by Stone, Piper
Two days before the nightmare ended.
“Let’s get going. We have business to take care of,” I commanded.
And several exterminations to conduct.
Chapter 14
Michael
Business.
The itinerary changed, we touched down at the Key West International Airport almost three hours later. The air was humid, the whipping wind and dark skies indicating a storm brewing in the distance, the beginnings of hurricane season evident. I gazed up at the ominous clouds as I walked down the stairs, the weather matching my shitty mood.
The rental car was waiting, although we wouldn’t need it for very long. I had no intention of staying longer than necessary. From my call to Joseph on the plane, I’d learned that Emmanuel had yet to be transferred to hospice, his health improving.
What a shame that wasn’t going to last.
“Boss, you should let one of us go with you,” Titus said. I glanced down at his sling, giving him a heartfelt smile.
“I think Dante and I can handle this. Stay with the plane. If you see any suspicious activity, let me know. We should be gone no more than an hour.”
“Okay, boss, but I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I, Titus. Take care of the arm.”
Before dropping into the driver’s seat, I yanked my sunglasses into my hand, surveying the private landing strip.
“What are you looking for?” Dante asked.
“An army.” I slid inside, immediately starting the engine.
As he eased onto the passenger seat, he studied me intently. “That bad?”
“Let’s just say I have a feeling that things are going to get a hell of a lot worse before they get better. I also don’t like being made a fool of, which is exactly what I feel is happening.” I revved the engine several times, enjoying the rumble under my seat.
“You’ll figure it out. So, do you want to tell me about this girl you’re in love with?”
“Do you want to tell me why you’re really here?” I slammed the door, shifting into gear and rolling out of the parking area. I knew exactly where I was headed, Manuel a creature of habit.
“Touché, brother. I’m here because Cristiano asked me to work with you. And no, it’s not about babysitting you.”
“Damn well better not be.” I checked the rearview mirror before pressing down on the accelerator, shifting around several slow moving cars, forced to move into the wrong lane in an effort to do so.
“Whoa, brother. I don’t think your club manager is going anywhere.”
“Given the various disloyalties that have occurred, I can’t be but so certain. The last thing we need is the fucker spouting off our arrival.” Every leak needed to be plugged or this shit was just going to happen again.
He chuckled as he settled into the seat. “He wanted me to get my feet wet and to make certain I knew what I was doing in asking to get involved.”
I shot him a look, my instinct telling me he was holding something back.
Dante seemed to sense I was waiting for him to continue, shrugging his shoulders. “Look, I watched one of my buddies gunned down in front of my eyes and I wasn’t able to save him.”
“Didn’t that shit happen all the time?”
“Not like this. After that, I’d had enough. The enemies don’t give a shit who they attack or why. They’re like drones fighting a war, some of which with no idea why. After a while you can’t make sense of it any longer.” He stopped talking altogether, staring out the passenger window, obviously not ready to talk.
What he was describing had become more prevalent in our line of work. Keeping Morales out of the States was vital.
“If you stay around, you’re going to be asked to do things that go against your nature. I hope you know that.”
Dante sighed. “I’m not a child any longer, Michael. I meant what I said at Chris’ house. The shit I had to go through makes this a vacation, but I also know things have gotten tougher on the family. I suspect I’ll see my share of violence.”
“Mostly coming from outside the country. If the Morales Cartel are involved, they hunger for more than just additional power and wealth. Just watch your back. I won’t be able to protect you at all times.”
To that end, Dante tugged a weapon from his jacket, releasing then snapping the ammunition clip. “Another reason to have me along, brother. I’m an expert marksman, trained in all aspects of weaponry and explosives.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Then your expertise will indeed come in handy.”
“Now, about this woman. Is she really worth risking the family for?”
“Yeah, she is, although I don’t think she has any desire to remain my hostage for the rest of her life.”
“Wait a minute,” Dante snorted. “You kidnapped this girl?”
“The kids needed a teacher. What can I say?”
“A man of convenience.”
We laughed together, enjoying the comradery. It was good to have him home.
* * *
Even with the impending weather, we found Manuel on the beach. However, he wasn’t alone.
While he was paid well for his services managing the club, as well as perks for his handling of certain business details when requested, it was not well enough to afford the recent purchase of a million dollar house. I’d kept him on the bottom of the totem pole, mostly clean, but he’d been given several rewards for information as well as help with the local police. It was funny that he hadn’t changed his address in the club’s database, although he’d been in the house for almost a month. I honestly hadn’t cared where people lived. I wasn’t going to accept an invitation to a barbeque or birthday party.
I also hadn’t realized he had a family. That had never been discussed.
Fuck me. The two children frolicking in the surf were only a little older than the twins.
“Nice place,” Dante said as he flanked my side.
“Too nice.”
“That his wife?”
“That would be a good assumption.”
Dante took a deep breath, studying the ocean. “What are we going to do?”
“We’re going to have a discussion with Mr. Caspero just as I’d intended to do.” I walked closer, my shoes sinking into the sand. At least the private beach was to our benefit, although I wasn’t entirely certain of the outcome.
Manuel jumped up from the blanket, saying something to his wife before walking in our direction. There was a quickness to his step and the closer he came, the easier it was to see the pensive look on his face.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Manuel said, looking from Dante back in my direction before darting a glance over his shoulder, waving.
“Is that your family?” I asked while continuing to keep my gaze pinned on the ocean.
“Yes. Yes, it is.”
“Interesting that you never told me about them. It’s also interesting that you moved into a new house.” I finally removed my shades, staring him in the eyes.
He swallowed hard. “Why don’t we talk on the porch?”
“Sure thing.”
When he took off walking, I gave Dante a look and he smirked. Manuel was appropriately nervous.
He walked onto the deck, remaining standing, his open tropical shirt flowing in the wind. “What can I do for you guys?”
I shifted my entire body toward his family before inching closer. “You know who I am, correct?”
“Of course.”
“This is my brother, Dante. We have a large family, one that’s very well connected,” I continued.
Manuel nodded in Dante’s direction, a slight tic appearing in the corner of his mouth. “Did I do something to offend you, Mr. King?”
I crowded his space, walking him backward until he was forced against the side of the building. “I think you owe me an explanation as to what the fuck you thought you were doing supplying information to certain dangerous individuals.”
There was nothing worse than
seeing men crumble in front of your eyes, but that’s exactly what he did after I made the statement. I even thought he was going to cry. I kept my hands in my pockets, trying to control my temper. It was still possible to use his lack of loyalty to our benefit.
“I’m sorry, Mr. King. I really am. They threatened my family if I didn’t provide information. I swear to God that I did everything to do what they asked, but they had pictures of the kids at their school and on the playground.”
I bristled hearing the information, the pictures still sitting on my phone too much of a coincidence.
“Who are you talking about?”
“I don’t know him by name, but he works with the Santiago family. Big guy with a scar.” Manuel was shaking, darting his eyes toward his family.
“The Ghost,” Dante said.
Manuel gazed into my brother’s eyes. “That’s what I heard one of the bartenders at the club call him, but I don’t know. He visited me at the club one night when I was closing shop. That was four days after the pictures had been sent to me. I was going out of my mind. The text stated that if I said anything to anyone, the kids would disappear. I didn’t know what to do.”
“You should have called me, Manuel. That was your first mistake. What did the Ghost say to you at the club?” I asked through clenched teeth.
“He slid a paper sack over my desk, leaned over and said that I had two choices. One was to provide information on the shipments coming into Florida no matter what location and I would become a wealthy man. The other was I could refuse and never see my family again. I had no choice.”
He finally teared up, taking gasping breaths.
“What was the last thing you told him?”
“That… That there was a new shipment coming in this week. I told him where. Then another bag of cash arrived.”
“How long has this been going on?” Dante asked.
Manuel rubbed his hand across his nose, sniffing afterwards. “Um. Maybe three months.”
Three fucking months.
I took a deep breath, allowing the realization to sink in.
“I couldn’t tell him very much. I don’t know anything. I mean, not really.” Now Manuel was whining.
Dante inched closer before speaking, the move obviously making Manuel even more uncomfortable. “Did he mention that he was working for the Santiagos in particular?”
He shook his head until I slapped my hand on the siding. The slight jump was followed by a hissing whimper.
“No. I only knew because of what my bartender told me.”
The Ghost certainly wanted to keep the situation on the down low. I was itching to make contact with Carlo. I needed confirmation the fucker was dead from the attack in Switzerland.
“Is everything all right, honey?” the woman’s voice called from behind.
Both Dante and I shifted away from Manuel, smiling as she inched closer.
“Don’t worry, baby. This is my boss and his brother just coming for a visit to welcome us to our new house.” I had to give Manuel credit. He was a damn good actor. Maybe too much so. However, that put a thought into my mind.
“Welcome! Isn’t it gorgeous? If you boys want some lemonade, I just made it this morning. Fresh squeezed.” Her smile was contagious, her lilt far too much like Daniella’s. She scampered back toward the children, obviously convinced nothing nefarious was going on.
“You’re a good man.”
Daniella’s words filtered into my mind.
“Please, Mr. King. I’ll do anything to make this up to you. I swear to God. Please don’t take me away from my family. They mean everything to me.”
Dante exhaled, taking a step back and turning to face the ocean. He knew this was my choice to make.
I thought about what was in my family’s best interest. “I’m going to make an offer you can’t refuse, but if you do, then there won’t be another offer on the table. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir. Anything, Mr. King.”
“Do you have a way to contact this person?”
He nodded only once. “I leave a message with a barber down the street, making an appointment. Then he comes.”
The method was old school but effective.
“All right. I need you to follow the Ghost’s playbook and make an appointment for tonight. When he arrives, you’re going to tell him that the shipment has been moved at the last minute and that it’s coming in the next night. Make certain you use those excellent acting skills of yours. After that, you’re going to take the bag of cash he provides and get you and your family out of town. I’ll call you if and when it’s safe to return. Can you handle that, Manuel?”
Relief flooded his face. “Absolutely, Mr. King. I promise you that I will never do anything like that ever again.”
“No. You won’t.”
After providing an entirely different port of call, I simply walked away.
Dante said nothing until we reached the vehicle, taking a few deep breaths of the sea air before climbing into the car.
“Are you going to take out the Ghost tonight?” Dante asked.
“I’d prefer to round up a group of them at the same time. Plus, Manuel could be killed if I do that.”
“Interesting and I’m surprised,” he said quietly, waiting until after I’d started the engine.
“That I made him an offer?”
“That you didn’t go through with your original plan. By all rights, you should have put a bullet in his brain or let this Ghost do it for you.”
I thought about his statement, conversations with Danielle slipping into the back of my mind. “He has a family, one that was threatened exactly the way mine was. I couldn’t allow his kids to grow up without a father. Besides, he will be entirely loyal from now on. While every man has a price, he’s already showed his hand. His family is all that matters to him. In my mind, that gives him a single pass.”
“You know, Cristiano was right.”
“About?”
“Whoever this girl is, she’s good for you. You’re finally ready to let go of the past.”
As I drove, I thought about his statement. Maybe they were right.
But could I give her the kind of life she deserved?
We were almost to the airport when the phone rang. I expected Carlo.
I was dead wrong.
“What?” I asked for a second time. “What the fuck did you say to me?”
I motioned for Dante, pushing him toward the plane. “Get the plane running!” I barked to him, remaining outside as Cristiano continued talking.
“I’m sorry, Michael. Carlo managed to call. They were hit barely two hours after you left. She’s gone. The teacher you held hostage was taken.”
The asshole responsible had been one step ahead of us almost the entire time. While there was no way anyone could have known our itinerary, it was obvious the persons responsible had been watching my house. They’d used the first opportunity to take her.
“What the hell happened?” Dante grilled me as soon as I stepped onto the plane.
“Get the plane going,” I instructed the pilot. “Miami and get there as fast as possible.”
“Yes, sir.”
A roar erupted from my gut as I headed for a seat. I glanced out the window, edgy as fuck, rage consuming my mind. Thank God the flight to Miami only took fifty minutes. If anything happened to her…
“Security at the house was breached. The perpetrators used tranquilizer guns on Carlo and the other soldiers. Then they took Daniella.”
“Whoa. Tranquilizer guns? Our men were left alive?”
I nodded, fisting my hands.
“Michael, that sounds like the girl was the only thing that mattered.”
“Maybe so but they fucked with the wrong people. Nah. That’s just phase one. They knew my weakness. They want me to come to them. Well, that’s not going to happen.”
“Then what the hell are we going to do?” Dante pushed.
I snickered. “First, we’re goin
g to see Emmanuel Santiago and he will tell us where she was taken. Then we get her back. Tomorrow night, we start the beginning of the end. Our way. And brother. Be prepared. This time blood will rain.”
* * *
The private hospital was located in one of the wealthiest sections of Miami, Emmanuel protected by several of his own men. However, that wasn’t going to stop me from getting the information I needed.
“Cristiano just called,” Joseph said as he met us in the paved lot just after I’d parked the second rental car of the day. “What are you going to do?”
“Have a discussion with Mr. Santiago. I assume he’s alive.”
“He’s doing better than a few days ago.” Joseph shook his head, pulling back my coat and staring down at my weapon. “You’re not going to get within fifty feet of him carrying that. You know better.”
Exhaling, I gave Dante a look before pulling the gun from my holster and placing it in the car. Dante did the same.
“You can’t kill him, Michael. You won’t survive.”
I gave Joseph a hard look before smiling. “I have no intention of killing him. In fact, there’s no need. I’ve learned that finding their ultimate weakness drives your enemy into the palm of your hand.”
“Now you have me curious,” Dante said, chuckling under his breath.
“You’ll learn many things, brother. This is only the beginning of an increase in our kingdom.”
The statement seemed to reverberate between the two, both giving me a look of respect. Sometimes brawn wasn’t nearly as good as mental manipulation. I could give Daniella credit for my initiation regarding a different level of thinking.
And how I intended on handling obstacles from now on.
“Damn good to see you, Dante.” Joseph grinned as he patted Dante on the arm. “Sorry it couldn’t be under better circumstances.”
“I’m glad to be home and if this is what it takes to keep our family safe, our property secure, then I came at the right time.”
Joseph chuckled. “You’re getting more like your brothers every day.”
“There’s no time to waste.” I took long strides toward the hospital, ignoring the front desk as I headed for the stairs, the asshole located on the third floor.
