Because Diego was a
drug-dealing slime pit with more enemies than
friends and hands so bloodstained Ian could smell the
stench of them anytime he was around the other
man.
And soon, his own hands would carry the same stench, Ian thought
with a sigh, as Deke pulled a white
Range Rover to a stop in front of the villa.
Rather than driving this time, Ian stepped into the back
seat, accepted a briefcase from Mendez, and
opened it as the doors closed and the vehicle drove way.
The fourth bodyguard was in another Rover behind them,
providing backup and an additional vehicle in
case this one encountered any unforeseen accidents. In this
business, Ian had learned to expect the
unforeseen.
DIEGO WATCHED AS THE ROVERSleft the estate, a frown on his
face, his jaw clenched with
worry and concern as Ian left the protection of the estate.
He worried, a sign of old age perhaps. Each
time Ian left, Diego feared it would be the last time he
saw him.
"El Patrón." Saul entered the breakfast room,
closing the doors behind him and facing Diego with an
inquisitive expression. "You sent for me?"
Saul was old. His shoulders were stooped, his dark eyes a
bit dull, his face creased with age. He had
been Diego's father's most trusted advisor. At Carmelita's
death he had returned to Diego's side.
Diego nodded slowly. "Have you learned anything from
our sources?"
Ian had eliminated the spy in the U.S. government that
Diego had drawn closest to him, Jansen Clay, but
there were others, much more important contacts, who relied
upon Diego as much as he relied upon
them.
"No teams are being sent for him, as you
requested." Saul stepped to the sideboard and prepared
himself a plate of fruits and sweets. "There are
reports that Durango team, the friends he fought with,
have protested this action vociferously, especially the one
known as Macey, but they are being
contained. Orders have gone out to watch his actions only,
and to learn what he has planned. It seems
the Americans are more concerned with your promise that Ian
will eliminate Sorrell than they are with
capturing a traitor." Satisfaction echoed in Saul's
voice, as it did in Diego's heart.
"The boy, he takes too many risks." Diego sighed.
"He goes now to meet with lawyers rather than having
them come to him. As though he dares Sorrell or the other
cartels to strike at him."
"The other cartel leaders are learning to stay out of
his way, Diego. As with yourself and the Americans,
they merely watch him."
"And your report on his activities?" Diego asked.
As much as he loved the boy, and he did, loved him more
than he had loved his youngest son or that
viper Carmelita, he couldn't forget that betrayal could
come from within.
"He has met with no agents that he hasn't
killed." Saul chuckled. "Of course, they attempted to draw
blood first. He does not party, nor does he partake of our
product. He does not surround himself with
the whores and drug groupies that vie for his attention
other than necessary. And those who cling to his
arm at those times are well known to us, and not associated
with any government's law enforcement
agencies. For all appearances, my friend, he has upheld his
word. His loyalty is to you."
Diego nodded slowly. "And your own impressions of
him?"
Saul sighed then.
Diego turned and watched him with an edge of sorrow. Saul's
impressions were as reliable as other
men's reports.
"I must know this, my friend," he said softly.
"What do you believe goes on in my son's mind, in his
heart?"
"There is still much anger," Saul stated as he
laid his arms on the table and regarded Diego. "He has
softened toward you marginally. He does not refuse to hear
the stories I would tell him now of your youth
and your dreams. He listens. But I can see the rage in his
eyes. The events of his childhood and
Carmelita's torments are not forgotten."
Diego clenched his fingers into fists before forcing
himself to relax them.
"He blames me." Diego moved back to the
drug-dealing slime pit with more enemies than
friends and hands so bloodstained Ian could smell the
stench of them anytime he was around the other
man.
And soon, his own hands would carry the same stench, Ian thought
with a sigh, as Deke pulled a white
Range Rover to a stop in front of the villa.
Rather than driving this time, Ian stepped into the back
seat, accepted a briefcase from Mendez, and
opened it as the doors closed and the vehicle drove way.
The fourth bodyguard was in another Rover behind them,
providing backup and an additional vehicle in
case this one encountered any unforeseen accidents. In this
business, Ian had learned to expect the
unforeseen.
DIEGO WATCHED AS THE ROVERSleft the estate, a frown on his
face, his jaw clenched with
worry and concern as Ian left the protection of the estate.
He worried, a sign of old age perhaps. Each
time Ian left, Diego feared it would be the last time he
saw him.
"El Patrón." Saul entered the breakfast room,
closing the doors behind him and facing Diego with an
inquisitive expression. "You sent for me?"
Saul was old. His shoulders were stooped, his dark eyes a
bit dull, his face creased with age. He had
been Diego's father's most trusted advisor. At Carmelita's
death he had returned to Diego's side.
Diego nodded slowly. "Have you learned anything from
our sources?"
Ian had eliminated the spy in the U.S. government that
Diego had drawn closest to him, Jansen Clay, but
there were others, much more important contacts, who relied
upon Diego as much as he relied upon
them.
"No teams are being sent for him, as you
requested." Saul stepped to the sideboard and prepared
himself a plate of fruits and sweets. "There are
reports that Durango team, the friends he fought with,
have protested this action vociferously, especially the one
known as Macey, but they are being
contained. Orders have gone out to watch his actions only,
and to learn what he has planned. It seems
the Americans are more concerned with your promise that Ian
will eliminate Sorrell than they are with
capturing a traitor." Satisfaction echoed in Saul's
voice, as it did in Diego's heart.
"The boy, he takes too many risks." Diego sighed.
"He goes now to meet with lawyers rather than having
them come to him. As though he dares Sorrell or the other
cartels to strike at him."
"The other cartel leaders are learning to stay out of
his way, Diego. As with yourself and the Americans,
they merely watch him."
"And your report on his activities?" Diego asked.
As much as he loved the boy, and he did, loved him more
than he had loved his youngest son or that
viper Carmelita, he couldn't forget that betrayal could
come from within.
"He has met with no agents that he hasn't
killed." Saul chuckled. "Of course, they attempted to draw
blood first. He does not party, nor does he partake of our
product. He does not surround himself with
the whores and drug groupies that vie for his attention
other than necessary. And those who cling to his
arm at those times are well known to us, and not associated
with any government's law enforcement
agencies. For all appearances, my friend, he has upheld his
word. His loyalty is to you."
Diego nodded slowly. "And your own impressions of
him?"
Saul sighed then.
Diego turned and watched him with an edge of sorrow. Saul's
impressions were as reliable as other
men's reports.
"I must know this, my friend," he said softly.
"What do you believe goes on in my son's mind, in his
heart?"
"There is still much anger," Saul stated as he
laid his arms on the table and regarded Diego. "He has
softened toward you marginally. He does not refuse to hear
the stories I would tell him now of your youth
and your dreams. He listens. But I can see the rage in his
eyes. The events of his childhood and
Carmelita's torments are not forgotten."
Diego clenched his fingers into fists before forcing
himself to relax them.
"He blames me." Diego moved back to the
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