Chapter Six
Leon nodded at Bane, knowing he meant every word.He wondered why he hadn’t told him about the history between him and Paulo.He did say that he knew of him.But knowing Bane, he had his reasons.He was willing to give Bane leeway that he wouldn’t give to other men.The man would not tell any lies.He wasn’t the type at all.He learned to trust Bane since he’d met him.
Leon turned back to Lucinda.“Word on the street is that his sons pushed Paulo out of the seat of power and took over the cartel.Do you know anything about that?”
Lucinda scoffed.“That doesn’t surprise me at all.Is it true?I don’t know for sure but I doubt it.As far as I could see he’s still got half the cartel taking his orders.I think they are working together to unseat you.They need Boston to set up another wave of crime.They’ve got contacts in Europe and they want the shipping from this city to work for them.Back in Mexico?They can still set up shipping but they’d have to pay someone under the counter to do so.Here, they can set it up so it looks legal, but you and I both know it would be anything but legal.”
Leon nodded.“Si, we do and we already know about the shipping just as we know about his partners in Italy.I will put an end to what they have planned here.”
Lucinda shivered.“I am glad you are aware.I drove a long way to find you.If I can stop his plans then I will be happy.He has gotten away with so many bad things.”She then looked at Bane.“Can you really stop them?I meanallof them?My father and my brothers?”
Bane nodded.“Yeah, little girl we can stop them and I swear, he won’t have anywhere to hide and no one to hide behind.”
“I believe you senor and I will pray for your success.It is time to end them forever.”
Storm shook his head.“You don’t sound too broken up about that prospect, honey.”
Lucinda sneered.“And why should I feel sorry?You heard this man.”She motioned at Bane.“He used me as a human shield when I was just ten years old.He knew I was his child but he refused to acknowledge it.I went hungry while he ate steak.I lived in poverty while he and his sons slept in comfortable beds every night and had money to throw away.They had brand new clean clothes every day while I wore hand-me downs and grew up mostly on the streets.Witnessing the end of that family will bring me nothing but satisfaction after all these years.”
Leon shook his head.“And what did you come here to tell us exactly?”
Lucinda took a deep breath and said, “They will come here with my half-brothers.Manuel and Trego will be leading the pack, but somewhere along the line Paulo and Juan will arrive first.They will arrive before the others get here and he will try to convince you that his sons kicked him out and are on their way to try and unseat you.He will look pathetic and even swear revenge for what his sons have done to him but you cannot believe a word he says.He’s lying all while he looks you in the face.You do not have to take my word for this, Paulo has a tell when he’s lying.His eye twitches and his hand clench into fists.I’ve seen him do this time after time.He never knew but I used to watch him all the time.I had to hide but I used to watch him.”
“Why did you have to hide?”Storm frowned.
She shook her head and explained, “Because Paulo never wanted to see me.In fact, a few times he got violently angry when he caught sight of me.I was told that when I was born, the nurse heard him tell my mother she should drown me.I think she even tried to do that once or twice.The nurses kept an eye on me the whole time because she was pissed when he walked away from her.She thought he would be happy about a child.But he wasn’t.Then when I was five she began bringing men home and when I was seven she locked me out.I was just a kid but I knew even then she was turning her back on me.So I found my own way after that.But her regret of having me had been building all my life I think.She never really loved me, not like a mother should.She looked at me like a paycheck and when he walked away from both of us, she just didn’t give a damn.”
“You didn’t deserve that.”Storm growled.
Lucinda shrugged.“It was her way.The only person she ever cared about was herself.She’s a barfly now.All fat, drunk and unhappy.I suppose you do reap what you sow.”She paused to make the sign of the cross over herself.
Storm and the men all stared at this.
“Thank the good Lord I was kicked out at seven,” she added.
Leon shook his head.“How did a seven-year-old girl survive the streets and in Mexico no less?”
“I had a brother.”She looked upset as she explained, “Another child Paulo fathered and ditched.We were both helped by the Mission in our town.If not for them, I would have died.”
“What happened to your brother?”
