Page 70 of To Have and To Hold

“Sí, jefe.”

“I’m also closing Wanderland for the night.”

“Miss Izzy, what should I tell her?”

Almost every fiber of my being wanted to pacify her and not increase her fright. One small voice reminded me that we’d promised to always be honest. “Tell her the truth. Emphasize that she cannot tell a soul.”

“Sí. I’ll talk to her. I’ll also inform Señora Ruiz about the change in schedule regarding Wanderland. She’ll let the whores know.”

Another call was ringing in. A glance at my screen told me it wasel Patr?n.

Without another word, I disconnected the call with Horace and answered the incoming call. “Jefe.”

“Meet us at the distribution center in Midtown.”

“Midtown?” I questioned, looking for another exit so I could turn around again. “The warehouse south is bigger.”

“Midtown,” Jano repeated forcibly. “This operation is only a need-to-know basis. I’m not trusting this job to fucking soldiers and very few chiefs. Nick’s on his way. There’s a stockpile of weapons, vests, and whatever we’ll need in Midtown. Adrian will arrive shortly with Ivanov’s men. Three of the famiglia’s men are there as well. We don’t need any more.”

Shit was getting real.

“I called Horace,” I volunteered. “He’s keeping Isabella and Liliana at the apartments. I’m also about to close Wanderland.”

“No. If Wanderland doesn’t operate as usual, the uniforms will come to us first when Volkov is found. Thechiquitascan stay in the apartments. They’re not on Volkov’s radar. That also leaves José and Horace there to help guard the tenants.”

Fuck.

He was right about Wanderland.

“Has my father been notified?”

“No,” he answered definitively. “Don’t call him or your uncle. Understand?”

Well, that didn’t bode well for my father or Uncle Nicolas. “Jano, my father isn’t a traitor.”

“His fighting days are behind him. Tonight, we need the best. That’s not old men.”

“I understand. Is there anyone else to contact?” I asked as I again took an exit off of the 5. Fucking traffic.”

“Silas is on it,” Jano said. “Rei is en route, but we need to move fast before Volkov has a chance to organize or hide.”

“Are we hitting their hideout?”

“We’ll discuss in Midtown.”

“I’m on my way.” As soon as the damn light turns green. I pounded the base of my palm against the steering wheel. Reaching for the glove compartment, I pulled out my stash of cigarettes and a lighter.

I had just enough time to light it and take a soothing drag before the light changed.

As soon as I began moving again, I called Horace back. “El patr?nwants business as usual at Wanderland. Liliana and Isabella are to stay?—”

“I will not move them.”

“You have my authority to bring in extra security at Wanderland, tell them there’s a VIP guest coming. No more information on the streets.”

“Sí, Teniente.”

The Midtown distribution center was near the airport in a sea of warehouses and shipping containers coming from the port. I pulled my Mercedes into one of the loading docks. When I opened the door to the interior, I heard the echoes of things being moved in the back. Throwing the butt of the cigarette on the cement, I smashed it with my boot.

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