“I do,” I answer. “We’ll speak soon. In the meantime, I just want you to think about what’s happened in the past when someone went against the MacTavish’s. Ya’ don’t want that much heat, lad.”
“It’s nothing personal, my friend,” Juan’s smooth tone was slightly shaken.
“It will be very personal if my wife and her sister aren’t completely healthy and happy when I see them.” I hung up, fighting the urge to throw my phone across the jet. Just when I kill one insane fecker, another leaps up to take his place.
***
Aria…
“You were the one who tried to take out Lachlan and me, weren’t you?”
His dark brow rises elegantly in a faux show of surprise. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“I’ve been thinking about it,” I say slowly, “so many bullets. Assigning responsibility took some time. “You haven’t been very happy about my interference with your attempt at a union with Elana.”
He shrugs, trimming a new cigar. God, I wish he would stop smoking. My lungs must look like the inside of a fireplace.
“Your sudden alliance with the MacTavish’s was… unexpected, true,” he admits, “but I did think you were bright enough to honor a signed - in blood - contract. Your brother, however…” he grins insolently, wreathed in a cloud of smoke. I desperatelyneed to cough but I’m not giving him the satisfaction. “Your brother could be brought to heel. Then the Alonso alliance with the Kings would be set. So many assets your family holds, so much potential.” He looks positively misty for a moment.
“Your stubbornness means that forcing this issue would be expensive for both of us, even though I assume Petrov’s little games have weakened you.”
I must look surprised - so much for my poker face - because he chuckles. “Of course, I know. The man is not subtle.”
Leaning forward, I stare into his flat, brown eyes. “Elana is young and unused to being manipulated. You’re a handsome man, Juan. I’m sure you’re aware of that. You gathered all the scraps remaining of your charm to convince her this is the right move. Let’s be honest, you and I. You want something. And I don’t believe it’s my sister.”
He feigns shock and disappointment. “You don’t think your beautiful sister is a woman that men would move mountains to be with?”
“She is all that and more. But you…” I shake my head. “You’re an ambitious man. I suspect you have plans that extend far beyond what your father wants.”
I’m fishing here, but when his eyes flare with life for the first time, I know I’m right. “You’re not the kind of man who just… falls in when he’s told to do something, are you?”
He grins around his cigar and I fight the urge to leap over the desk and stick the lit end of that smelly thing into his eye.
“Tell me what you want,” I say flatly. “I’m the new head of the King Syndicate - yes, a woman, I know that’s shocking - but it is something my brother will confirm. There’s no need for thesegames, especially when you’re playing with my sister’s well-being.”
“The new head of the family?” He chuckles disbelievingly.
“The longer you drag this out, the less friendly our negotiations will be,” I warn.
“I think you should look around,” he says, waving around his cigar and getting ash on the beautiful old rug. “Right now, I have you - theheadof your family as you claim - and your sister. I believe the only one making demands right now should be me,si?You are not operating from a position of strength,querida.”
“You are too bright to be making enemies for no reason. Your father has done that for a long time, and I suspect you’ve been cleaning up his messes, haven’t you?” I’m taking a chance by bringing up his father, but his tight-lipped, furious gaze is a giveaway. “So, tell me what you really want. Keeping Elana and me here is not a long-term solution. If my husband and brother don’t blow this mess sky-high, I suspect your father will. He doesn’t know what you’re doing here, does he?”
Juan stands up, buttoning his suit. “You’ll be taken to stay with your sister until the men arrive.” He pulls me up by my arm, squeezing it tightly. “You’re lucky, you know. If your uncle had given me you instead, I would never have let you go. It’s time for you to keep your mouth shut if you want me to remember you’re already taken.” He looks me over thoroughly, lingering on my breasts. “If you make me angry enough, even MacTavish can’t save you.”
Pulling my arm away, I smile. “If you make Lachlan angry, I won’t be able to saveyou.”
***
Lachlan…
Zed is out on the airfield, pacing and talking on his phone when I finally land. I’m at the bulkhead, cursing the stately slowness of the door as it opens and the anxious field workers wheel up the jet stairs.
“What do you know?” I cut off his greeting.
“They’re still in the same building,” he says, showing me the two red dots on his phone, “still no word from Aria.”
“Let’s go pay Alonso a visit,” I say grimly, “how many men do you have with you?”
