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I laughed and shook my head. “No.”
“Nicole, seriously, I need you to find out what his next move is with the child.”
“So, you’re saying he has information on the child’s whereabouts?” His expression showed he didn’t want to answer. “Sully, fill me in with what you know, or I walk.”
“Yes,” he reluctantly answered and lowered his voice. “The original story was the kid was to be given to the first one who came for him.”
“Where? Do you know where they have him?”
“No. And now there are new players,” he nodded toward Rafael, “and they have changed the game. Like everything in this country, it has become about money. The child has shown its value, and now there is a bidding war. Not so unusual these days, comprende?”
I nodded. “I understand all too well the way things work here.”
“So, now the child will stay hidden until that man gets what he wants.”
“All right, so he’s calling the shots,” I repeated to make sure the others heard, and Sully nodded. “So how am I supposed to play into this?”
“Get his attention, use those.” He looked down at my breasts. “He’ll tell you anything if he thinks he might have a chance with you.” He simply shrugged at my disgusted look. “This is also how the world works, Nicole, and we want the same thing. No?”
“No, we don’t, but I want a story, and I want a good one. I told you I’m not interested in some kid, and you can tell Bruno that.”
“Please, I just want you to let him talk then tell me what he said.”
“Why should I?” I turned and watched Rafael as he spoke to some men who looked to be in their late eighties.
“I know things,” his expression was unreadable, “things that involve you and Bruno.”
I gave him an annoyed look. “There’s nothing between that fuck weasel and me.” I was tired of this.
“Not like that.” He cleared his throat. “I mean what Bruno really has planned for you.”
I huffed. “And what would that be?”
He licked his lips and ran a shaky hand through his hair. Why was he nervous? “I’m assuming that if you spoke to Ben, he told you he was chipped.” I didn’t say anything, and he went on. “Bruno was furious because it didn’t work. Something happened, and it has only fueled Bruno’s revenge.”
“Revenge?”
“Yes. You remember his uncle, Martin Castillo?” At my nod, he went on. “You know his empire was reduced to rubble by those Americanos?” I nodded. “Now there will be,” he struggled to find the word in English, “repercusiones.”
“Repercussions.”
“Yes, repercussions to that downfall.”
I scratched my face. “What’s that got to do with me or with Ben being chipped?”
“There’s much more to tell you about this. I think you need to know—” He stopped talking when one of his men whispered something in his ear. His face showed he wasn’t happy at whatever was said, and he nodded once, finished his drink, then stood.
“What?”
“You should meet with Rafael now.”
“No, you should finish your story now.”
He rubbed his mouth nervously. “Please forget what I said.”
“Not possible.”
“I’ll give you something else for your news. Something very interesting about Bruno’s mother and what she has been up to. I’m sure your American viewers will be very interested in what she has planned for the border. This will be an international story, Nicole. You will want this.”