Page 88 of Cartel Rose (Jorge)

It’s Joaquin who answers instead. “I brought drones with me I can launch if we leave this house. They’ll scan the neighborhood for anyone pulling out at the same time as us. Our guards will be with us. The ones who went in the SUVs will have come back in understated cars as well to guard us. We also have a few guys who ride motorcycles. They’ll ride interference. They’ll maneuver so no one can get too close to us.”

She looks over at me. “How do you have a fleet of vehicles at your disposal?”

“It’s magic,chiquita.”

She laughs but waits for a proper answer. I just stare at her. It takes her a moment before she dips her chin and looks down at our food. I hate that this is one of potentially a lifetime of lies of omission.

I can’t tell her the SUVs are rented from a legitimate company, but the VW Jetta we rode in today is stolen, and so are the other cars and motorcycles. We’ll ditch them before morning and have other vehicles at our disposal if and when we need them.

It’s not long before we’re done. Alejandro offers to clean up. Then we return to the table with our laptops because we each run our own businesses and have work to do.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Liesel

While the three guys work, I spend an hour mulling over what to tell myonkel. I can’t keep what’s going on from him any longer. Jorge hasn’t suggested he’s involved, and I have no reason to suspect it on my own.

“Jorge, I have to callOnkelClyde. We’ve said nothing to him yet. I know we should’ve. But I don’t know—I guess I didn’t want him to interfere in case he’s part of this, and I know he still could be.”

“No, it’s time, Liesel. Make the call.”

“I’ll have to speak German, or he’ll immediately suspect something’s going on.”

It only rings twice before I hear his gruff voice on speakerphone. It’s always that way. I suppose that’s why I expected Jorge’s uncles to sound similarly, but his greeting is warm.

“OnkelClyde, I need to tell you some things that’re very upsetting. Somebody kidnapped Papa four days ago.”

“What?!” He explodes; I knew it was coming.

“I went back to the office after lunch, and there was a box with his hand inside. It had his wedding ring on it.”

“And you didn’t call me immediately?”

“No, I didn’t. To be honest, I was too stunned to think very clearly at the time, but I have a friend here in Frankfurt who I suspected could help me. I went to him.”

“Jorge Diaz.”

I’m shocked he guessed. I look over at Jorge, eyes wide in confusion. He nods and taps the air with his palm, reassuring me.

“Anneliese, I know about the Diazes’ potential investment and what was going on. Your father told me about it. The only friend you could have who’d know any way to approach a situation like this would be him.Hola, Jorge, I’m certain you’re listening.”

“Good evening, Clyde.”

There’s a protracted silence before my uncle speaks again.

“I don’t want to imagine where this conversation is going, but I’m glad Anneliese has you. You certainly aren’t the first person I’d think of for her to rely on, but you’re certainly the best while I’m here in Munich.”

“Thank you.”

I share an abridged version of what happened with my mother and sister coming to stay with us. I keep my breakup with Bastian short and to the point before I tell him where my mom, Heidi, and Friedrich went.

“Jorge, I’m not shocked you have connections with Hisham. I appreciate he offered all of you sanctuary.”

My gaze meets Jorge’s. I don’t know what to say next, so he takes over.

“Clyde, we know both Anneliese and Gunter have questionable clients. I know what’s going on with Anneliese and her Swiss accounts.”

There’s another uncomfortable silence before my uncle relents.