She put away the tears and the ineffective punches and kicks. She raised her chest and flexed her muscles. She picked up the laundry bag and swung it over her shoulder.
“I’ll go to the Embassy,” she said to her surprised father when he came back to check on her. “I’m going to get control of the Cano accounts. Then I will come back and destroy Veronica.”
“That’s my girl.” Her father put his hand on her shoulder. “What will we do about Gabriel?”
“We’ll need him,” she said. “He knows how to get in touch with Reuben. I’ve a feeling he knows the passwords we need.”
“Luckily, I have a fake ID for him.” Her father’s eyes teared up at the memory of her younger brother who’d been caught in the crossfire on a high school charity trip to Tijuana. Hector had been building houses to add to his volunteer credentials and boost his chances for getting into an elite college. He’d wanted to be an engineer.
Leanna hugged her father. “Hector would have liked Gabriel.”
“Yes, he would have,” her father said. “I have to contact Axe’s other uncle about Soledad’s paperwork, but you should be on your way to Mexico City. Jorge will drive you. I’m going back to Cano Castle.”
“You’ll look for Axe, right?”
“Of course. We need a man on the inside.” He kissed her cheek. “Go with God.”
Leanna had no intention of going with God or anyone else. As soon as everything was packed, and Soledad, her cat, and Gabriel were safely on their way to Mexico City with Jorge, she checked herself into a motel.
Boss Veronica would consolidate power with a big celebration to keep the thugs happy. She would no doubt parade Axe as her new paramour to show the troops that she was in charge. Furthermore, she would wipe out Carmelita and anyone else who could be in her way—including Tomas Rivera. She would be ruthless if she wanted to be Capo.
There was only one way for Leanna to get into the castle. She called the number Gabriel gave her for Reuben.
He picked up on the second ring. “Yeah? Who’s this?”
“Leanna. Don’t hang up.”
“Are you okay? I heard from Gabriel. Is Juan gone?” The young man’s voice was wheezy.
“I’m so sorry,” Leanna said. “Juan died a hero. He killed Cano.”
“Really? Wow! But what about Ivan and you?”
“We’re safe, for now. Ivan is laying low,” Leanna said. “Did you and Patricia make it?”
“Yeah, we’re in San Antonio, thanks to Maria’s payment,” Reuben said. “It was a hard walk, but they let me float down the river to the pickup point.”
“Do you think you can hack into Cano’s accounts?” Leanna asked.
“I was working on it,” Reuben said. “But he keeps changing his password.”
“How about the people who work for him? You guys were watchers, right? Do you know who his helpers are?”
“Theayudantes, of course,” Reuben said. “They’re the money changers, the fake ID makers, the delivery guys and other gofers.”
“How about the party planners? The guy who supplies the hookers?”
“El Bardo does a lot of that,” Reuben said. “But Ivan was horning into his business.”
“Ivan isn’t returning my calls,” Leanna said. “I need to get into Castle Cano. Heard they’re having a big bash to celebrate the Capo’s death.”
“Really? Wow. I wish I were there.”
“No, you don’t,” Leanna said. She hoped she was right about the party. Joshua used to celebrate every time a rival was eliminated. Sometimes, he’d even invite them or use hookers to lure them to the party. Axe’s Uncle Dom was one such casualty.
“Sure. I’ll arrange it,” Reuben said. “What name shall I give?”
“Carmelita Cano,” Leanna said. “That ought to stir them up.”
“O-okay… Talk later. Thanks for sticking up for me and Patricia.”
“De nada,” Leanna said and hung up.
