Page 10 of Ferocious Nightmare

Four

The guy was no angel,even though that was his name. Tattoos ran over every space of skin on his body, including his shaved head, and his eyes were a blank slate.

He had no conscience. Of that, I was sure.

We were sitting in my office at four in the morning, the only time I was pretty certain my father was sleeping, and I was making a deal with the devil himself.

"Why the fuck would el Jefe help you?" He ran a hand over his shaved head and, once again, I glanced over to the girl.

She was probably about seven, with long brown hair and big, bright hazel eyes that seemed to stare into your soul.

Despite her angelic look, a soft cream-colored dress and ribbons tied in her hair, I could see a hint of malice in her gaze, and knew that she'd been raised in the world of the Mendoza cartel.

She had a heart shaped tattoo near her right eye, a sign that she’d been ‘claimed’ by one of the upper echelons of their leadership. She already had a marriage contract on her for when she came of age.

I wondered how long it would take before her eyes were as dead as Angel's.

"Does she have to be here?" I was uncomfortable talking about taking over my father's empire with a child in our presence. Not only was she going to hear things a child should never hear, but kids weren't known for their discretion.

"Yes."

I pointed at him. "If word gets out about what we talk about in here, I will hold you personally responsible, regardless of who spoke.”

He tilted his head to the side, holding my eyes and not even looking at her. “Lola knows the consequences of talking."

"And what's that?"

For the first time since they'd entered my office, he looked at her, jerking his head. "Tell him."

She sighed, her lips turning downwards, as if annoyed. "They’ll cut out my tongue." I couldn't hold back my shock, and Angel's lips twisted upwards in pleasure at seeing it on my face. She continued. "I won't fucking talk, okay, so can we just get on with this?"

She gave me a bright smile, the innocence on her face, despite her crude words, making me realize that she, not Angel, was the one I needed to look out for.

Angel was the representative that the cartel sent to talk to me, per my request, but I had the feeling that this little girl, Lola, was the one who held el Jefe’s ear. People might say things in front of children that you would never say to their face, and I made a mental note to always know where she was at all times.

"Fine," I met Angel's gaze, “but how do I know I can trust you?"

He crooked an eyebrow upward, his face impassive. "You invited me here."

That's all he said. No reassurance that no one would talk. That he wouldn't march out this door and immediately tell my father, just like James had done.

I leaned back in my chair, studying him while I considered my risks.

Loyalty towards my side was growing but it wasn’t enough to bring my father down. Ever since our return from Cuba, Nero kept men on him at all times, even guarding his own room while he slept. He’d also hired more men, men we didn't know, brought in from Russia.

Getting into bed with the Mendozas was dangerous. However, Nero hated them with a passion that would never go away, and they hated him in return.

They would be the perfect match to take my father down.

It was a big risk but the reward was just as tantalizing.

"I want your help."

“With what?”

I didn’t answer him.

He gave me a feral grin. “It must be something big, if a King is asking for help from the cartel in the early hours of the morning. Does your daddy know you’re meeting with me?”

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