Page 30 of Puma's Pride

Sal rubs his hand down his face and studies Alisa. “Sofia was a sweet girl who was born into the wrong family.” He begins with a soft chuckle. “Before I married my wife, my father tried to arrange a marriage with Adella Cortez, Sofia’s older sister. Adella was the oldest daughter of Damon Cortez, the head of the Cortez Cartel. Wanting to expand his holdings, he planned to forge an alliance with another cartel by arranging a marriage for his eldest daughter. However, she had other ideas.” Sal shakes his head and takes a bite of a sandwich before washing it down with tequila. “I wasn’t the first man her father approached. There were three men before me. Each of them died within days of meeting her. The first died in a boating accident. The second died during a robbery while the third died of food poisoning. By the time I met her, I was familiar with the rumors that she killed them. Some called her the Angel of Death, others, the Avenging Angel.”

“Did she kill them?” I ask, and Sal nods his head.

“When my father arranged the meeting with her and her father, I didn’t believe the rumors. But I’m not a stupid man. So I approached her and told her the truth. I didn’t want to marry her, and I was certain she didn’t want to marry me. By that time, I had met my Katrina and knew she was the one for me. I suggested we come up with a plan to keep the marriage from happening. One that didn’t include either of us dying. She agreed, but she had another problem. Her father had figured out that she had killed her other suitors. He threatened to find a husband for Adella’s sixteen-year-old sister if Adella didn’t cooperate. Adella loved Sofia, and she would not allow her father to destroy her life.”

“So she asked you to smuggle Sofia out of the country?” Diego asks.

“Exactly.” Sal says. “That was Adella’s price for ensuring that I married my Katrina. She didn’t explain how, but she promised to fix everything as soon as Sofia was out of the country and safe.”

“Did she?” I ask.

He nods. “She arranged the death of my father and hers. At least, I assume she did. My father died in a car bombing two days after Sofia left the country. Her father died in a fire. The authorities believe he started the fire while trying to kill Adella.”

“So she’s dead?” Alisa asks.

“No. Adella disappeared the night her father died. Several rumors existed about her, some I’m sure she started herself.” Sal says with a smile. “There were rumors she died in the fire that took her father’s life. Another rumor was that she was so disfigured, either from the fire or from her father’s attack, that she went into hiding. I don’t know if any of the rumors are true. However, she did disappear from the public eye. Her family owned property throughout the Americas. She could have ended up at any of them. No one knows for certain where she is. I haven’t seen her since the night we smuggled Sofia out of Mexico.”

“But you know she’s not dead?” I ask.

Sal nods.

“Why?” Alisa asks.

Sal sighs and pours another shot of tequila. “What I’m about to tell you could sign my death warrant. But you need to know, and I just hope she understands why I’m betraying her trust.” He stares into the empty glass as if looking for the words. I have to clench my fists to keep from smacking him upside the head. “Fuck. I don’t know how Juan found out about your connection to Adella. Maybe he doesn’t know, but if he does, it explains why he believes marrying Alisa will be his ticket to money and power.”

“I take it Adella is wealthy and connected?” I ask.

Sal chuckles. “That is an understatement. Do you know how each cartel behaves like a fiefdom? Every cartel leader manages their organization? That they answer to no one?” When I nod, he continues. “Whatever you believe is wrong. I may be the leader of the Gutierrez Cartel, but I answer to someone. Almost all of us do.”

“Adella?” Alisa asks in a whisper. Sal nods.

“Damon Cortez’s death left Adella in charge of the Cortez Cartel. Traditionally, only the male heirs inherit. If there isn’t one, then someone within the ranks grabs control or another cartel swoops in and takes over. But Adella didn’t let that happen. Those who worked for her father rallied around her, and she kept the cartel under her control. But she didn’t stop there. In less than five years, she gained control over virtually every other cartel in Mexico and Central America.”

I whistle in appreciation. “How the hell did she manage that?” I ask.

“She’s brilliant.” Sal says and I can tell by his tone that he admires her. “She’s brought all the cartels under her leadership by creating a win-win for them and her. Rather than force them to join her, she offers them a deal they’d be stupid to pass up. She offers them not only autonomy, but so much more than they could achieve on their own. She has her own army. One that she uses to keep the peace and to provide protection if a cartel is under any kind of attack. Each cartel pays her a small percentage of their take. She keeps the amount small, so it doesn’t cause a hardship. But she also makes the money she collects available to those who need it. When cartels are in negotiations with other cartels or other crime organizations, she assists.”

“Sounds similar to how Dante runs our MC.” I muse.

Sal nods. “Very similar.”

“So, somehow Juan discovered the identity of Alisa’s mother and thinks that by marrying her, he’ll be that much closer to taking over the Cortez Cartel?” I ask.

Both Diego and Sal nod.

“It makes the most sense.” Alisa agrees. “Can you reach out to my aunt? I’d like to meet her.”

Sal nods. “I will. She needs to know what is happening here, and I’m sure she’d love to know that she has a niece.” He sighs. “I’ll have to tell her that her sister is dead, but knowing she lived a happy life with the man she loved will help ease the pain.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: ALISA

My brain is on overload. I have an overwhelming need to find my daughter and hug her tight. Puma stands as well, but when my father shifts, Sal reaches over and touches his arm.

“I’d like a few minutes.” Sal asks and Diego nods. I see the wariness in my father’s eyes, so I look at Puma.

“No trouble.” Puma says to Sal.

Sal raises his hands and chuckles. “No trouble. I promise. I know I was angry before, but I’ve had time to think about Diego and Sofia, and I realize I reacted harshly. My initial thought was that I delivered her to the same fate her father threatened. Even though I know you are not that type of man. The young girl was the only one I remember. I didn’t consider the actions of the young woman. Six years passed between the night I handed her to you and the day you two married. I remember how much you loved your wife. Knowing the woman you adored was Sofia, makes me happy. I simply want a chance to catch up with my old friend here and hear about Sofia’s life. I cared about the girl.”

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