I was surprised that Este came through with everything. He opposed my plan at first. Said it was too risky and that our cartel was too good for this. Too elegant. That we didn’t need to fall into stereotypical violence that besieged the country, that hiring sicarios to take out a lord was beneath us.
I don’t think Este knew who I’d become.
But Este leaned over and tapped Evaristo’s photo. “He’s a sitting duck. Two days. I set up the staged bust and they’ve got the message. They’re on it.”
“Just as I asked,” I reminded him. He had a habit of trying to take over my ideas, even if he didn’t agree with them. Always trying to one up me when he should have known there was no one-upping the patron, not when you were a barefoot fool.
“Yes,” he said, rather reluctantly. “Should I go and make sure it all goes through?”
What was in motion now was that Este had tipped off someone at the PFM about a safe house location and an impossible amount of cocaine and meth looking to make its way up on a big rig to San Diego. But the safe house was a ruse. We would be there waiting for them. And we’d take out Evaristo as soon as we had the chance. It’s hard to hide those blue eyes behind a mask, and at six foot two, he’d stand out among the men like a sore thumb. Of course with something like this, I wasn’t involved. Other people did my dirty work for me. I had a growing team of ex-soldiers and cops who could go into any situation and come out alive with the target.
“No,” I told him. “Let them do it. You’d just get in the way, tripping over your own sandals, your hair in your eyes like a little girl.”
My insults didn’t seem to work on Esteban anymore. He jerked his chin at my forehead. “Is your hair thinning a little bit? Must be the stress.”
I raised my brow. “So is that all you came to tell me?”
“Is that all?” he repeated incredulously. “I come here to tell you that I orchestrated your plan exactly as you wanted, the bait has been taken, and you wonder if that’s all?”
“I’m sorry, did you need me to pat you on the back, maybe make you burp a little?”
Este made a disgruntled noise and got out of his chair. “You know what, Javier? You may be the patron and this may be your cartel, and you may think that you earned it, but there is something other narcos do that you don’t, and that’s treat their brothers with respect.”
I blinked at him, actually caught off-guard for once. “This isn’t a preschool, Este. I will give you respect if you deserve it.”
“And what about your wife?”
A block of ice froze in my chest and my eyes became cold as I glared at him. “What business is it of yours to even mention her?”
I could practically watch him think. He knew the wrong thing would get him in a lot of trouble. And he knew what I’d been up to lately, more than once. Sometimes he helped.
“No business at all,” he said after some time. He started for the door, then paused. “Though I should tell you that your appointment is here. Should I show her in?”
After his comment, I should have said no. But while it made me think twice about what I was doing, it also made me mad. Still, maybe this one wouldn’t piss me off tonight. It didn’t always end in blood.
I nodded at him, and in that moment, I wondered if it made me seem weak. I knew Este was no better when it came to women. Maybe I only thought that because I used to be better.
He disappeared down the hall and I quickly checked the clock on the wall. It was already ten p.m. Luisa would be settling down for bed herself.
I was about to call after Este and tell him I’d changed my mind when he appeared at the door with a tall, striking woman. She didn’t look like any of the other whores. Though all of them were beautiful, this woman had her nose right in the air, as if she were better than me, better than her whole profession.
I immediately disliked her. Perhaps there would be blood after all.
“This is Judia,” Este said.
Judia? Named after a bean?
Este turned to leave but I called out after him. “Actually, Este, you can have her.”
He stopped and gave me a funny look. I knew he didn’t need my charity in this regard but I thought I’d offer it anyway. Even with the scar down the side of his face and his teenage clothes, Este was a ladykiller.
Then again, so was I.
“No offense, Judia,” he said to her before eyeing me, “but I don’t need anything you think I can have.”
Judia smirked at him. “Am I supposed to be flattered, two men not fighting over me? What, are you both gay?”
I had to laugh. I hadn’t laughed in a long time and the sound was jarring to my own ears.
“Yes, completely gay,” I said, getting out of my chair and walking over to her. “Gayest patron that ever was.”
She shrugged with one shoulder and looked down at me. “That will make things easier. I don’t get off with men who are shorter than me anyway.”
Este sucked in his breath. My mouth gaped open slightly. Did this puta just have the nerve to make fun of my height?
I nodded at her, unable to keep the smile from stretching across my face, and walked back to the desk. “You’re very honest, Judia. And daring, really. But I don’t think it’s a very good career decision to be so choosy, especially with patrons.”
My fingers slipped under the desk and closed around a wide, wooden handle, the cut on my hand stinging from last night. I wore my smile well.