Page 2 of Queens and Monsters

Aléjandro’s eyes widened. “You confirmed this information?”

“Yes,” I replied. “We just got the confirmation yesterday. I spoke to Myshkin myself.”

“Why?” Andrés said, suddenly coming to attention. “You think he’d tell you the truth?”

“I wasn’t sure. We made a deal.”

Aléjandro stood. “A deal with the bratva. You can’t trust them.”

I half grinned. “The same has been said about the cartel.”

“Dealing with the bratva makes the famiglia compromised,” Andrés said, his voice growing louder and his cheeks reddening. “We can’t risk two associations?—”

Aléjandro lifted his hand, silencing Andrés. The old man may have stopped talking, but Aléjandro’s wordless command didn’t stop the crimson from growing brighter on Andrés’s neck and face. “What deal?” he asked me.

“I asked for information on Herrera.”

Aléjandro’s nostrils flared. “He had it?”

“He did.” My words were measured and calm. “I proposed a truce. The fighting between the famiglia and bratva is becoming a no-win for either side. If I agree to certain conditions, Myshkin and I believe we can work together to take out Herrera and Volkov.”

Aléjandro asked, “You enter into an alliance with Myshkin, what does that mean for us—the Roriguez cartel?”

“We’re still negotiating.”

“If he agreed to help you, you made some deal,” Aléjandro said.

“I did.” I inhaled. “As far as Myshkin’s territory here in Kansas City, we agreed on boundaries, stop the bloodshed on the streets.”

“And you went along?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“The fuck?” Andrés cursed.

“As I said, we’re still negotiating.” I nodded. “Once it’s done, we all benefit.”

“We can win this war,” Aléjandro said. “We will win.” Each phrase was louder than the last.

“We’ll get rid of Herrera for good,” I said. “Can we count on you?”

Aléjandro inhaled. “Sí. Nosotros somos familia.”

“With Myshkin, Roríguez, and the famiglia, we will win.”

We all turned toward the door at the sound of a knock. Each man instinctively reached for his weapon.

“No need,” I said. “Our soldiers are out there. No threat would make it to my door.” I raised my voice. “Enter.”

“Feliz Navidad,” Jorge Roríguez greeted as he entered, followed by Nicolas Ruiz, Andrés’s brother, and Nick, Nicolas’s son.

“Welcome to our home.”

Jorge came straight to me and shook my hand. “Do they know?”

“Yes, I just told them.”

He turned toward the rest of the room. “Tonight, we’ll celebrate with our growing family.” He laid a large hand on my shoulder. “All our family.Siete peces. Tomorrow, we strategize. We have a war to win.”

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