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She was a highly intelligent woman and could easily read between the lines. Her eyes never leaving mine, she walked directly to the kitchen island, placing her cup of coffee on the edge, then headed to the door. When she stopped, she took a deep breath before angling her body enough she could look me squarely in the face.

“As I said, I’ll need time to think about this. While I prepare my list of demands for the possibility, you’ll need to provide me with a full list of what you expect with regard to money, percentages, territory, and personnel. I won’t make a final decision until I see what you have proposed.”

“Very well. I’ll have my attorney send you something by tomorrow.”

“That will do. Now, please take me home.”

When she walked out, my cock decided to remind me why I craved the woman in the first place.

Genevieve

Marriage.

Was the asshole kidding me?

Did he honestly think I could stand being permanently attached to him under any circumstances? I was frustrated. I was furious. I was incensed.

But none of that mattered.

I needed to think like a professional. If there was such a thing in the world of evil cartels. That’s what I’d been embroiled in my entire life. While my father had protected me the best he could by mandating private schools and normal family life, I’d been the one to perpetuate the thought that I could keepthatlife in a box and walk away any time I wanted. I’d turned a blind eye to the truth.

My reality was more dangerous than I’d wanted to admit to anyone, including myself.

“You’re pacing. What’s wrong?” Emiliano asked.

I’d asked him to sit in with me, counseling me as he’d done since I was a teenager. Only up to this point, he’d been more of a surrogate father than a powerful commander who knew theins and outs of a multimillion-dollar empire. Maybe my father’s orders to keep me safe had done him a significant disservice.

He’d been out of the scene for far too long, the majority of soldiers also seeing him as a weak link. I had no idea how to counter that other than with violence and bloodshed. But was I capable of acting on that monthly? Weekly?

Daily?

A wave of embarrassment forced me to look away. He hadn’t asked what had occurred the night before and I certainly hadn’t volunteered other than to tell him Jago and I had talked. Anything more and I’d prefer sliding under the rug.

“Did you know the corporate offices are nothing more than a front for organized crime?” I asked, although I wasn’t certain why it mattered.

Emiliano frowned but then lifted his eyebrows.

“Of course I realized that a long time ago but seeing it up close and personal is entirely different. How can I run a business that way? I’m not some bigtime criminal.” The only way to make things work was to create a legal entity.

The man sat right where he was, unflinching.

“Damn it, Emiliano. I don’t know what to do,” I admitted, which was something I wouldn’t do with anyone else, including Antonio.

“It would help if I knew the real issue, other than Jago needs to be killed.”

I laughed, the sound almost maniacal. “Oh, I’d love to drive a blade through his heart. If he has one. However, I think thattime has passed. What do you know about the Turks and the Moroccans?”

He snickered and leaned forward in his seat. “They’re animals. They care nothing about anyone, including their own families. While they originally specialized in slave trade, they’ve made significant inroads into the cocaine distribution cycle, mostly in Europe, but given their location, they could easily shift to other countries as well.”

“Is there a real indication the two groups might be considering working together?”

“Let’s put it this way, Madame Morales. If they are, God help us. They have enough soldiers and an uncanny ability to attract more. Is that what you were told?”

I nodded, perhaps more times than necessary. My hands were shaking, my stomach nauseous, and Jago’s idea weighed heavily on my mind. “Yes. He’s certain they’re after our territory.”

“Which makes logical sense. Does the great Jago Torres have a decent business opportunity worth considering or is he nothing but a blowhard?”

At least I could still laugh. “You did learn something while living in New York.”