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“Good.” Leo claps his hands together and stands. “I’ll get these papers to my lawyer and have them drawn up within 24 hours and sent to you and Lou. Then we’ll discuss the plan for Thursday.”

My brothers and I walk out of there, and it isn’t until we’re outside that any of us utters a word.

“He can be such an arrogant prick,” Emilio says.

“Yes, but he has the right to be,” I reply.

“You were rather accommodating, San,” Albie comments. “You’re letting him take control and making us seem like we can’t handle our business or Javi on our own.”

I whip my head around and pin him with a glare. “I’m doing what’s needed to get out of the deal dad made. None of us want to be in business with the trigger-happy cartel who’s known to have left a blood trail from here to Mexico from anyone who got in their way or looked at them wrong. The fact that we’ve managed to only lose 2 men since the start of this deal is a feat.

“I refuse to lose any more men or be brought down by them one day, and I know Javi won’t simply let us off the hook if I ask him to. Leo is who he is for a reason. His reach is far and powerful. More than any of us. I’m man enough to admit that. If I need to step back and let him take control, then I will. And so will you and all our men. We’ll be better off afterwards and won’t lose any income in the process since we’re now aligned with the Carfanos. Do either of you have anything else to bitch about, or can we get the fuck out of here? I’m starving.”

“Jesus, man, okay.” Albie holds up his hands in defeat. “I get your point. I just hate that we’re the weaker ones in this scenario.”

“I know,” I agree, “but no one else will think that when we’ve successfully dissolved a contract with the Gulf Cartel and then partnered with the Carfanos.”

“True. I get it.”

“Me too,” Emilio agrees, and it’s good to know my brothers have my back.

We walk a couple blocks to grab lunch, and then I go back to Emilio’s apartment for Monday night football. It’s what we do every week during the season, but this week it has the added benefit of further avoiding talking to Mia.

I think a few days of space and time away from me is what she needs, anyhow.

Chapter 17

Santino

“Hola, Santino,” Javier greets, coming out of the shadows in the warehouse beside the Red Hook Terminal. After the shipping containers come in to port, they’re unloaded onto my trucks and brought here before transport.

“Good evening, Javier.”

“So, why did we have to meet? Is there a problem?”

“No, no problem. I have a deal to offer you.”

He tilts his head, skepticism written all over his face. “A deal?”

“Yes. I brought my new business partner with me to lay this out for you.”

“Who?” he snaps, just as Leo walks through the door to join us. Javi reaches for his pistol, but I hold my hand up.

“This isn’t an ambush, Javi. I just wanted to warn you before I introduced you two. Javier, this is Leo Carfano. Leo, this is Javier Cardenas.”

“Leo Carfano,” Javi says. “I’ve heard of you. It’s impossible not to in this city.”

Leo flashes him a wolfish grin that’s anything but friendly. “Good to hear. Now, would you like to hear about our deal? We’re both busy men who don’t like to waste time with small talk, aren’t we?”

“Sí, you’re correct.”

“Let’s sit.” Leo extends his arm to the office in the corner of the warehouse, and we all take a seat around the table.

Outside, are twenty armed men, waiting and ready to take out every cartel member present if Leo gives them his signal. He has men hiding in the rafters of the warehouse with rifles for just that purpose, and have been in place for hours.

Javi doesn’t like to have a heavily manned security system method because he thinks it looks like he has something of importance in the warehouse and it will draw too much attention. Instead, he relies on cameras, which Leo’s cousin, Stefano, was able to hack so the men could get in and in place without being detected.

One thing I can commend Leo for is his thoroughness when planning any type of meeting. He doesn’t take anything for granted and risks no one’s safety. He has all angles and scenarios covered in the event things go sideways, and I can honestly say I learned a few things from planning this meeting with him.

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