Page 18 of Victorious Vice

As we delve deeper into the conversation, I subtly steer it to the face that has been nagging at my mind.

“Señor Agudelo. My grandfather gave me a file full of names and faces, most of whom I’m familiar with. But there’s one person I can’t place.”

Agudelo wrinkles his forehead. “And who is that?”

I grab my iPad, but he holds up a hand.

“Interesting that you would bring him up,” Agudelo says. He rings for Morehouse.

Him?The picture is clearly of an old woman.

“Yes, señor?” Morehouse says when he enters.

Agudelo gestures to Morehouse, who bends down. Morehouse whispers something in his ear.

Then, “Yes, señor. Right away.” Morehouse exits.

I lift my eyebrows in question.

“Another guest will join us momentarily,” Agudelo says.

I take a drink of my wine. “I look forward to meeting another of your colleagues.”

Agudelo chuckles. “Colleague?” He leans back in his seat. “Oh no, Señor Gallo. This is not just any colleague.”

The tension is almost palpable as I wait for the mystery guest to arrive. My mind races with possibilities.

Morehouse enters, gesturing inside.

And my blood runs cold.

Suddenly, I’m back in Mario’s office, in my teen years, being groomed to join the family business. Staring into the same ice-cold eyes I’m seeing now.

I jerk upward, squint to make sure I’m not seeing things.

It’s been seventeen years, but I’d recognize him anywhere.

Same dark eyes, same slicked-back hair, though it’s mostly gray now.

Same snakelike half smile.

“Señor Gallo,” Agudelo says, “It would appear you two are already acquainted.”

Again, I stay neutral, desperately trying to hide my shock.

“I… Yes,” I manage to sputter out.

Diego Vega, the man I thought was dead and buried underneath the Bellamys’ old barn, cracks a small grin.

“If it isn’t the little cobra.”

7

RAVEN

“Fifty million dollars?”

Next to me, Jared’s brown eyes widen as well.

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