Page 65 of Bad Men

“What?”

His hands eased into the pockets of his trousers, his posture not at all concerned that I could still shoot him. “The southern sector needs a leader.”

The announcement surprised me and didn’t surprise me. Eduardo had no patience for anyone losing his money, yet Thiago Cortez was a friend, an old, loyal one. When he’d been ushered from the meeting earlier, I had assumed he just needed to get the shipment out of the coast guard’s custody and all would be fine. So, either he couldn’t or he had and Eduardo was using him as an example to the rest not to lose his product. Regardless, if Alejandro was offering me Thiago’s seat, it meant the other man was dead.

“Why me?”

Alejandro eyed me. “Why not you?”

The answering of a question with a question prickled my annoyance.

“There are men more qualified—”

“Qualifications aren’t everything.” He turned his body to look over the vacant space below, giving me a view of his side profile. “The organization needs someone not afraid to get the job done and done well, someone who follows the rules, but isn’t afraid to step over the line. No more grunt work. You get a seat at the table, Nero. That’s the goal, the gold standard.”

That wasn’t my goal. I had no goals. I had no ambitions to ascend to bigger and better things. I was comfortable where I was. I liked my routine. I knew what was expected of me.

“What about the route?”

“Well…” He raised one hand and rubbed absently at his jaw. “Mia and her family would fall under your protection, if that’s your concern.”

It was, but I disliked him telling me as if he had everything all figured out.

“That doesn’t answer my question,” I lied, letting my arms lower to my sides.

He arched an eyebrow at me. “Doesn’t it?”

I let it go, not bothering to test either of our intelligence by denying the obvious. “And that crap you pulled with Mia? What was that about?”

He had the decency to look me in the eye when answering. “I didn’t enjoy it. But it’s a necessary consequence when a candidate breaks the rules, especially when he’s up for a promotion. You know what I’m talking about.” It wasn’t a question, nor did he seem to want an actual response. “You took Mia on a job, and we know you told her more than she needed to know.” He seemed to wait for something. Maybe denial. Maybe pleading. I did neither. He went on. “Do you know what my job is, Nero?” Again, he didn’t wait for a reply. “I keep Eduardo’s business running smoothly by occasionally cleaning up messes. You understand.”

My fingers tightened around the gun. “You were going to kill her.”

“I was,” he confessed simply, with an ease that spoke of zero regret. “Had she given me a reason, our meeting may have ended very differently. But she’s a clever woman, and loyal. A rare quality. I hope this won’t confuse the job you do for Eduardo. Any action I might have taken would have been on your hands.”

“You scared her,” I heard the growl in the words, felt it rumbling in my throat.

Alejandro sighed and dropped his gaze in what may have been mistaken for remorse. “An unfortunate side effect of the job. I took no pleasure in it. She seems charming.

“Mia is off limits,” I announced. “I don’t care what the reason, stay away from her.”

It was an insane demand, one I knew he would never take seriously. He and I wore the same cap. We knew no one was off limits when a job needed to get done. If the order had Mia’s name, it had her name, and a job was a job. We didn’t get to pick who lived and who died.

“Keep business matters to yourself and I see no reason to involve her again,” he replied with a smooth little jerk of his shoulder. “And tell Davien not to shout about it in the middle of the grocery store. Very foolish. It would have been his fault if anything happened to Mia, if I wasn’t thorough in my investigation. Now, about that promotion…”

“I need to think about it.”

If he was surprised by my hesitance, he didn’t show it. He gave me an offhand shrug and a nod.

“Of course. I’m sure you’ll want to discuss this with Davien before committing to anything.”

“What about Davien?” I asked.

“What about Davien?” he echoed with a tilt of his head.

“What about him?” I repeated.

Alejandro considered the question a long moment, eyes narrowed in thought before answering, “He would continue as he is. The position is only available for one.”

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