Xenia clicks the recording back on, she’s even zoomed in to catch the men in the background more clearly.
“The one in the white suit is Marcos Costa, he’s the second son, traditionally, this means he’s second in line for his father’s position. Adriano Costa runs one of the largest cartels in South America. We intend to end his expansion into Europe,” Uncle Cormac explains. “He’s involved in the Red Trade and that, we canna allow in our ports.”
Arabella looks at me. “The Red Trade?”
“Human trafficking,” I explain. “Primarily young women for the sex industry.”
“Aye, ye need to burn him and his cartel to theground,”she’s instantly vehement and furious. “How can I help?”
“Costa is the one who sent his men after ye as retribution for Lachlan torching his warehouse today and taking the girls to a safe house,” Uncle Cormac explains. “The girls are considered valuable cargo, so losing theshipment-”he spits the word like it’s poison, “is a fairly expensive loss for Costa.”
“I was watching Marcos during the conversation,” I explain. “He’s an arrogant one, and not known for his caution. Can ye get some sense of what he was saying?”
Arabella’s already moving closer to the monitor, effectively dismissing Uncle Cormac and me. Her eyes are narrowed and she’s soundlessly moving her lips. “There’s three men in this conversation, but the one in the blue suit is doing most of the talking, who is he?”
Xenia and I look at each other. Within the next two minutes in the recording, he will be the man who gets his head blown off by Costa.
“He’s one of Adriano’s top advisors,” Uncle Cormac steps in.
“The advisor is trying to reason with Marcos. ‘It’s not the right time. Ye have to wait until-’” She groans as a guard walks in front of them for a moment. “‘Your father will… never… Your father will never agree to the port change. The overland route to… the client.’ He says it’s too long. Too many… variables.”
She looks at Xenia. “Can ye rewind it? Thirty seconds back.” Uncle Cormac is looking at my bride in admiration and pride swells my chest.
“Marcos is saying something about, ‘just the test run… cargo not important,’ I think? This man is ridiculous. Dinnae he not know ye were using a wide-angle lens? They’re all just blathering on while his Da is doing business?”
“Apparently not,” Xenia snickers. “I will never fail to be amazed at the arrogance and stupidity of men. A conversation like that, out in the open.” She looks at Uncle Cormac and me. “I mean, the arrogance and stupidity ofsomemen. Some.”
We’re at the point in the recording when Benicio is about to be shot. “Sweetheart, I need ye to look away, this is going to be bad.”
She dinnae even take her eyes off the screen, I’ve never seen my wife in hardcore professional mode like this and it’s hot as feck. “I can handle it. Their body language is changing, something’s going to slip, aye? I’ve… I’ve seen death.” Cocking her head, she watches Marcos abruptly lean nose to nose with Benicio, his body tight.
“Marcos is threatening the advisor. He’ll… something… his family? He’ll kill Benicio’s family. See how his body slumps?” She points at the advisor. “He knows he’s going to die. Marcos is putting his hand inside his jacket, so are two of his guards. It looks like he’s ready to kill Benicio to shut him up if his father dinnae do it.”
My wife might be tough, but she staggers back, her hand over her mouth when Adriano takes the shot.
“We can stop love, that’s enough.” I kiss her forehead, the bridge of her nose.
“No, I can do it.” She sucks in a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment.
“Adriano is focused on ye, Chieftain, trying to butter ye up. He’s not aware of anything going on behind him. Marcos is talking to the third man. He’s saying…” Her face pales. “He’s saying, ‘the next shipment of men and guns will end these… these Scottish fucks. We get their ports and we get…’ Ach, he’s lighting a cigarette! I canna tell…” Her brow furrows for a moment and then she nods. “The other man is saying something about getting MacTavish ports and then owning the UK trade.”
The video cuts off and everyone in the room is staring at my wife with admiration.
“Arabella, that was extraordinary, thank ye, it is an honor to have ye in the family,” Uncle Cormac says warmly. “What you’ve given us here is invaluable.”
“They’re planning on bringing in guns and men to kill ye,” she says doubtfully. “It dinnae feel like a celebratory thing.”
“Sweetheart, it isn’t the first time, and it’ll not be the last.” I slide my arm around her waist, kissing her. “But ye gave us advance warning, and now we know that Marcos is acting behind his father’s back. Treachery can always be exploited.”
I cup her bonnie face, kissing her again. “But your gift! What a thing to watch, my bride. Reading lipsisyour superpower.”
“Exactly so,” Uncle Cormac agrees, “a true superpower. How much of your receptive communication is based on lip-reading?”
“It’s more like… filling in the blanks,” Bella explains. “Body language plays a huge part, as ye could see. I realized how important it was to me when Covid hit and everyone started wearing masks.”
Rising with a bit of a groan, Uncle Cormac nods toward the door. “Logan, take your bride and her superpowers to dinner and send in your father and Lachlan, aye? Have the guards keep an eye out for Cameron, he should be here any moment.”
Xenia heads out too, marching toward the kitchen and once we’re in the hallway I scoop up my bride, covering her face with kisses. “Wonder Woman? The Black Widow? They’re got nothing on ye, lass.”
