“How do I know you won’t leave me hanging?”
“‘Cause I’m not like you. If I say I’m going to do something,I do it.” I stand my ground. “But you have to tell me where you’re living here in Tijuana.”
“Why do you wanna know that?”
“So, that on the very sure chance this whole scheme of yours goes bad, I’ll know where to reach you.”
“Did Benito give you a phone?”
“Hardly. The only one who had a phone was the cartel member he’d pair me with to make the trips over the border.” I retrieve the phone Maxie just gave me and hand it to him.
“Where did you get this?”
“A gift from the Harlots.”
“Nice.”
“Theyhave my back.” I stare at him for a few extra seconds to make my point.
“Don’t get it twisted, sis. The Royal Bastards are criminals too.”
“But they take care of their own business without using others as pawns. Now, are you going to give me your info?”
A long few minutes pass between us, but I stay strong, knowing the first one to fold is the loser.
He focuses on the screen and says, “Remember, I could’ve ratted you out to Benito. Told him where you were living, but I didn’t.”
“Right, but that wouldn’t have facilitated anything for you. Better to set me up and make me betray people who want to help me.”
Finally, he taps on the screen, then hands the phone back to me, and I read his address. “You’re living in the Zona Norte on Calle Coahuila?”
“You can’t miss it. The whole fuckin’ building is painted pink.”
“I guess you already know that’s the worst part of the city.”
“I got a friend there. She lets me stay at her place for free.”
“Only you would make friends with a hooker and manage to get something for free.”
“Yeah, yeah. Are you gonna help me or put a death sentence on my head?”
“Are you going to give me my passport?”
“I have another meet with Smoke in two weeks. That should give you enough time to get some useful info that I can pass on to Benito.” Another pause. “When I’m done, I’ll text you, and you can meet me in the back lot.”
“No, we’ll meet in the taco shop next door. I don’t want to chance anyone seeing me with you.”
“Real nice.”
“If they suspect we know each other, everything will fall to shit.”
“True. I didn’t think of that.”
Of course he didn’t. “That’s why you can’t keep your ass out of trouble.”
“Are you going to do this or not?”
“What do you think?”
