Page 13 of The Right Garza

“Trenton. Trenton. Trenton.” He sighs dramatically and props himself at the edge of his desk. “Do I ever try to negotiate when I come to your place of business? I always pay what you ask, and sometimesmorebecause you do excellent work. Why do you insult me like this?”

“Cut the shit, Stefano. I’m not negotiating a service. I’m negotiating for someone’slife.”

He stares at me.

I hold it, firm and unflappable.

“Ah, I see.” He straightens from his desk and crosses the room to the mini bar, pours himself more whiskey, then turns to face me after taking a sip. “You want to spare the lying friend’s life.”

“I pay the 92k, you let her go.” With emphasis, I add, “For real.”

“What you are asking is a lot, Trenton. Ipunishpeople for stealing from me. How could she not know this? The audacity of coming into my casino and—”

“100k.”

“150.”

“Motherfucker.”

He shrugs. “Like you said, you are negotiating for a life.”

It’s a hard hit, but I know he won’t budge. Even if we share blood and respect, business is business. And for the Castellos, killing to set an example is considered business.

“How about 170k and you make today’s security footage atGlintzdisappear and see to it that the guard there keeps his mouth shut.” As he lifts a questioning brow, I add, “Don’t ask.”

“Why give me 20k to do something you can easily do yourself without it costing you a dime?”

“Is it my city oryours?”

“How manipulative of you to puff me up when it suits you.” He drops his gaze to the floor for a moment then sweeps it up to me again and grins. “It worked. Shower me with praises more often. I’m a Gemini, after all. I suffer no shame in being a narcissist.”

I stand and pull out my cellphone as I move to the door. “Emailing my accountant. Expect payment within the hour.”

“Very well. I’ll release the little liar once the payment is received.”

“Unharmed.”

He tsked. “You only negotiated for life, notunscathedlife. Now, if you would like to renegotiate, then—”

“You’re an animal,” I say before I wrench the door open and walk out.

“It was nice doing business with you, cousin dearest,” he calls after me.

Chapter SIX

“Damn right I did.”

Lexi

Slim:I heard that you and Ellie are in trouble with the Castellos. Is it true?

Slim:I can help. Let us work something out.

I toss my phone down with a snort and continue pacing the small living room, wired with agitation. Taking any kind of help from Slim would be like selling my soul. I’ve witnessed him trap enough unlucky bastards to know better. He’s not an evil man, but he’s also not as nice as and “caring” as he likes to make people believe he is. He artfully ensnares, and I’d be stupid to walk back into that den.

The kettle bursts into a whistle and I damn near jump out of my skin. I’m so on edge I might start bleeding from psychological lacerations. It’s the reason I decided to make myself a cup of chamomile tea in the first place. I pad over to the stove and switch it off then pour steaming hot water into the waiting mug on the counter with a ready teabag inside.

Leaving it to steep, I start pacing again. I haven’t been able to relax since Trent dropped me off. To be honest, I’m not too confident. Trent and his brothers have some strong connections and are well-respected through and through on this side of the world, but what kind of pull could he have with people like Stefano Castello? Men who break into women’s apartments to extort and threaten them. Men whomheclaims wouldn’t have let Ellie go as promised, but instead “make an example” out of her. Those are bad, bad people. And while the Garzas are many things, they aren’t violent criminals. Badasses, sure, but notbad men.