Page 106 of Wicked Intention

As he walked to where Ramos waited, Finn felt the hair on his nape stand on end. He turned his head to look over his shoulder, but Silva’s army hadn’t changed their stances, and no weapons were aimed at him. That he could see. But both sidesdidhave men hidden around the city.

Ramos’ bodyguards headed him off, steering him back toward Vargas. Great. It meant he’d have to rely on the man Zo called Dead Eyes to calm his boss, and there was no guarantee he’d try very hard. Finn had met each of Ramos’ four lieutenants, and while he trusted none of them, Vargas put him most on guard.

“Señor Silva said his men are on the way,” Finn reported when he arrived at his former spot. “They’ll be here as soon as they can.”

“You believed him?” Vargas asked.

His voice was flat, giving Finn no indication of why he’d asked that question. “Sure, why wouldn’t I? He stands to make a fortune if this deal goes through.”

“SeñorTorreswill make a fortune. Señor Silva will receive his usual salary,” Vargas corrected before he left and returned to Ramos.

Finn shifted, putting his back squarely against the stone behind him. He wanted a weapon, bad. He didn’t care if it was a pistol or a rifle. He just didn’t want to be unarmed.

Something was off.

The jungle was trying to swallow the ruins, so if all hellbroke loose, he’d have plenty of cover to lose himself in. He’d memorized the location of every stone and fallen tree, and he was confident he could disappear easily. Casually, as if he was merely bored, Finn scanned the area, looking for what was triggering his instincts.

Nothing.

If things went to shit, he could take out a guard, disarm him, and disappear into the brush. The problem was Zo and Tia Izel. Could Finn get them out before Ramos returned to the compound and released his fury on the women?

Shouts came as someone heard men approaching. Everyone from both sides became alert, more watchful than they’d been. Silva’s team relaxed slightly when four dudes with a couple of crates entered the clearing. The precision-guided rifles had arrived.

One of Silva’s men indicated the center of the clearing. The crates were deposited there, and the lids pried off. That same associate moved near the weapons and waited.

Finn looked at Ramos to see if he’d changed his mind and did want Finn to examine the merchandise, but the drug lord never glanced at him. Accompanied by his bodyguards and Vargas, it was Ramos who went to the crates. Silva remained where he was. His confederate would handle the exchange unless Ramos made it an issue.

Vargas lifted a rifle from the crate, studied it intently, and passed it to his boss. As Ramos caressed the stock, his lieutenant took a second one, examining it every bit as intently.

Everything was going about the way he’d expect, but his instincts began to howl. Finn sidled closer to the end of the rock wall.

Vargas returned the second weapon to its cradle and reached for a third one.

A shot echoed through the clearing.

In the next instant, half of Ramos’ head was missing.There was a split second where time seemed to stand still. Then the reality of the drug lord’s death registered.

“Bianchi! It’s Bianchi’s men,” a voice called from the surrounding trees.

A contingent of Ramos’ team headed toward the voice, weapons ready to hunt down the rival drug lord’s assassination squad.

Finn didn’t hesitate. With a couple of quick moves, he knocked out the guard closest to him, took his M4, and melted into the undergrowth. Concealed, he watched Silva’s bodyguards hustle him to safety. The remaining men secured the rifles, picked up the crates, and hurried away from the ruins.

Shit.This meant it was going to a bitch to get to those weapons before they were resold. Before they were packed up and shipped out of Puerto Jardin. Fucking Bianchi.

Not all of Ramos’ employees went to avenge his death. Instead, Finn saw a power struggle start for control of the drug cartel.

Ramos’ four lieutenants each wanted to run the show, and it would be a fight to the death to see who became the next kingpin.

Chapter Forty-One

Alfonso Ramos’ Estate

Present Day

WORLD WAR THREE had broken out on the compound. For what seemed like forever, there’d been automatic weapons fire mixed with occasional pistol shots, and Zo didn’t know what to do.

The guard on her balcony had disappeared, and she wanted to see if the man in the corridor had abandoned his post, too, but Finn would be furious if she wandered out of the suite while there was shooting going on. Considering that he’d been pissed off at her for the past couple of days, she wasn’t certain she wanted to push it.

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