Packing Heat(53)
“Definitely,” Vince confirmed. He looked at me. “What should we do with this?”
“I was hoping you’d know.”
“Well, shit. I guess we should take it to Ernesto and rub his dirty fucking face in it.”
“Why?” Cassidy asked. “We can just take it to Arturo and torch him.”
“No,” I said. “It’s better if we have leverage over him instead of just destroying him. He could be useful.”
“He’s dangerous, though,” Cassidy said.
“He is,” Vince agreed.
“We’re dangerous too,” I said, grinning.
Vince laughed. “Trust me, Cassidy. This is the best play.”
She glanced at me, and I knew what that look meant. “It’ll be okay,” I said.
“Okay. I trust you.”
Vince looked at me. “Come on. Let’s go.”
“Right now?” Cassidy asked.
“Right now. We can’t sit on this.”
She looked nervous, but I nodded at her. “Stay here. It’s going to be okay.”
“I want to come.”
“No. It’s dangerous, and I don’t think he’ll listen if you’re there.”
She went to argue again, but she stopped herself. I could see the defiance in her eyes, but I also saw something else. She was remembering what had happened last time, my body bleeding in the backseat of the car as I mumbled directions to her, near death and draining. I could see that, and I wished she didn’t have to remember that shit, wished I could take that away.
She nodded. “Okay. Go get him.”
I grinned at Vince, grabbed the tape and the payer, and we headed out.
“Strong girl,” Vince said as we walked.
“She is.”
“Saved your life.”
“Almost got me killed, too.”
“True. But you should have seen her yelling at security.”
I laughed. “I can imagine.”
“So is she really pregnant?”
“Could be.” I shrugged. “Not for lack of trying.”
“Damn.” Vince laughed, shaking his head. “You’re all sorts of fucked up, aren’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re trying to get this girl pregnant to keep her save. The Rafa I know would never give a fuck about some bitch.”
“I’m still that Rafa. But we all change, don’t we?”
“We fucking do. Trust me. You’ll change even more when that kid comes along.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
“Just remember what’s important.”
“What’s that?”
“Your life. Your kid’s life.” He shook his head, sighing. “Everything else is just bullshit. This organization, this money, this danger—it’s good, and it gets us through the day, but in the end all that matters is your family. If this girl is family to you, hold on to that.”
“I don’t know about family. We barely know each other.”
“Family isn’t always so simple.” We stopped outside a plain door. “You ready?”
“Let’s go.”
Vince knocked as I hung back. We heard Ernesto grumble from inside before finally pulling the door open. He stopped short when he saw that it was the two of us.
“What are you two assholes doing at my door?” he asked.
Ernesto lived in the mansion most of the time. A lot of the top guys did, since it was so damn plush and comfortable. Ernesto had long ties in the mob, and a friendship with Arturo, but he wasn’t invincible.
Nobody was invincible when it came to stealing from the mafia.
“We’re just here to talk,” Vince said, “and to show you a little movie.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Movie?”
I raised the player. “That’s right.”
Ernesto looked at me. “I heard you were dead.”
“I was for a little bit, but I’m back. The Devil says hello.”
He laughed loudly, grinning hugely. “Okay, fine. Come in. Let’s make this fast.”
We followed him into his outer room. Ernesto’s suite was huge, really more of an apartment, and we entered into his outer sitting room. I knew he had rooms farther in, but most people didn’t get to see them.
I walked over to the television on a stand in the corner and began to hook up the player.
“What’s so important that you need to come show this to me unannounced?” he asked, clearly thrown off balance by our sudden appearance.
“It’s about one of your guys,” Vince said.
“Marco,” I added. “You know Marco, right?”
“Of course. He’s one of my best men.” Ernesto scowled at us. “What the fuck is on this tape?”