Page 61 of Beautiful Dangerous

“I would rather deal with you.”

I sit back and shield my eyes from the sun as I look out over the ocean. “I think you already know the answer to your question regarding your shipment, Endo.”

There’s a pause his end, and I smile to myself, I still matter to these people. They still respect me; see me as someone who isn’t just a pretty companion to her powerful husband. I’m powerful too. More powerful than even I realized.

“You expect me to cut all ties with the Pino cartel, just like that?”

“Well, first of all,wenow have your product which, as I’m sure you’re more than aware, has not yet been paid for. And I can’t imagine for one minute that the Pino cartel are going to cough up all that money for something that is no longer in their possession.”

He laughs, a deep, verging-on-sinister laugh that carries no humor. “We have clients waiting for their deliveries, Olivia.”

“Of course you do. And they’ll get what they’ve ordered, just as soon as we have your word on our new working relationship.”

“You aren’t giving me much room for maneuver here.”

“I wasn’t aware I was giving you any room at all.”

Another pause, but I know that’s for nothing more than dramatic effect. Thanks to us, his options have been cut; his choices limited.

“You know that it would benefit you greatly to work with us from now on, Endo. The Pino cartel are on their way to being decimated, they’re of no use to you anymore.”

“You seem extremely confident that the war you’ve just re-ignited will be won by you.”

It’s my turn to leave a moment of silence, just enough for him to wonder whether I’m changing my mind. Taking our offer off the table.

“This new business arrangement, it will be extremely beneficial to you, Endo. Nobody is looking to rip anyone off here, what would be the point in that? We need as much product as possible, from as many places as possible, and so far we have no-one in Bolivia. We need you, just as much as you need us.”

“I have other avenues I could explore, Olivia. I could write off the product you have in your possession, call it a gift. You are not my only option.”

I am. We are. The Pino and Delgado cartels are two of the most powerful cartels out there, and with the Pino brothers now dead, we’re gaining more and more control. Becoming more and more powerful. Everyone else is still playing catch-up. And Endo knows that.

“We control more of the border than anyone else. We see more product being shifted between countries than anyone else. You know how we work, Endo. And you know that coming into business with us is the best option for you right now. And you can trust us. You can trustme.”

“Is that what you told Tony and Emilio?”

“You know our two families have never trusted one another. That’s why there’s really only room for one of us now.”

“You talk a good game, Olivia.”

“I’m not playing games.”

“We need to meet. Talk about this face-to-face.”

“Whatever you need.”

“I need to look into your eyes, and make sure the trust is there.”

“Like I said, whatever you need to do in order for us to get you on board.”

“I’ll be in San Diego tomorrow evening. Have dinner with me. Just you, Olivia. If we’re going to do this, I want to deal withyou.”

Because he thinks he’ll get an easier ride with me? I don’t think he’s that naïve, in fact, I know he isn’t.

“Okay.”

I still control a lot of this world, despite Javier’s sudden reappearance. And I’m not willing to give that up, I don’t intend to. My husband, he doesn’t get to turn back up here out of the blue and pick up where he left off, too much has changed for that.

“I look forward to seeing you soon, Endo.”

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