern region might notice, and that wouldn’t be good. I needed to finish Balestra off, consolidate my power, and turn San Antonio back into a thriving, producing metropolis.
“I want you to prove it.” He stared into my eyes and finally pulled away. He snapped twice.
One of his men walked to the truck on the far left and opened the back door. He leaned inside, said something, then pulled out a struggling, annoyed girl.
I stared in shock.
She was around my age. Maybe a year or two younger. Nineteen, maybe twenty. Dark, midnight black hair, and smooth tan skin. She wore shorts that showed off her lean, gorgeous legs, and a dark blue top that clung to her breasts. The outfit wasn’t revealing or scandalous, but anything would’ve looked like heaven on her. I couldn’t move, like I was rooted to the spot, as the guard dragged the girl over. She glared at me and glared at Alejandro.
“What is this?” I asked softly, unable to look away. She was too enticing, and the utter, pure hatred she glared right back was addictive.
“Carmine, meet my daughter, Julieta.”
“Julieta,” I repeated.
“Jules,” she said, staring right back with defiance.
“You’re going to take her home,” Alejandro said, grinning fiercely. “You’re going to take her home and protect her while she goes to school, and then we will see how much I can trust you, Carmine Balestra.”
I stared at Jules and it was like the ground beneath me shook, opened, and swallowed me whole.
* * *
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Preview: Perfect Monster
Chapter One: Cassie
The red stain spread across his crisp white shirt in a wide bloom. I took a step back from the very large and very angry-looking man as he wiped at his chest and groaned. The wine glass lay shattered into pieces at his feet, sparkling like little diamonds.