“I’ll pull back on the security.” His words were stark and not to be argued with. A promise made, which he would keep. “To a point. However, when you go out at night, they will be with you. Fair enough?”
Somehow, I could tell Emmeline wasn’t thrilled. “Fair enough, brother dearest, but heed my words. I will do something drastic if any of your thugs show up.” She flipped her hair on purpose as she turned around, taking long strides toward the door. Where she’d been in a flaming hot red dress the night before, another reason I’d almost lost my mind, she was wearing her usual ‘uniform’ of tight black jeans, shit-kicker boots, and a cobalt blue shirt that brought out her eyes. “Even the handsome ones.”
The words were tossed in my direction as she walked by. Also, as she’d done a hundred times before, when she reached the door, she blew me a kiss.
Just to annoy the hell out of me in return for ruining her night.
When she left, there was a collective sigh of relief.
“Jesus Christ,” Montgomery groaned. “Is it too early to drink?”
“Never too early in this family,” Sinclair tossed out, eyeing me with a grin on his face.
I shook my head, noticing the three Capos weren’t looking at me out of jealousy but out of pity.
They knew nothing about her or how special she was.
Even if she was a pain in my ass. That’s why I’d come to call herla mia piccola strega. Because I knew how much she couldn’t stand the title.
“Why are we all gathered together on this beautiful October morning?” Jaxon was clearly annoyed, but trying to move the meeting along.
“Because I received notification that a cartel in Miami isn’t thrilled at our arrival in the city.” Alexander pulled his mug of coffee to his lips, making a face as soon as he’d taken a sip.
“They’re threatening us?” Jarvis, Alexander’s Capo asked.
“Let’s just say they’ve tried to infiltrate our club in Miami more than once. With the import/export business ready to take on new clients both in Miami and New Orleans, not only is it not good business for us to be seen as being friendly with the Spaniards, but also, we’ve yet to establish a true alliance with the Miami-Dade police department.”
Which meant we had no one in our pockets in the city given our recent arrival.
Our businesses had grown substantially over the last year and a half, the expansion into Miami a dream Baptiste had expressed only months before his murder. A successful venture would mean closing in the port system on imports and exports in the Gulf of Mexico. A powerful maneuver no matter our form of operation.
That’s why it was so important to the Prince family.
“What do you want to do?” Sinclair asked.
Alexander slipped his arms behind his head. “We require a presence in Miami. We need to ensure the Las Bartas Cartel members are well aware of what we will do to them should they attempt to steal or harm our employees. Sinclair, Montgomery, why don’t you consider taking a few of our men with you and head there. If you can establish a meeting with Diego Guererro, perhaps you help him see the light. You can meet with the harbor master at the same time.”
“Not a bad idea. He’s been difficult to deal with on the phone,” Montgomery piped in.
“What if we have issues?” Sinclair asked, obviously eager to return to the old ways of handling business. I’d heard complaints from every brother over the years about using a Mont Blanc pen as a weapon instead of a gun.
It had become a standing joke.
Even the ranks of soldiers and made men had questioned why violence wasn’t on their weekly employment regimen.
Alexander drummed his fingers on his desk. “Jaxon, given I have two very important meetings with the city coming up, I want you to cruise the businesses on a daily basis.”
“You’re worried the cartel is sniffing as to our level of security in N’awlins,” I said, confident I was correct.
Enzo, Sinclair’s Capo tried to hold back his laughter and failed. “You suck at accents other than Italian. Just don’t do Cajun again. Please.”
I threw out dual middle fingers. At least we all tolerated each other.
“That’s exactly what I’m concerned about,” Alexander admitted. “Which is why you’re going to spend some time at the clubs. Both you and Enzo. I have a very bad feeling they’d begin by enjoying our hospitality.”
“Will do,” I told him. “What about Emmeline?” Technically, the soldiers protecting her were his.
He finally rolled his eyes. “She’s right in that the security has become somewhat oppressive. However, she isn’t as keenly aware of the dangers around her as she likes to believe.”
