Page 67 of Dark Desires

“You familiar with the RICO Act?” she asks.

“I’m but a humble financial manager for my family’s small business. Such things are foreign to my ears.”

It’s horseshit, but who says I can’t have a little fun?

“I think you know what it is,” she says. “It means that if you’re part of a criminal organization, I get to pin your ass to the wall.”

“Good thing I don’t dabble in matters such as that. Can’t say the same for others in this city.”

She grins, leaning forward. “Do you know what my favorite Rihanna song is?”

I cock my head to the side in confusion.

“Rihanna? I’m more of a classic rock kind of guy.”

“Love the Way You Lie,” she says with a smirk. “And right now, it’s fitting.”

I laugh. “Glad I could provide you with a little amusement.”

She leans forward. “You’re going to provide me with more than that.”

“Is that so?”

“Uh-huh. See, I don’t like to show my hand before I play it, but I’m sure you’ve put together that I’m planning on bringing the RICO Act down hard on every last criminal organization in this city. That includes a certain Bratva.”

“Oh really? Which one?”

She snorts. “Cute. So, consider this a fair warning.” She gestures behind her. “You’ll see that I’m alone, don’t have any backup, and I’m here to make an offer.”

“Go on.”

“You help me put away the rest of the families, and maybe I’ll go easy on you when it’s the Ivanov family in the crosshairs.”

“You’ll go easy onme? What about my family?”

“They’ll do time, of course. But if you work with me, I’ll see to it that it’s a short, comfortable stay.”

Anger boils inside of me. I want to tell her to fuck off in a couple of different languages. But I hold back. Pissing off a federal agent won’t earn me any favors.

“You must not understand me if you think that I’d turn on my family like that.”

“I know your history.”

“My history?”

She nods. “You’re an outsider, a half-brother. You joined them when their business proved too powerful for you to take on.”

I laugh. “And what, you think you’re going to exploit that or something? That you’ll come in here, whisper some poison into my ear about how they don’t respect me, don’t see me as one of them, blah-blah-blah. Is that it?”

“Sounds like you’ve already given this some thought.”

“But you haven’t. You want some help? I’ll give it to you—free of charge.”

“Go on…”

“The De la Rosa cartel is in town, making moves, causing trouble. You want an easy case, go after them.”

“And how do you know this? I thought you were but a humble financial planner.”