Page 9 of Married with Blood
Mother never cared for opulence, too much of a Cartel leader’s daughter to fuss about frilly things.
Father insisted on adorning our home to suit what others would expect of a rich crime lord.
I saw this place as nothing but a setting. A location.
Instead, as I paused out here and listened in to my brother’s conversation, I zeroed in on hearing every nuance and pitch of his lies.
Because that was all they were. Lies and false promises.
If it hadn’t been for a couple of chatty guards patrolling near the gym area that I used outside, I wouldn’t have known about the change of plans, that the arms shipment the Volkov Bratva had paid for had ended up with the Hernandez Cartel.
The Hernandezes! Of all groups, them? My father had fought against them tooth and nail. And now Arturo wasgivingthem a bought shipment?
I shook my head again, dismayed and furious that he could be making last-minute and rash changes like this, unchecked. He didn’t have to answer to me, but things ran smoother when he did.
If you don’t want to dream of losing the Bratva as a business partner, you’ve got a messed-up way of showing that sentiment.
“You’ll see that it was nothing but a misunderstanding,” Arturo said with a chuckle.
The sound of that fake and forced laughter grated on my nerves.
This isn’t a game.
This isn’t a joke.
Nothing about this is remotely funny or silly or trivial.
He hadnoclue what he was asking for, daring to risk the Bratva’s wrath by changing the scope of this shipment.
“Absolutely, my friend,” he said.
Quit calling him your friend, you idiot! You’re laying it on too thickly, whatever you’re up to.
“Yes, yes. Today. Now is fine. Hmm-mmm.” The sound of his footsteps from within the room suggested he was pacing or going toward the window to look out. “Absolutely. I look forward to seeing you here so we can discuss how to best smooth out this misunderstanding.”
For fuck’s sake.If he planned to smooth out a mess he’d caused, he’d need to rely onme.
“Stupid motherfucker,” Arturo muttered quietly a few seconds later. He had to have ended the call, using that dry and blunt tone.
I spun on my heel and darted right into his office. He stood at the window, still shaking his head like he was peeved but amused. Annoyed but not alarmed.
“What the hell are you thinking, screwing up a solid partnership with the Bratva?” I demanded as I entered.
No hello. No greeting. No knock. He was still family and never earned my respect as anyboss.
As he twisted to sneer at me, I advanced all the way until I could get in his face if I wanted to. I was afraid to approach him that close, though, because the urge to throttle him ran too hot in myveins. After a cardio workout and some time with the punching bags, I should’ve been spent and tired.
Hearing about the delivery going to the wrong place and getting our cargo in the wrong hands only fueled my energy. Catching the end of a call with the Volkovs only woke me up even more.
“How many fucking times do I need to remind you that I don’t have to answer toyou?” Passing me to sit behind his desk again, he jabbed a finger at my shoulder. I didn’t budge.
“Arturo, what?—”
“The answer is never.” He dropped into the massive leather chair like he was a king bothered by a pesky fly. “I don’t have to answer to you, Carina.”
I slammed my fist on the desk, making him jump. “This ismyfamily legacy too! What have you done?”
He tsked, looking aside and smiling like I was a fool to be this upset.
