Page 9 of Sainte
“You don’t fucking work for the Vitalis anymore. You’re on my payroll now,” Ice says.
Well, he does have a point. I feel like I’m doing something behind Michael’s back though. I’m doing what he’s asked, just not with whom he wanted me to do it with. I guess I’ll deal with that shit storm later.
“I have to tell you; we’re pros at this kind of shit. But even with pros, I sure as fuck hope you have a plan, Sainte,” Ice says.
“I always have a plan, and you all better follow it to the letter, or so help me, I’ll fucking send you all back in body bags. No rogue cowboy shit to get your hands on Romeo, Ice. I mean it. Everything Michael does—every decision Michael makes—has a reason behind it. I learned that a long time ago, and as long as I follow Michael’s instructions to the letter, it all works out. I just fucking pray having you boys here doesn’t change that.”
“I know, and I know what he said. I promised him I won’t touch Romeo, and he can count on it,” Ice replies.
“Good. One less thing I need to worry about.” I pause and look at everyone. “So here’s the plan.” I go over everything I have mapped out to get the women and money. When I’m done, I ask, “So you boys straight on the plan?”
“Yeah, we got it, but why don’t you run through it again, just to make sure, and you can stop fucking worrying.” Rebel laughs.
These assholes. Did I really make the right decision going with the club? Now they are all laughing. Yeah, I did. I humor Rebel and go over the plan again. “We leave here and go straight to the compound. We spend the rest of today scoping out the place until dark. We cover every fucking base and keep in mind the intel we have already received. Ricco said Gallardi’s compound, or estate, has a guard station at the main gate, and he’s got two guards posted there. There is a long driveway to the main house, where it is my understanding he keeps six guards posted. That’s it. Apparently he thinks he doesn’t need anything more than that, but we’re gonna show him differently. Michael said the plane could only wait two days for us, so forty-eight hours from now, we’re either on that plane or shit out of luck.
“Once we figure out where the ladies are and the safe is, we make our move. Ricco also said that from what he gathered, Romeo would not be there, but I’m telling you plans change, and every one of us goes in as if he’s there. Ice, you take out the two guards at the gate. Rebel, Ryder, and Spike, I’m counting on you three to take care of the guards at the house and then, Spike, you will need to take care of the house alarm system and cameras. I’m told the main hub is housed in the guard’s station at the main gate.”
“Ryder and I can handle the six at the house, Sainte. There’s no need to waste Spike’s time. He can go straight to the alarm once Ice takes out the guards at the gate,” Rebel says.
“You sure about that? You’ll only be two against six,” I say to remind him.
Rebel looks at Ryder and says, “We’ve handled worse. We just recently broke my parents out of Maghaberry Prison in Ireland. Trust me, we got this.”
I turn toward Ice, and he nods to confirm. “Okay, that works. If you guys got this, who the fuck am I to question you?” I shrug. “So once we clear the guards, I’ll go in and get the wife and niece. Ice, you find the safe and clean the motherfucker out. And remember what I said about Romeo.”
“Got it.” He nods and then says, “What if Romeo is there? What if I encounter him?”
“Assess the situation. If you can get the money and get out, then you don’t touch him. Shit, I know that’s wishful thinking, but I’m also betting that Romeo will be more interested in saving his own ass, especially once he realizes we have taken over his house. He will run. I can almost guarantee it.”
Ice nods. “Gotcha.”
“No detours, no changes to the plan. I mean it.”
“We know!” Ryder states, and they laugh again. I need to have my head examined—joining these guys—but I have to say, there is something about them that makes me glad I did. I’m sure I’m gonna fit in just fine.
If this place is anything like most Mexican cartel compounds, it’s not gonna be easy, but at least we know what to expect. Usually these places consist of the main house, a few guard stands, and perhaps a servants’ quarters. They try to keep the cartel business away from the residence, so hopefully that will be the case for us. Ricco couldn’t confirm anything other than what he gave us, so for the rest, we’re winging it.
“Let’s do this!” I state as the plane taxis down the private—I guess you could call it a—runway. Michael said we’d be landing on some remote airstrip and he’d have a Jeep waiting for us. The driver is on the Vitali payroll, and if we are ready to go back within the forty-eight hours, he will be there to drive us back to the plane.
“Always ready, Sainte. You know that,” Ice replies.
Once the plane comes to a stop, I realize we are in a hangar. I didn’t even notice when the plane pulled inside. We get our things together and our guns, and we quickly deplane. Just as Michael said, there is a Jeep waiting. We make our way there, and I introduce myself to the driver.
“Nick Saintero. I’ll be your contact. You can call me Sainte,” I say, holding out my hand for him to shake.
“Manuel Garcia, a pleasure. I am at your disposal,SeñorSainte,” he replies as he gets in the Jeep. The rest of us throw our gear in the back and pile in. “Where to, sir?”
I give Manuel the address, and we drive off. Two hours later, we pull up to a gated property like I was told. The guardhouse at the gate is small, and there are two guards posted. We can’t see the house from the gate as we drive by. I instruct Manuel to drive down the road about a quarter of a mile.
“You wait here for us,” I tell him.
Manuel nods, and we get out of the Jeep.
“We’re going to scope out the situation, and we’ll be back. We’ll probably be a few hours,” I say.
“Sí, señor,” Manuel replies. “I do whatever I can to helpSeñorVitali.”
We get out of the Jeep and head back toward Romeo’s estate on foot. We get to the property and walk the perimeter. It is completely gated, with the front gate being the only way in or out. That could present a problem.
