“It’s your job to know,” said Santori. “We both would have made billions on this deal if you would have just done what I said from the start and taken the land from those idiot farmers.”
“That’s not how things work here,” said the POTUS. “I can’t just take people’s property because I feel like it.”
“No, but you were prepared to take their resources,” said Santori. “I should have known better to get tied up with you. They will come for me and I’m prepared for that.”
“You’re not prepared for what they’ll bring. It’s not like we’re sending troops to take you down. These men don’t operate by any laws or rules, only their own set of values. You won’t escape them if their desire is to get to you.”
“Stop them. You can order them to stand down,” said Santori.
“No, I can’t. Don’t you get it? If I do that they’ll tell the press and the public and everyone will wonder why I’m protecting a drug lord. I can’t help you. Right now, I need to worry about helping myself.”
Santori was quiet for a long time. He watched out the window of his villa as his men scrambled to load their supplies and other important things. These men would find him. He had no doubt. His only hope was that he possessed information that could keep him safe. At least for a while longer.
“I’ll help myself. Remember that you told me to do so,” said Santori.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, you’re not the only one with weapons in his pocket. I have all of our communications, Mr. President. All of it. I have communications in which you lied to the presidents of Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru. All of them. Your lies to them about the ‘shared resources’ and how you’d help them become the wealthiest countries in the world.
“Let’s not forget the lies and promises you made to the president of Mexico. Such horrible things,” he said smiling to himself. “Did you think we wouldn’t share those e-mails about how you’d ensure that his wife would no longer be an issue.”
“Shut up!” said the president.
“I’m not one of your minions. I won’t be ordered around like I’m nothing. You didn’t finish your end of the bargain and since you’ve ensured that I can’t even send any more men to complete the job, I’ll have to ensure that you get nothing from this except death or jail time.”
“You fuck with me, Santori, and I will unleash hell on you. Don’t think I can’t.”
“I’m sure you can,” said Santori. “What you failed to realize was that I’m very familiar with the men coming for me. I know them. I understand them. They’ll want the bigger fish that’s swimming in their sea. They will be less concerned with me once I give them what they really want.”
“And what’s that?” frowned the POTUS.
“You.”
Santori hung up, satisfied that he’d at least made the sleaze ball a little nervous. The man truly had no conscience, robbing his own people, stealing resources, and killing people who were of no threat. Even Santori knew that you ignored those of no threat. It only brought attention to you.
“Mr. Santori, we have to go. We believe these men are on their way. The jungle is acting strangely.”
“What the fuck does that mean? The jungle doesn’t act strangely.” The man shrugged and left. Felix heard snickering behind him and turned to see his annoying brother. “What now, Julio?”
“You really think you’ll escape these men? You won’t.”
“You did. Once upon a time, you did,” said Felix.
“Only because I had your help. I am in no position to help you, Felix and you know it.” Felix stared at his brother and nodded, pulling the pistol from his desk drawer.
“You’re right. You and your worthless son are of no use to me.” He fired five times, feeling no remorse as his brother lay on the floor staining the fine wood with his blood. There was an odd look of peace and satisfaction to his face and for a moment, Felix was jealous of that expression.
“Sir, we have to move now,” said the man at the door. Felix nodded, looking around at the villa he’d built from the ground up. It was one of many but he’d already heard that three had been burned to the ground.
His nemesis were getting closer and there was nothing for him to do. Nothing except offer one token of peace.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
U-Jin and Tanner stood at the guard gate in front of the White House, their toolboxes were opened, the security team searching through the items. At the bottom of the boxes, veiled in stealth netting, were the items they needed most. The items that would allow them to get what they needed from the president’s laptop.
“Names again,” said the agent.
“Jin Mah,” said U-Jin, matching the fake ID.
