I measure out the coffee, pour in the water, then stare at the machine, willing it to go faster. “Since I didn’t get to bed till almost three in the morning.”
“Well, that’s a fuckin’ lie, ‘cause we were all still here at three, and from the looks of you, I’d say you spent at least another hour fuckin’ your brains out.”
“Two.” I throw his smirk back at him ‘cause, shit, I haven’t even had my coffee yet.
Enough coffee finally brews for me to pour off a cup. I don’t offer any to Smoke ‘cause it’s obvious I need this more than him.
I add cream and sugar. Yeah, I like it that way, and I don’t give a shit what anyone says.
Smoke spreads his arms wide. “So?”
I peer at him from over my coffee cup. “What?”
“C’mon, fucker, don’t make me work for it. How does she know Benito?”
I refill my cup and head for the couch with Smoke close behind me. “Eduardo’s her brother.”
“Deadbeat Eduardo who can’t show up on time?”
“The very same.”
“Shit.” Smoke screws up his face. “But it was Benito’s name she kept repeating.”
“That’s ‘cause he’s been holding her hostage and using her as a drug mule for the last six months.” I grab for the pack of cigs on the coffee table, plug one between my lips, light up anddrag deep.
I give Smoke the condensed version of Martina’s story, highlighting the fact that Eduardo sold his own sister to the cartel.
“What a fuckin’ loser.” Smoke shakes his head. “I’ve done some bad shit, but that tops all.”
“That’s why she freaked out. She thought Benito was here for her.” I take another drag, along with a gulp of coffee.
“This thing between you and her.” Smoke waves his hand toward the bedroom. “How does that play out with the deal we wanna make with Benito?”
“I don’t see where it does.”
“You’re fuckin’ kidding, right?”
“The only past she has with Benito is him holding her hostage, something that will never happen again as long as I’m alive.”
“See, right there.” Smoke points to me. “You’re all about protecting her.”
“And if I remember correctly, we stormed Hector’s villa to rescue Marisol then left in a blaze of gunfire.”
Smoke stays quiet, and I know I’ve made my point.
“There’s no fuckin’ way I’m putting Martina in that kinda danger again.”
“Benito is business; she’s personal,” Smoke counters. “You can’t let this interfere with the casino deal we already set up with him. We can’t funnel any more into the garage or the fight club without raising suspicion, so we need this deal, no matter what happens with you and her.”
“When have I ever let a woman interfere with business?”
“Just make sure this isn’t a first.”
“You got nothing to worry about, ‘cause the club and my brothers will always be my first priority.”
“Good, for a minute there, you were scaring me. Shit, I don’t wanna see anything bad happen to her, but we can’t let this deal get fucked up because of a woman.”
“Totally agree.” I bite back what I really want to say. “But you can’t blame me for wanting to get my dick wet.” That should satisfy my prez until I can figure this shit out.
