Page 77 of Cartel Devil

It’s rare I speak aloud what happened to my father. It’s not like the image of the bullet going through his forehead and another through his heart is ever far from my mind, but I don’t enjoy talking about it. I think everyone understands how traumatizing it was, so even our enemies don’t speak about it. They blame it for turning my brothers and me into psychopaths, but hypocrisy abounds. We’re all mildly sociopathic, but psychopaths is a stretch.

“I can only imagine, sobrino. And Tricia is all right?”

“Yes. The doctors say she needs bed rest for a few days until they’re certain she’s out of the woods.”

I’m standing in the hallway while Tre speaks with her family. As much as I want to climb up the wall not knowing what they’re discussing, I’m attempting—the struggle is real, yo—to give them privacy. Not that I’m a control freak or anything.

“What do you need from us, Quino?”

“No lo sé, mamá. I wish Tía Margherita or Madeline was here. I’d feel way better if one of them examined Tre.” I don’t know, Mama.

I lapse into Spanish but remember Tía Elle can’t follow an entire conversation yet. Even though Colombian Spanish is usually considered a moderate speed, once we get going, there’d be no way for her to keep up. I want her opinion since she knows the Vizzinis better than the rest of us.

“Quino, she can request to see her records at any time. She can take a pic and send it to Madeline or me.”

“Gracias, tía.” Thank you, Aunt.

Mierda.

Shit.

There I go again. At least I know Tía Elle can understand that much.

While I usually think in English if I’m speaking it, when I’m alone, I think in Spanish. I use it so much every day, it’s still my default.

“Joaquin, can you hear any of the conversation?”

Everyone remains quiet for a moment while I strain to catch anything understandable. I wish I could answer Tía Elle’s question in the affirmative, but I can’t.

“Just a soft murmur.”

“Jorge and I will keep searching their financials, and I know someone who can hack for us while you’re taking care of Trish.”

“Thank you, Tía.”

My aunt is a forensic accountant who has a reputation in the underworld as the Ball Buster. We didn’t know she was the elusive and notorious woman who only worked for Tommaso when Tío Enrique met her. She has connections around the world that even my family doesn’t. She definitely knows some of the seediest people I’ve ever met or heard of.

“Do you need me to meet you up there?”

“Not for now. I’ll let you know if I do, Tía. I’m nearly certain Tre was sent down to New York to spy.”

“No.”

Tía Elle and Toria both refute my statement, but I can’t shake the feeling. When I flat-out said I know Tre’s on a mission, nobody refuted that.

“Joaquin, I’ll look into it. But I truly don’t believe she’s a spy. She might be reporting things she sees and hears, but she’s not after something specific. She wasn’t down here to infiltrate any organization. Tía Elle and I have spent enough time around spies to recognize them. I seriously doubt she’d be better than Tía or me, and I’ve seen no tells.”

I don’t argue, but I stand by my suspicions. They only grow exponentially with the next bomb Tía Elle drops.

“Joaquin, you know Trish and my son dated for several years. While they were together, Ewan O’Malley tried hitting on her in high school while they were at a party. He was there dealing and didn’t realize who she was. Even after Steven told him to back off, he kept trying to talk to her. She broke Ewan’s left ring finger and pinky when he reached out to touch her arm. Ewan’s held a grudge for more than a decade. It’s directed at Steve for co—blocking him and Trish for humiliating him when she refused. If he knows she’s in town again, and he learns she’s with you, then he might be making a statement.”

I can’t believe my tía was about to say cock blocking!

Maybe she thought it was too vulgar. Maybe she realized she was about to say her son did it. Either way, out of all the shocking things she’s said in the couple years I’ve known her, that might be the least “aunt-ly” thing she’s said yet.

“Tío, should I call Sean?”

“Would he take your call? He’s still pretty pissed.”