Juan took his time getting his cigar lit and blowing out a couple of smoke rings. “Go on.”
“You want the King Syndicate to perform a service for you in lieu of our current arrangement,” she says.
He leans forward, cigar forgotten. “And what would that be?”
She has him, my beautiful, clever wife. Aria smiles. “It’s a service we can provide without any connection back to you. But you will have to ask for it.”
They stare at each other, neither refusing to look away.
Chapter Thirty-Four
In which everyone gets what they want.
Lachlan…
“I want you to kill my father.”
Juan and Aria are still engaged in their staring match, she doesn’t react to his demand, just nodding her head.
“As the new head of the Alonso Cartel, you will then have the right to cancel the contract,” she says calmly.
He grins around his cigar. “Exactly.”
“Wait, what?” Elana asks incredulously. “But... I’m here. That was the point, you said my family wouldn’t let me go without a fight. That’s why I left!”
“You are a lovely girl,bonita, but I require a title, not a wife,” Juan says, not bothering to look at her.
“So, this was all a setup,” she says numbly, “you knew my family would come after me.”
Zed tightens his arm around her shoulders. “We’ll always come for you.”
I know this isn’t what Elana wants to hear, but at least she keeps her mouth shut. Watching my wife do her magic is a huge turn-on, and I have to shift my legs to hide mystonner.
Aria looks at me, and I take her hand. “This is your area of expertise, darling,” she says. “Can we handle this in exchange for the dissolution of the marriage contract between-”
“What makes you think I need your help!” Elana shouts, pushing away from Zed and standing up. “I didn’t tell you to come after me! I made my choice and I can handle-”
“Sit down and be silent.” Juan stabs his cigar into the polished wood of his mahogany desk. “The adults are talking.”
“Don’t disrespect my sister,” Aria says sharply. “You manipulated her and put her in this position-”
Elana storms out the door and Zed follows her. “I’ll handle her,” he sighs, “just get this deal done so we can get out of here.”
I wait for the door to close before I speak. “Do any of your people know what you intend to do?”
He shook his head with a wry smile. “A lesson learned from my father. Trust no one.”
“I’ll need a schedule of your father’s comings and goings over an average week, any plans you have for the layout of his compound, guard shifts, and the like. Are ya’ wantin’ this to look like an accident or a statement?”
Juan is nearly glowing with happiness. “A statement. A bloody, very high-profile statement. Alas… that requires that I clean up the mess as his heir. An accident would be more useful.”
“I’ll reach out to a contractor I know well,” I say. “Be ready to send me the information within seventy-two hours.”
“I should keep Elana until the job is done.”
“You won’t.” Aria jumps in. “You already showed your hand when you disrespected her. We all know we will keep this new arrangement. Hostages aren’t necessary.”
“Very well.” Juan rises gracefully and holds out his hand. “Are we in agreement?”
