Page 48 of Rio's Release

He shrugs. “We do all right.” He points to a hill overlooking the property. “My grandfather built that hacienda. You can see for miles from up there. My wife doesn’t like it. She says it’s too big and pretentious, so I built her a modern place on the other side of the grove.”

“So, you selling it?”

“Probably. I’ll need the money to bankroll my oldest daughter’s wedding in September. She has expensive taste, and it’s hard to say no to her.” He flashes his teeth.

I grin. “Understandable.”

“Do you have any children, señor?”

“Rio, please. And, no, sir. No children.”

“Call me Eduardo.”

“Eduardo.”

“You have a girl; she’ll have you wrapped around her finger before her first birthday.”

The corner of my mouth lifts. “Noted.”

We drink our sangria, and after about fifteen minutes, Blue and Bandit return, and I take out my wallet, grabbing a card and holding it out to Sanchez.

“You have any more problems, call me.”

He takes it, then lifts his glass. “To new friends.”

I set my wallet on the table and clink my glass to his. “New friends.”

He picks up the pitcher and insists we have another glass.

The sky is a glimmering deep purple when we say goodbye and climb on our bikes.

I’m all the way at the clubhouse before I check my phone and see I have a text from Eduardo. “Son of a bitch.”

Zig frowns. “What’s wrong?”

“I left my wallet at Eduardo’s place.”

“Boss, this is the third time this week,” Mauler reminds me.

“Shut the fuck up, and go get the damn thing,” I growl at him.

Zig snickers and taps on his phone.

“What are you laughing at?” I snap.

“Nothing. Just placing an order.”

I assume he’s talking about food until a car pulls up an hour later, and he goes outside to meet the Uber driver.

Zig comes back inside and tosses the package on the bar top. “Merry Christmas.”

“What’s this?” I open the bag and find an air tag tracking device, then roll my eyes. “I don’t need this.”

Mauler strides inside and drops my wallet in front of me. “Maybe you ought to get a chain like Bagger.”

“Like fucking hell,” I bark.

Zig tears open the packaging and pulls the plastic tab from the battery, activating it. The Air Tag plays a sound.

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