Page 138 of Menace

When they made their escape they had found her bullet riddled body along with the bodies of two of their so-called allies. He found it strange that their bodies were in the interrogation room with bullets to the back of their heads, while hers was outside in the corridor with several bullets to the back and one between the eyes.

At first he wanted to know who killed her. And then let it go because he actually didn’t care. Carmella had been a problem and was going to be dealt with anyway. Whoever killed her had done him a favour.

His priority was getting back home and rebuilding.

But first he had to deal with Pablo’s latest fixation. The baby he wouldn’t let anyone touch. He kept him close, treating him like he was family.

Calling the damned kid Joaquin.

The first time they heard it both he and Jorge knew they had to act fast. He went to his office and called Maniac, offering the boy to them.

It was during the call that the biker revealed how badly he had misjudged his daughter. She had Joaquin, Pablo’s son, and his grandmother taken and kept in a secret location. He knew she hated the kid and he would not have survived Carmella’s plans.

Maniac had been clear on what they wanted.

The baby in exchange for information on where they could find Joaquin.

They weren’t asking for much. The problem was getting the baby away from Pablo.

That wasn’t going to be easy. The crazy bastard somehow thought the baby was Joaquin.

It meant he had to negotiate with the damned bikers.

He needed them to bring the boy to them because he knew Pablo wouldn’t release the baby unless he got his son back. With Joaquin back Pablo would calm down.

He was getting tired of always having to consider Pablo’s psycho personality, maybe it was time to remove him as well. But then there was Jorge, his brother loved his crazy son. And he loved Jorge, he didn’t want to hurt him.

If anything happened to Pablo his brother would know he had something to do with it.

Unless…

Unless he could manipulate the bikers into doing the job for him. He would control the exchange, play on Pablo’s fears for Joaquin.

His usual reaction was violence and if he focused his mad rage on the bikers they will retaliate to save the baby.

If his plan succeeded it meant he would finally have unhindered access to Joaquin.

The bastard had blocked all access to his son, swearing he was going to keep him out of the family business. The boy was intelligent and wanted to go to college and become a doctor.

Maybe it was a good thing, ensuring he had a good education but at the same time introducing him to the family business.

It was time for the boy to start learning about his family. Not the way Carmella and Pablo had been brought in. No. Pablo’s son would be taught the old fashioned way. Starting from the bottom but at his side.

He would talk to the biker again, once he was alone and share his fears for the baby. Warn them that Pablo was a danger to the baby and totally unstable.

If it played out the way he wanted he would no longer have to worry about his nephew. He would have to be very careful. Careful not to alert Jorge to his plans. His reaction would not be good, not good at all.

He hadn’t shared with Jorge or Pablo that the grandmother had been taken as well. Had kept it to himself thinking it would be of use to him. A card up his sleeve to control both of them.

It was time to play that card.

“Pablo, call Joaquin’s grandmother and find out when she can be at the compound.”

Pablo looked confused for a second as he looked down at the baby. Then his face cleared of all emotion as he lay the baby down on the couch. Pulling his phone from his jacket pocket he walked out onto the back deck to make the call. He didn’t turn his back on them as he called, watching them the entire time.

He was back shortly after, his face like a thundercloud. What now?

“She’s gone. The guard we left with her said she went to the beach cottage three days ago with the new guard you sent. They were supposed to return this morning, when they didn’t he drove down there. He arrived shortly before I called. There’s no one there. He says it’s locked up. Who is this guard you sent and where is my son’s grandmother?”

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