The intimidating man considered this before sliding his dark gaze to Felix. Once again, Sal was overcome with relief as he watched the gun lower. Felix took a single step back.
“Talk fast.” Emilio brushed some imaginary dust from his expensive jacket. “There are places I need to be.”
In the beginning, running drugs for the Dominican cartel leader had seemed like the best idea Sal had ever had. Not only did everyone in the country know who Emilio Garcia was...theyfearedhim.
Two years ago, that same fear had been the driving force behind Emilio’s landslide election to one of the country’s thirty-two senatorial seats. It was also the reason he was weeks away from becoming the country’s next president.
The fact that Emilio Garcia was a monster meant nothing. His crimes were rarely brought into question, and when they were, those behind the inquiries seemed to meet an untimely yet unquestionable end.
Unquestionable because no one was brave enough—or stupid enough—toask questions.
Most of the country’s law enforcement was on Emilio’s payroll. Those who didn’t work for him directly were too afraid to consider going against him.
Instead, they all chose to turn a blind eye to his illegal dealings.
For Sal, becoming a member of the El Sur Cartel—or ESC, as most called it—meant inheriting a fraction of that power for himself. It was like a fantasy…until it wasn’t.
“My cousin called this morning.” Sal spoke quickly, just as he’d been instructed. “He has something in the works. Something huge.”
Literally.
“I don’t have time for this.” His boss started to turn away.
“Please, Emilio!” Sal made a move to stand, but Felix instinctively raised the gun once more.
With his hands held up showing he meant no harm, Sal kept his submissive position and continued with his desperate plea.
“Look, I get that I screwed this last job up for you.” He swallowed, risking a sideways glance in Felix’s direction. “Forallof us. But you know me, Emilio. YouknowI can make this right. Please, just give me the chance to make it right!”
It wouldn’t be an easy task, thanks to his screw-up. Sal had been given one job—to find the leak within the organization—and he’d failed miserably.
Not only had he identified the wrong El Sur member as the organization’s mole, he’d also inadvertently cost the cartel a substantial amount of money when their last deal blew up in their faces.
Even so, Emilio had to know Sal’s loyalty was unwavering. Hehadto. Sal just needed a little more time to prove it.
The senator spoke his next words with careful consideration. “Your cousin. He has done work for us before, yes?”
“Yes!” Sal’s desperation nearly caused him to leap forward again. Keeping an eye on Felix and his gun, he licked his dry lips and composed himself. “Marcus has helped me on numerous occasions. And he’s always come through for us.Always.There’s no reason for me to think the outcome won’t be the same this time.”
“Come on, Boss.” Felix gave Emilio an incredulous look. “You’re not really buying into this bullshit, are you? We’ve seen this same thing a million times. They always make empty promises when they realize they’re about to die.”
Sal tried not to think about the ‘they’ in question. Men who’d been in this exact same position. On their knees begging for their lives.
He also refused to think about how his ruthless leader had never spared any of them a stay of execution. No matter how much they pleaded.
Why lie to yourself, Salvador? You know how this is going to end.
“I know what you’re thinking.” He locked eyes with Emilio. “But I swear, this isn’t just some kind of stunt to save my own skin. This is legit.”
“Nice try, Sally Boy.” Felix rolled his soulless eyes as he uttered the nickname he knew Sal hated. “But this isn’t something stealing a bunch of tourist’s ID’s and credit card information can fix.”
“Those jobs brought in a lot of money.” Sal couldn’t keep from reminding the asshole.
“Not three million dollars,” Felix spouted off the exact amount Sal’s screw-up had caused the organization. “Besides, tourists are getting smarter. We try a job like that again, those cards will most likely be cancelled the second you and your men walk away.”
Seemingly accepting of this, Emilio gave his right-hand man a look before turning to leave. Once again, Felix raised the gun in Sal’s direction.
Fear filled every cavity of Sal’s core. It was no longer a concept or simple emotion. It was a living, breathing entity in and of itself.