Page 29 of Puma's Pride

It’s a full fifteen minutes later before I finish updating my club. I barely have enough time to hand out assignments before Mad Max knocks on the door to let us know of Sal’s arrival.

Spark heads to his office. He’ll be tracking down all that he can find on Alisa’s mother. He doesn’t have much to go on, but he’s never let me down. I’m confident he’ll find something. I hope to have more for him to work with after my meeting with Sal.

When I reach the common room, I see Sal with two of his bodyguards. I nod at Chill, who steps up next to me as we approach Sal. I know he won’t be happy with my next request, but then I’m not happy with how little he’s done to control his son.

“Sal.” I start, shaking his hand. “I’m glad you could make it. We can head to my office, but your bodyguards need to stay here and I need you to remove your weapons.”

Sal sucks in a breath but doesn’t explode as I expect. “Can I ask why?” He says with a calm tone. “I thought we trusted each other.”

“We do.” I acknowledge, “but I have a reason for the request. A good one. One that you’ll understand soon. I’m asking that you trust me. I have no plans on hurting you or your men. But we can’t have this conversation with you armed.”

“And will you leave your weapons behind?” Sal asks.

“Of course.”

“Who am I meeting with? Just you?” Sal asks.

“Diego and his daughter, Alisa, are joining us. I understand you’ve never met Alisa?” I ask him.

He shakes his head. “No. I’ve not had the pleasure. Which is why I never understood Juan’s obsession with her. I don’t think they’ve ever met either.”

“I think you’ll understand when you meet her.” I state. “It will just be the four of us.”

I sense Wildcard shift, but he keeps his mouth shut. As does Chill. They both know that if Sal tries anything, he’ll never leave the compound.

Sal sighs. “I don’t like it, but I do trust you.” He turns to his men. “Sit and stay out of trouble.” He orders them before following me down the hall.

I drop my gun and knife into the box outside my office, holding the lid for Sal to follow suit. He holds his hands palms out.

“I don’t carry. I leave the weapons to my men.” Sal tells me. Not wanting to insult him, I let him pass. If he tries anything, I won’t have a problem taking him down before he hurts Alisa or Diego. I open the door and let him enter before me. He sucks in a breath as I close the door.

“You son of a bitch!” Sal explodes. “You were supposed to protect her, not bed her! She was sixteen! I trusted you!”

Alisa, Diego, and I stand quietly as we wait for Sal to complete his tirade.

“You done?” I ask him when he sputters to a stop.

“You don’t understand…” Sal turns to me. I hold up my hand to stop him.

“I understand. Diego told us about the young girl you left in his care. You think he took advantage of her, but he didn’t. They didn’t marry until after she graduated from college.”

Sal looks as if I’ve hit him with a 2x4. “Carmella was Sofia?” Sal asks Diego, who nods. He turns his attention to Alisa. “You look exactly like her. I can see why we never met. I would have known immediately who your mother was.” He says, looking back at Diego.

“Carmella and I loved each other. I didn’t force her into marriage. Our relationship was platonic until she was well past the legal age. I can’t believe you would think otherwise.” Diego says.

Sal takes a deep breath as he closes his eyes. When he opens them again, I see the calm return. “Was she happy?”

Diego nods. “Very.”

“She died of cancer.” Sal says, a statement rather than a question. “I remember you telling me that your wife died of cancer.”

Diego nods. “She did.”

“I always wondered what became of Sofia. I didn’t want to ask, because I didn’t want to put her or you in danger.”

I guide Sal to the table, where I see a plate of sandwiches with pitchers of tea and water next to them. I go back to my desk and pick up the bottle of tequila.

“Before we discuss Carmella, or Sofia, you need to hear this.” I tell Sal and play the recording of Juan’s tirade. Once it’s done, I turn to Sal. “Since we know Juan isn’t interested in Alisa because of Diego, we’ve decided that it was her mother who he believes holds the key to his plans. Who was Sofia?”

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