“My sister?”

“We don’t know. Our reports say that she was with Estrada so she’s probably alive. Or we can hope.”

“But if he did that? Took over the Morales Cartel?”

“Then he’d come for me…”

“How?” That word gutted out of me.

“Sorry?”

He knew. He winced as I asked the question, and then he pretended to misunderstand. He knew. He’d ask to know how his mother was killed if the roles were reversed.

I growled, my hands curling into fists. “Just tell me.”

His gaze went to Downer before his chin lifted and his shoulders fell back, preparing. “Morales was decapitated. His body was found hanging from a bridge. Your mother…”

Jesus.

He had to pause before he told me. That said enough.

“...they were more merciful. An execution shot to the forehead. Her body was left intact.”

Intact.

Jesus.

This world. This was my world, and I was bringing Ash more into it?

Intact.

That was a merciful killing.

I said, “It was Estrada.”

“No.” Roman started to shake his head, both his hands going into his pockets.

That was his tell, his only tell. When he got nervous or when a topic came up that he didn’t want to happen, his hands went into his pockets. I picked it up long ago, but I’d never needed it against me.

I felt every inch of me cool. I was shutting down, or ‘locking down’ as Ash would call it.

I said, slowly and softly, “Yes. No one else would move against Morales.”

“We don’t know—”

“Do not bullshit me.”

Roman froze.

I could feel Downer’s alert go up a whole other notch. He was the best who could read me, and he knew I was close to violence. Because of this, I wasn’t surprised when he said, as if soothing me, “Easy now, buddy.”

I gave Roman a frank look. “You called me back because Marco made his move.”

His eyes didn’t shift. Nothing. There was no reaction. He was only listening to me, which told me he was aware of everything I was about to say. He had played it out in his head. He’d probably played out every response I would make and some of those weren’t using words.

I asked, “You want me to execute him?”

I waited. I needed to hear what action he’d want me to take.

Roman lifted his head, inch by inch. “I’m not strong enough to take on Estrada, not yet. We have other adversaries here.”

No, no, no.

That didn’t make sense.

Marco made a move. He killed his father. My mother.

I didn’t think he would’ve killed our sister. She was the only one he showed emotion toward. He was moving to take over the Morales Cartel, if it wasn’t already done. No one would go against him. The Colombians would wait, see who came into power. The same with Bolivia. Belize. All of them would wait, but Marco wouldn’t move their way. He would, if he wanted to take over their product, but knowing Marco, he would want to take over further distribution.

The US was the golden ticket. They paid the most for their product.

No.

I was right.

Marco was coming. He would come for me first.

He had decided to move against Roman, probably hearing how the family had been thinned. Or that was how he thought.

“Why are we in Boston?” I knew what I’d have to do, even if Roman didn’t give me the order. I was going, but I needed to know where my boss’ head was and Boston wasn’t the ‘where’ we had eliminated his brothers for. This wasn’t the targeted location.

“We’re in Boston because it’s open right now.”

I frowned.

“The family that was controlling Boston moved to Chicago. They’ve had their own changes in the past years. That’s why I reached out. There’s been skirmishes, but no one has stepped up here. I want to take over. I already have Philly, DC, and the rest of the East Coast except for New York.”

“You reached out?”

“I can’t fight Estrada, but you’re right. I think he did the hit, and I think he’s planning on moving north. His first order of business will be to send sicarios after you.”

“You’re sending me after him.”

It wasn’t a request. Roman’s nostrils flared and I knew he checked me.

His eyes went flat and his mouth thinned. “I send my best soldier after him, I could lose my best soldier. I need you alive.”

No.

“You have to send me after him.”

“No, Cla—Raize. No, Raize. There’s another player here. I want to send you north, to Canada. Kai Bennett. He controls almost all of Canada. He’s not big enough to take on Marco and neither am I, but together, we could.”

It wouldn’t work.

None of this was going to work.

They needed a lone wolf, or a lone group to go in and assassinate Marco. It was the only way to stop him.

“He has too many men.”

Kai Bennett would not team up with Roman. Roman was too new. He’d just assassinated his two brothers. That was a bold move and it would be perceived as risky. Kai Bennett did not take risk, but Roman was set.

“The Bennetts are a family organization.”

Roman’s head reared back, a small inch, but he was listening.

“You just took out your two brothers. That goes against the grain of who Bennett is. Sending me to him to make a connect for you is a waste of time. It won’t work and you’ll lose that time for a surprise assault against Marco. Send me, just me, and I’ll get it done. I know the area. I know Mexico. I can get in and get it done.”

“I could lose you.”

“It’s worth the risk.”

Roman’s eyes flashed and he leaned forward, his palms going on the desk. He leaned over, his head toward me. “Not to me!”

Downer moved to stand between us, at the side of the desk. He had a hand on his gun, but his eyes were trained on me.

I was the wild card here.

I stepped back. I needed to use reason. That’s what Roman would listen to, only reason. I needed more of it. My mind was trying to think.

“Send me to kidnap my sister.”

The room’s temperature dipped and I knew I had them. Both of them. They shared a look.

I explained, “She’s the only person Marco cares about. I can go down, get her, and bring her back. He’ll be tormented and he’ll want her back. He’ll lose time and energy trying to get her back. Sending me to Kai Bennett is not going to work, not yet. He doesn’t work with others and if you want to recruit him, you need a solid and stellar reputation. Send me to take Marco’s sister and that’ll get back to Bennett. It’s a move he might appreciate. It’s not expected. It’s a mental tactic.”

Roman was regarding me again, his eyes narrowed.

He was thinking about it.

Downer noticed it, too, and he threw his hands up. “Are you kidding me?! You’re actually considering this? This is insane.”

Roman ignored him, asking me, “If you can get in and take your sister, why wouldn’t you be able to kill Estrada then? You’re taking the same risk.”

I shook my head. “I’m not. I can get word to her. She’ll tell me where to go and the best time to take her. My sister begged for my life before. If she’s still alive, she’s not stupid. She’ll know Marco ordered the hit on our mother. I guarantee that my sister will want me to come for her. She’s his blind spot. We need to use that.”