Page 13 of Deliverance

I didn't understand why he would want it that way. Maybe for the shock factor. Maybe to see how I would react and if he could truly trust me. Whatever it was, I had to be stoic. I had to be the SEAL I was. Show no emotion, and get the job done.

The limo stopped a few blocks away at a high-rise similar to Frank's. Without a word, we got out of the car and walked into the building. The doorman greeted Frank by his last name.

"Mr. Russo. It's going to be another hot one today."

"That's what I hear, Murray. Stay out of the heat, okay?"

"Will do, Mr. Russo."

We walked through the lobby to a solo elevator. After Frank stuck a keycard into a slot near the door, the elevator doors opened. We entered, and Frank pushed the only button. The lift rose to what I assumed was the top floor. We got out, stepping into a penthouse apartment with light gray wood flooring and floor-to-ceiling windows that appeared to wrap the entire floor.

A guy with a gun in a holster stood near the elevator. He greeted Frank with a tip of his head. Another guy was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper. He stuck out his hand as he stood.

"Mr. Russo."

Frank took it. "Where's Saffron?"

A woman with black hair descended the glass staircase, her heels clicking with each step. "Is this him?" she asked.

"Yes. Ricardo Montoya, this is Saffron Russo, my sister-in-law." She must have been married to Frank's brother, who had been murdered.

I stuck out my hand, and she took it. "Ma'am."

"Oh, he is polite." She beamed.

"Told you. Ric was a Navy SEAL."

Saffron squeezed my bicep. "And strong."

"Like I told you last night over the phone," Frank said. "Ric almost took a bullet for me. I think we've found your guy."

Her guy?

Just then, a blonde-haired little girl came running up the hall and into the room. She couldn't have been more than seven or eight. "Madam. Madam. Can I have apple juice?"

Madam?

Saffron rolled her dark eyes. "Yes, girl. Go get it yourself, or have Martin get it for you. I'm leaving."

"Yay!" The little girl ran down the same hall she'd come from.

"Shall we?" Frank asked. The guy who was reading the newspaper got into the elevator with us.

"Do you have good merchandise this time?" Saffron questioned.

"There's a few. My guys did good this time around."

"I'll be the judge of that," Saffron replied.

We got into Frank's limo. I wasn't sure where we were going, nor did I ask.

"How many are you thinking?" Frank asked Saffron.

"Three or four. The three I have now should expire soon," she replied.

"I'm confident you'll find at least four."

"Good."