Chapter 19

Lorena Alvaro looked from her husband, Elias, to the man sitting next to him on the couch. A man she neither liked nor trusted but was tied to by an arrangement worth millions. An arrangement that was also about to open the door for more millions and untold power. If only he wasn't so obnoxiously arrogant and had more concern for other people. Of course, if that was the case, he wouldn't be where he was now.

Luis Rojasknown as El Toro because he was built like a bullwas one of the most powerful cartel leaders in Mexico. Maybe in all of Central America. He and Elias' brother had been friends since they were both halcones (falcons) in the cartel named for Luis' family. Now Luis was the leader of the group that rivaled Sinaloa and was continuing to expand its reach. They were among the most feared narcotrafficantes and considered the most adept at bringing high-value humans over the border.

More than a year ago, Elias' health had prompted him to remove himself from an active role and stick to his ranching. However, he hadn't removed himself from the arena altogether. He and Lorena received substantial amounts of cash for providing a sheltered route for both drug shipments and human cargo. Those high on the terrorist watch list who needed to leave their own countries and find a fresh base knew Rojas could bring them over safely and help them find places to recreate their terror groups.

However, as Lorena was fond of pointing out, one man's terrorist was another man's key leader. It was she and Luis who had first hatched the idea of using these terrorists to their advantage. They could wreak incredible havoc on Rojas' rivals, and the cartel's hands would be clean.

Then they had met the othersthe Whitlows, the Emerys, the Cavanaughs and the Ferrensat a ranching convention, and they had all gravitated to each other. They all, it appeared, had seemingly unresolvable problems with the government and its regulations regarding cattle ranching. Jed had been the one to suggest they use one of the private dining rooms at the hotel for their dinner. They were heavily into expressing their resentment at the government restriction on land and water that adversely affected ranchers, and things had just unrolled from there.

Bernardo's heart attack had sent a wave of panic through everyone except Jed. Luis, although not at the table per se, had voiced the greatest misgivings.

"We all have a lot riding on this," he said now. "I don't like strangers showing up at the last moment like this. How do we know they really are who they say they are?"

Lorena nodded. "Neither do I, but Bernardo's heart attack has been verified and his brother and sister-in-law vetted, using everything short of blood tests."

"Maybe we should have included that," Luis mused. "If anything goes wrong, the effect would be disastrous for all of us."

"Luis." Lorena sighed. "I know how you feel, but I promise you this. When we get to the lodge, if anything about this couple feels off, we'll just isolate and detain them until the big day."

"And how will that help?" Rojas demanded. "They'd still be alive and able to do damage to us after they're released."

"By then it won't matter," she pointed out. "We'll be in control of everything, and our person will be in place as the head of the government. What possible damage could they do at that point?"

"I don't like to speculate, but there are unlimited possibilities. I think it's brilliant that you picked July 4th to do this. It will make the biggest impact."

"Thank you. That's what we thought."

"But keep this in mind. After the initial event, the people in the government and the military who are not under our control will have a chance to regroup and plan. Believe me, Lorena, I know what I'm talking about. We've had agencies of this government using every possible trick to fracture and destroy my organization as well as other cartels. They don't give up."

"But this time we've planned for everything," she reminded him. "We've been very careful to set things up so no one yet knows who we are, and they won't until the appropriate time. We've chosen someone to be the face of our organization. He's just so happy to be sitting on the throne he doesn't care if we make all the decisions. The right people will be in place to make sure that's exactly what happens. Which is a good thing because by himself he's a disaster."

Luis took a cigar from his breast pocket, clipped the end, and pulled out his lighter. Lorena had a hard and fast rule about smoking in the house, but neither she nor Elias ever told Luis he couldn't indulge in his cigars. They'd learned a long time ago just which things they could push him on, and cigar smoking wasn't one of them. He lit up, took a heavy draw, and blew out a thin stream of smoke. "Just so you are aware, I'm doing my own investigating of this Max and Regan Ferren couple. I don't like surprises. They are seldom pleasant ones."

Lorena exchanged a look with her husband. Elias had said very little during this conversation. He always preferred she did the talking while he listened and analyzed. They both knew from experience that Luis had a habit of being heavy-handed with things like this, convinced no one would object to anything he did.

"Luis, we've known each other a long time. We've been honest with you about this from the beginning. Are you saying now you don't trust our information?"

"I'm saying that I have found it's always better to vet things for yourself." He glanced from one to the other. "You wanted our 'soldiers' as support for this. Our army, since you can't exactly tap your own military. We're providing the manpower to supplement what the terrorist leaders have gathered. We've been sending them all over your country to meet with the people you've put in charge so there will be enough manpower at every location."

To make sure they have enough on what they'd come to think of as E-Day for Explosion Day, Lorena thought.

"It would be foolish on my part," Luis continued, "not to investigate every possible thing that could go wrong. Comprende?"

"Yes, yes, yes." She flipped her hand in the air. "But If you find something, anything at all, you come to usto meimmediately. Do not act on your own. If you do anything to trigger something that blows up our plans…"

Luis held up a hand. "I am not about to affect that. I have as much at stake as you do."

That was almost true, Lorena thought. With a new structure for this country in place, the man would be free to expand his cartel operations any area he chose. And the other cartels with whom he constantly fought for control of certain areas would have to take a back seat. That's just the way it would be set up. She knew he was aware of that and wouldn't be in a hurry to make a mess of it.

"I just ask that you be careful," she told him again. "Jed Whitlow met with the Ferrens all afternoon today, and tonight he and Anna are taking them to dinner. He didn't express any misgivings about them, so where is this coming from?"

Luis blew another stream of smoke and looked at her through it as it evaporated.