Page 33 of The Mob: Shio Cuppacio

Without hesitation, one of the three guards marched forward and placed the gun on the back of Ines’ son’s head.

“What the fuck is this?” Ines roared.

“This is me not taking kindly to disrespect. You know my name, but you don’t knowwhothe fuck I am, Ines. Your son has three seconds to apologize, or the maids won’t be cleaning just shells of lobster and half-eaten, overcooked steak from the table. One…”

“Cortez. Apologize to your sister.”

“I’m sorry!” he immediately blurted out. The boy had probably pissed himself.

Nodding, the guard went right back to his post. This time, I stood for real. “Again, I’ll tell Don your wishes.”

I took one last look at the family, letting my eyes linger on the one devouring the steak with amusement in her eyes, and took my leave. I didn’t get ten steps down the hall before I heard Ines running after me.

“Wait! Shio!”

He grabbed my shoulder, and that was the wrong move because I had my pistol underneath his chin before his next breath.

His hands went up with a smirk. “I see why he sent you now.”

“What the fuck do you want, Ines?”

This pointless-ass dinner had gone on far too long, and I was ready to get the fuck back to the US. I had church on Sunday, and I had no plans on missing it.

“Please! Just hear me out!”

Shoving the gun further into his chin, I prompted him to speak.

“Take my daughter.”

“Nigga, what? If I don’t want your bitch-made-ass sons coming nowhere near my people, why inthe fuckyou think I want your daughter?”

“No, no… you have me all wrong. I’m not offering her up. I would like you to just take her and help her. She is the key to me ending this war with the Rodríguez Cartel. She is to marry his eldest son. However, she isn’t quite ready to be a wife.

“Listen, she hears you. She did what you said back there. She’s never done that before. I love my baby girl with my whole heart. She’s my prized possession. It pains me to hand her over, but I have to consider it all for the sake of this organization. You see her. She’s as stubborn and spoiled as she is beautiful. I just want you to mold her for me. I will have no say and stay out of the matters, if you agree. I want her to be able to get along well once she fulfills her duty. Her current ways will get her killed. You understand?”

“I’m not in the business of raising bitches. Do I look like a debutant academy?”

“Of course not. Well, at least take her to the Americas. Get her away from here for a while, while I get this all squared away. Tell Don, whatever he wants, it’s his. He doesn’t even have to take my sons in. I will find other placements.”

I kissed my teeth. “We wasn’t taking them bitch-made-ass niggas in no way.”

“Do this for me, and I’ll owe you a favor. I’ll owe you and Don a favor. Whatever Don needs. Whatever you need. Granted.”

I should blow his head from his ass.

“Papá, ¡no me voy a América! ¿Estás loco?”(Daddy. I’m not going to America! Are you crazy?)

He jumped at the sound of her voice. Giving her one last look, he smiled before looking back at me. “Take her with you!”

“¡Ni hablar! ¡No voy con él! ¿Estás sordo?”(Hell no! I’m not going with him! Are you deaf?)

“Jagoda Bay. That’s where you live now, right? Take her.”

“NO—” She went to speak, but stopped.

There wasn’t shit for me to say, so I left their casita. Pulling my phone out, I texted the pilot. By the time I made it back to the hotel, he was letting me know that the wheels could be up in the air in the next hour.

God first.