Page 62 of Tormented Diamonds

“Carrera…” comes a heavily accented voice.

“Welcome to America, Valentin,” I say, hitting the speaker button. “I hear Alejandro has you in Houston now. Moved you up to the big boy’s table and handed you a whole stateside operation. Look at you all grown up and following in your father’s bloody footsteps.Congratulazioni.”

“Gianni Marchesi….” A low chuckle rumbles at the other end of the line. “I could say the same to you,mi amigo. I heard about your father’s untimely death and your rather convenient rise to power.”

Walking to the bar, I refill my glass with whiskey, downing a fourth before bothering to acknowledge him. “Good news travels fast.”

“What can I say? I keep my ear to the ground. The Italian mafia is better than anytelenovela. But enough about that. Is there a reason you’re wasting my time, or are you just bored?”

Pompous little shit.

“I’m looking for information on our fathers’ trade exchange,” I snap, the burn of the whiskey irritating my throat and nerves. “I heard through a twisted grapevine you aren’t as passionate about the live product that was being moved between their two ports. I figured I’d give you a chance to help dismantle it.”

“How benevolent of you.” He laughs, the shitty connection making his thick accent even more muddled. “However, I don’t need a fucking sidekick, so what do you really want?”

“Information.”

“What’s it worth to you?”

Now it’s my turn to laugh. “I don’t barter with children.”

An insult he takes as lightly as I expected.

“Pinche cabrón… It’s in your best interest not to make an enemy of me.”

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s a friendlyreminder.”

Nothing the Carreras do isfriendly, more like deranged. Alejandro Carrera and his merry band of psychopaths don’t even dispose of the people they’ve murdered. They just decapitate them and line their staked heads by the side of the highways like fucking streetlamps.

“Now if you’re serious about doing business,” he continues, his temper calming, “which, I assume you are, considering you called me, then let’s work out a deal. Otherwise, feel free to keep shooting yourself in the dick. It’s not my wife who’ll suffer the consequences.”

I slam my glass onto the bar. If I ever see this little shit, I’m going to kick his ass. “If I were to consider an exchange, what would it cost me?”

“Full control of Elizabeth Marine Terminal.”

Fuck.

EMT is one of the busiest port terminals in New Jersey. Not only would handing it over to the cartel be a major financial hit, but it also carries the risk of attracting more heat from the Authority. Plus, I never take first offers. They’re almost always inequitable with hidden clauses that’ll end up fucking you in the ass.

“A quarter control,” I counter.

“No.”

This fucker’s balls outweigh his common sense. “I have a man following up on another lead right now, Carrera. He’s powered with the same offer, so I’ll get the information I want. It’s just a matter of when and from who. Now, the question is, do you want a small piece of the pie, or not even a fucking crumb?”

“How do I know you’re not lying?” he growls.

“How do I know you aren’t?” I hit back. “Maybe you’re just ridingpápa’sdementedcoattails.”

Silence.

I smile. That’s youth for you. They’re boringly predictable.

“You’ve been searching for the meaning of the rose and dagger tattoo, haven’t you?” he snaps. “The one all those redheadedidiotashave on them?”

My smile dissolves into a scowl. “What about it?”