Page 49 of Angel of Light (Lords of The Commission: New York #5)
“A good deal? It seems like I’m the only one in the dark here. I don’t like surprises, Miss Battaglia,” Diego warned. I could feel his discomfort grow.
“Then I’ll cut straight to the chase. El Diablo Blanco leaves very little to the imagination, so as you know, the Cartel produces a considerable amount of product that then needs to be distributed.
The revenue from that operation requires processing before an agreed percentage is then returned to the Cartel,” Alison started, keeping her words vague, and fuck did that alone make my chest fill with pride.
“That’s where we come in,” Jackson finished.
“So you’re proposing that the Yakuza take the Mafia’s place? How does that compute as a good deal? Swapping raisins for peanuts gives me nothing but a whole lot of extra work to change it all up.”
“Not quite. The Yakuza can guarantee a wider distribution network, move more product at once, especially since it’s their area of expertise.
They can also pay for the product with items you might need to secure your safety back at home.
That wasn’t on the table with the Massimos, and we know the competition is getting fierce. ”
Diego paused, all the information sinking in as he gave Alison’s proposition a thought.
“In exchange, the Massimos are out of the deal. No repercussions.”
“I’ve got six ports. Three are clean enough to run this without a hitch,” Jackson said, sensing Diego’s reticence. “Everything moves under legitimate bills of lading, hidden in humanitarian aid crates and steel shipments. Customs are under my control. I’ve been on the inside, I know the protocol.”
“A dirty cop? Well, well, Miss Battaglia! And here I sit, thinking you kept better company. Not so much the innocent mafia princess I pinned you to be. And the laundering?” Diego asked, skeptical.
“Eight holding companies. Four in the Caymans, three in Luxembourg, one in Tokyo. We funnel the profits through diversified real estate, private tech investment, and offshore green energy development companies. All legit. On paper.”
“It seems like you have it all figured out, which brings us to my next question. How do you have all this set up and don’t have a supplier? Seems odd at least.”
“Because we do. Only I didn’t close that deal, my father did, and let's say the margins are a lot less alluring than doing business with you. I have to solidify my place, gain the trust of the ones still tied to the past. To the way my father did business. This is my foot in the door, so long as you don’t plan to stab me in the back. ”
“And who are these stingy partners of yours?”
“The Bratva.”
Diego’s smile widened like he’d just won the prize of the century. “Sticking it to Ambassador Volkov is always a pleasure. And you’re sure they’ll just let you walk away?”
“It’s not a request,” Jackson answered. “They’ll adapt. Or they won’t.”
“And that is supposed to assure me that in a year’s time, you won’t find another lady and start sleeping around?” Points to Diego.
Jackson should have kept his fucking mouth shut.
The move he’s pulling is untrustworthy to say the least, and the part of the agreement Diego doesn’t know about, the clean record Jackson needs to be a crime lord, is the real deal breaker for him.
Diego sniffed that bullshit out without even having to try.
This deal is going to shit because of his inexperience and stupidity. I was about to intervene, but Alison spoke before I could.
“Jackson is in debt to me. Aside from walking away with a good deal from this meeting, he’s getting a fresh start provided by a hacking expert we have in our ranks.”
“I see. So you’re not doing this out of the goodness of your heart, after all.”
There was a beat of silence. It was heavy and loaded with a heavy sense of deception staining the air.
Diego leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “You do know that if the Yakuza fail to comply, the Battaglias are now liable, too, right? Does this deal have the stamp of approval of Don Battaglia?”
“It does,” I said before Alison could speak. “Don Battaglia has approved and will take responsibility in the event that either party breaks their end of the agreement.” I flipped the table, making it clear that we were taking as much of a risk as he was.
“Then I don’t see any issues in moving forward. But let me make this clear, I don’t condone mistakes. Not one. I’ll be in touch with you to schedule the shift.”
“Sounds good.”
They didn’t shake on the deal. A nod of understanding was about all we were gonna get. I could see relief leaving Alison’s shoulders even though she held her head high, her face placid as if she hadn’t just broken the devil with words and a good deal.
While Jackson took her attention, keeping up the formalities and shaking her hand as if he didn’t crave to kiss her in front of the whole damn room, Diego stood and sauntered towards me.
“This doesn’t change a thing between you and me.”
“Didn’t think it would,” I replied, dryly.
“She’s a marvelous little thing, isn’t she? How hard did you fight that obsession, knowing I’d be waiting for you to fall?”
My hands balled into fists at my sides, away from his line of vision. In his face, I was calm and collected, as if his words bounced off the armor I put up in his honor.
“The only thing you didn’t account for was the army you’d have to face if you kept your promise. Is that what’s holding you back?”
“You think you’re so smart. Instead, you’ve just given me a clean and fair entry point.
Yakuza boy over there is a rookie, to say the least. He will fail, especially now that I know he’s about to fuck the Bratva over.
And when he does, I’ll be there to collect my dues.
Funny how the two I had pending just so happened to overlap. ”
I smiled wickedly, stepping closer to him so he could hear my whisper without a strain, “You bleed just as red as I do. And if, before today, I wasn’t motivated enough to tell you, I’m letting you know now: watch your back, Diego. Hell hath no fury like a man obsessed with a queen.”
“The queen soon to be your brother’s wife!”
I smiled again, nodding repeatedly as I tapped him on the shoulder with a little too much force, the kind of friendly touch that left bruises and a warning. “Hence my detachment to keep breathing. I don’t give a fuck if I have to die to take you with me. Her life is worth my death.”
Without giving him time to shoot a reply back, I placed my hand on the small of her back before telling her it was time to get the fuck out of here.
James and Jimmy left the room first, clearing the exit and making sure we didn’t have any surprise guests waiting to stick a bullet in our chests. I was glad that, for once, Alison didn’t fight me and followed my lead, only stopping once we were in the car.
“Are you okay?”
She exhaled heavily, a smile spreading across her face and lighting up those dazzling eyes, “That was the coolest thing I’ve ever done.”
“You think playing with fire is fun?”
“No. I think finding myself is, and somehow, that felt like I was setting myself free from–” She stopped mid-sentence, reminding herself who she was talking to. For a minute there, she was back to where we were a couple of days ago. To trusting me with her truths.
It physically pained me to see her backtrack like that, so I gave her a small piece of my truth. “I’m proud of you. Your grandfather and brother would be, too.”
“Thank you,” She replied, her eyes still gazing out the window, avoiding me. I didn’t want to be the one to rain on her parade right now. She deserved a chance to be happy. To celebrate the massive win she just secured, even if it changed absolutely nothing in the long run.
I picked her hand up and placed a chaste kiss on her skin before gently putting it back on the leather seat. Alison’s head snapped towards me as soon as she felt my lips on the back of her hand, her expression a mix of confusion, pain, and hesitation. She needed the space I wasn’t allowing her.
“Stop the car, James. I’ll get out here. Make sure Miss Battaglia gets home safely. You’re on guard duty tonight.”
Without another word, I opened the car door and stepped out, watching the black SUV disappear down the road.