Page 88 of Undertow

“Renegotiating.”

Julia’s eyes narrow as she crosses her arms. “Renegotiate? Why the hell are they renegotiating?”

Ricardo shrugs. “Hey, don’t get pissy with me. Not my call.”

“Cut the shit. You know something. What’s going on?”

Ricardo’s gaze flickers to me again. “Do we have to do this with him here?”

“Yes.”

He sighs and scrubs a hand over his face. “Fine. You can’t clean it fast enough. Business is booming and you’re not keeping up.”

Julia goes rigid, her hard stare slicing into him. “Are you fucking with me, Ricky?”

“Nah, man. It’s true. Look, we like you guys. You do good work, but this”—he waves around the room— “ain’t gonna cut it anymore. You can’t move what we need through this shithole without raising eyebrows… no offense.”

Julia’s fingertips bite into her crossed arms. “Who’s replacing us?”

“Hey, I didn’t say anything about?—”

“Who’s getting the contract, Ricky?!” she barks.

He shrinks, and it’s an interesting sight watching a hardened criminal cower from a five-foot-five woman half his size.

She steps closer with a menacing look when he hesitates. “I swear to god, if you say the McArthurs…”

His anxious stare darts to the window before sliding back to her.

“You have to be fucking kidding me!” Julia throws up her hands. “TheMcArthurs?Are you serious right now, Ricardo?”

He shrugs. “I told you, not my call. But, come on. Look around you, sweetheart. You can’t clean my nephew’s candy racket, let alone what La Quinta Muerte needs.”

La Quinta Muerte?Fuck.That’swho the Hartfords are cleaning for?

No wonder the McArthurs want this island for themselves. That also explains why they’re so desperate for an alliance with the RLC. This shithole of an island is the key to unlocking an entire continent for the McArthurs.

“Well, I don’t know who’s been lying through their ass to get your business, but someone has,” Julia says.

Ricardo’s expression darkens. “What do you mean?”

“Look around you,” Julia mocks, repeating the same words and gesture he did a moment ago. “Who owns the marina? The bridge? The beaches? Have you been to the McArthur side of the island? Maybe take a look on your way out and tell me how you plan to get yourmillionsin and out? He can’t even access his own shit without going through us. How the hell is he going to handle yours? Tell your people to do some more fucking research before theynegotiate.”

Julia leans back with a satisfied expression while my blood goes cold.

I’m frozen in time.

Scattered pieces of the puzzle snap into place.

The RLC, this entire mission from the McArthurs, every dirty detail of the last couple of years sloshes in my stomach like sludge.

It all comes together in a sickening picture.

“They’re lying to you, Ricardo,” Julia warns. “It’s what the McArthurs do.”

Except they’re not lying. Not this time. Montgomery McArthur has every intention of keeping his promise to LaQuinta Muerte.That’swhat this is about. And his timeline to rid the island of the Hartford’s must be shorter than I thought.

Julia is oblivious to the looming threat as she stalks toward the door. “Thanks for the heads up. Let’s get you unloaded. You coming, Shaw?”