Lib Novel Page 22
“Is our meeting still on with Salomon?”
He nodded again. “Yes. Three daysfrom now. He had a function to attend first and wanted to cancel…” A smirk spread across his face. “I told him he wasn’t wise to keep you waiting.”
“Good. Good. I remember when the Governors feared us. Just the sight of us alone had them emptying their pockets.”
“You were five.”
“Still old enough to remember.”
“Some say your papa was more ruthless than you.”
I stared out into the blue skies, beyond the crystal-clear pool with a waterfall at the end, and inhaled. “Did the fear keep him alive?”
Javier bobbed his head. “For a time.”
“But not long enough.”
Ping.
Javier glanced down at his phone, and I jutted my chin as I waited.
“Pedro is here.”
“Tell him to be quiet about it. Last thing I need is Mamá seeing him out there.” I turned my silver cufflinks as his thumbs did my talking, then pulled down my sleeves. “How is Grimaldo handling the exposure?”
“He said it’s all under control and not to worry. He’s taking care of the General.”
“Define ‘taking care’.”
He rubbed his jaw. “Paid him three thousand pesos.”
I raised my brow. “That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“You’d think they’d value themselves more.”
“They know their worth and know they are replaceable. They wouldn’t push their luck.”
“Hmm.” I crossed my ankle over my knee and focused on the perfected inseam on my suit pants. “Have there been any more executions?”
Javier stood and helped himself to the Tequila bar, the large oak leaf fan spinning above his head. “A few. Just to send a warning out that we are aware of their movements.”
“Nothing too public? I don’t want to do damage control for the city.”
“A few heads in boxes, but mild compared.”
“And ourneighbors?”
He handed me a shot of tequila before sitting. “They’re branching out, but you have people in place to handle that.”
“Send Ximén in. We don’t want them getting the wrong idea.”
8
Grace
Athundering crash had me leaping from the chair in the corner of my room, the Bible in my lap, tumbling to the floor.