Page 18 of Breached

“I need this one to go smoothly. It is a large shipment, and if anything goes wrong, my customers will work with the Perez family. I am trying to build up my place in a very competitive market, and it seems that at every opportunity the Americans or the Perez or Canos Cartels interfere.”

“Date, time, and route,” I asked as I pulled out my phone again and entered the information, noting his shipment date was four weeks away. “I can’t promise anything where the Cartels are involved. But you have my word the Americans will look the other way.”

“Bruno is always an issue for me.” He seemed to think. “Is it possible your, dare I say friends, could keep him busy on that date? I could possibly give you some more information that could benefit us both. An opportunity, perhaps, to take out our joint enemy.”

“What are you offering?” I twisted in the seat to keep my body open to him to show trust. “Will he be in the States then?” I checked my watch. I only had another five minutes before the guys would show themselves.

“Yes, and I can let you know where they will be.” He smiled and looked pleased I was going along with it all. “Something is happening. As I understand from Bruno, both he and Esmeralda are here, and my men have observed Rio going back and forth over the border.”

“I never liked that guy,” I grumbled, knowing Sully hated him too, and he nodded in agreement.

“Bruno has no love for him either. Perhaps he has sensed that Rio has become much too close with his mother,” he pointed to his crotch, “if you understand my meaning.”

My mouth dropped open in shock. Eww. Rio was Bruno’s age and as ugly as a weathered boot.

“Wait until Bruno discovers that the empire Mama has built won’t be left for him to inherit.”

“No way,” I gasped. I hated how great that felt for my soul to hear. “He’s going to lose it?”

“Yes. He could have prevented it, but his Uncle Martin, God rest his soul,” he crossed himself, and I almost laughed that someone like Sully could think he had any connection with God, “he told me himself that he was finished with his nephew’s constant procrastination and stupidity, so Martin helped his sister change her will, and she signed everything over to him. Now that he is dead, it goes to Rio. Stupidity runs in the X chromosome in the Perez family.” He chuckled.

“Seriously, though.” I knew my time was almost up, but I had one lingering question I knew was risky, but I had to ask. “Eric Noah,” I blurted, and his brows pinched, “what do you think of him?”

He shrugged. “Bruno trusts him.”

“Yeah, but I’m asking you.”

He stroked his chin. “Well, I’m sure he faked his own death during Castillo’s ambush. Then he resurfaced, and Bruno is attacked, and he accused Eric of trying to kill him. Not that I ever thought he did. He had a lot to gain having Bruno as an ally. Then, a while later, he’s back with little explanation other than that Bruno’s mother told him to lie low after Bruno’s attack. I don’t know, but if you ask me, the whole thing is a bit hard to believe. Not to mention…” He stopped himself, and I moved closer.

“Not to mention what?” I reached out and touched his forearm, desperate to understand the one man I couldn’t.

Sully looked at my hand, then up to my eyes. “All right,” he cleared his throat, “remember when Martin got his hands on one of the Blackstone wives?” I nodded. It had been Keith’s wife, Lexi. “Well, after she was auctioned off that night and was being transported, there was another ambush, and she got away. One of Eric’s soldiers claimed he saw him with the woman after that. I’m not sure I’d believe it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”

“Saw what?” My inner reporter was salivating.

“I had met a friend for drinks and stepped out to make a call on the balcony. That’s when I saw Eric Noah. It looked like he was carrying someone, and they looked injured. I can only assume it was the woman. The interesting thing is I also saw him speak to Grim Gates before he drove off.”

My jaw slacked as I pictured what he was saying. “Are you sure?”

“Very.” He nodded.

“It’s amazing that you know all of this.”

He spun his watch around his wrist. “People underestimate me.” He gave me a hard, cold look, and I was reminded of who I sat next to. It didn’t matter that we got along— Sully had one foot in the dark and one in the light. And if it came down to it, he’d choose the dark side. “It’s smart business to play the underdog.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Let me know the details about where Bruno will be when you can.” I felt my heart pound in my chest. “I need to go, but I’ll keep my word. I’m sure that things will run smoothly for your business deal. Thanks for the chat, Sully.” I had to get out of there and let Blackstone know I was alive.

“One more thing, Nicole.” He pulled back his shirt and flashed me his gun. “If Bruno is eliminated, it would open the gates for other families to attack the Canos Cartel. All their resources are being used to find that child—with their grandson in the wind, they are vulnerable—and where there’s vulnerability, there’s opportunity. Their territory is something I would be very interested in having.” He grinned. “You and I could have quite the relationship in the future.”

I did love the idea of the Cartel folding in on themselves. And if Sully did manage to make it to one of the top tiers of the Mexican Cartel, then maybe things wouldn’t be as bad as they were now. At least he wasn’t a monster.

“I’ll see what I can do.” I closed the door and headed back toward the safety of my car. I ripped open the door and hopped inside and locked it. I turned over the engine, backed up, and pulled a U-turn, then flew back in the direction I came from.

“Holy shit,” I stared into the camera, “I have a lot to tell you guys!”

Paul and John were parked around the bend and pulled onto the road as I passed to escort me back to the military base camp. I was on a high, and, although I watched my mirrors, I knew Paul’s little dragon in the sky would spot any unwanted company.

When I pulled into the driveway, Cole, Keith, and Mark were waiting. I jumped out and excitedly held the phone out to Cole.