Sebastian
I tilted my head, the slender light from the moon as well as the few lights on the dock allowing me to see the gleam in his eyes. “Yes, I agree. You know, you could have told me this over the phone, my friend.”
“I could have but I needed a couple days off. The lure of such a magnificent city.”
“How is your lovely bride?” I asked in passing.
He grinned, an unusual sight for such a hard and brutal man. “A beautiful yet very disobedient woman.”
“Exactly what you need.”
“As she continues to tell me.” His face clouded over as he took a deep breath. “Besides, I wanted to bring you some information that should be important to you and in truth, security should be of the utmost importance within your organization.” Aleksei pulled an envelope from his jacket, cursing in Russian under his breath.
“What is this?” I asked, peering down at the thick package.
“Call it insurance, which you may need. I took the opportunity of doing some research on Mr. Garcia. It seems that he’s ruthless in various endeavors, leaving behind a trail of… what I would call stupidity.”
“Interesting choice of words.”
“Mr. Garcia has many sides. I’d be very careful in how you handle him.”
I took a deep breath before nodding. My friendship with the Russian was proving to have several uses. “Duly noted.”
“Also, it would seem you have a traitor in your operation.”
“What does that mean?” I bristled once again.
“Information that Kostya threw around about your business techniques. I would imagine it came from your inner circle. From what I’ve been able to tell, whoever is attempting to muscle in on your organization, and as you say perhaps the entire East Coast, has had a plan in place for some time using valuable resources in order to gain a significant position in order to strike. I believe, my friend, that the sights are set on your operations first. I would watch your back.”
“Garcia,” I hissed. I trusted almost no one, including the majority of the people my father continued to do business with. With my father retiring, I had to take into consideration that the leak was coming from a supposedly trusted source. Another reason for a conversation with my father.
“While there is absolutely no indication of his involvement that I was able to detect, I wouldn’t put playing a game past him. Whoever is responsible does have powerful connections. That much is obvious. I feel an electricity in the air I haven’t since taking over the operations.”
“Yes, I feel that same. Unfortunately, you don’t know Santiago very well,” I retorted. “He’s cunning and has enough connections that a level of caution is needed.”
“Then you should take extreme precautions. How is that… package? Were you able to secure your prize?”
I chuckled again, my thoughts drifting to Carmen. “I was successful, although there was an attempt on her life.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Her life holds another meaning.”
“Maybe.”
“Be careful, Sebastian.”
“Yeah, I plan on it,” I snarled, my anger further riled, and fingered the envelope before shoving it into my pocket. This was no place to air dirty laundry. Given the crisis with the shipment, certain other enemies would be on high alert, even attempting to cut in on other operations. That shit just wasn’t going to happen. What had occurred with Danton hadn’t been enough of a warning. Perhaps it was time to clean house. “I appreciate your care with this particular matter. What do I owe you?”
Aleksei laughed, turning to study the last of the flames just seconds before they faded into the water. “You owe me nothing. However, there may come a day that I need a favor.”
“And you will have it,” I said with sincerity. What our fathers could never understand is that while we were the privileged princes of the underworld, all brutal and ruthless men, we also had honor and respect.
“You are a formidable man, Sebastian, and anyone who opposes you will learn a hard lesson.”
“Why do I feel like you have more to say?”
“Ne der’mo, gde ty yesh’.” The Russian flowed off his lips.
I lifted a single eyebrow, amused given his gruff demeanor.
“Don’t shit where you eat. Very wise words.”
This time I laughed. “Why do I have the distinct feeling that the proverb is for my benefit?”
His eyes flashed again. “Be careful. When things are too quiet, that usually means a powerful operation. Someone is out to destroy you and your family.”
“Tell me something I don’t already know.” I took one last look out at the darkened ocean, my mind reeling with my own thoughts of revenge. If Santiago actually believed that he was going to best me, he would see find out that I would become his worst nightmare.