Chapter 9

"I need you to get me a meeting with Juan Domingo."

Danny started shaking his head before the name even left Vee's mouth. "Too dangerous. He's had guys all over you since you took over from Tony. That asshole piece of shit cartel just can't handle a woman in charge."

Vee smirked at his heated remark, despite the gravity of the situation. Danny was not just her protection, he was a friend. He'd been her personal bodyguard when she was still married. He'd seen the bruises, the screaming matches, the constant belittling she'd experienced at Tony's hands. He was the first person she turned to after murdering her husband, had comforted her as emotion had driven her to her knees, tears streaming down her face. Not sadness at the passing of her husband, not fear at possible reprisals. No, she'd been elated. Relieved, unbelievably happy and overwhelmed at the thought of having her freedom. Danny had nodded his approval at seeing Tony's body, gathered her in his arms and held her until there were no more tears, as he'd done in the past when Tony had hurt her. Danny stood firmly by her side ever since.

She'd known he wouldn't like her next plan, but kept her voice firm. "I don't have a choice. I need to talk to him, convince him to accept my leadership. Before Sotza gets to him."

"You think Sotza hasn't already talked to Domingo, brought him onside of the Venezuelans?" Danny sat on the edge of Vee's desk and gave her a stern look. He stayed calm, assured and steadfast. He was the perfect second. He didn't do drama and he didn't do reckless, both of which Vee brought to the table in spades these days.

Vee shook her head. "Word on the street has it Domingo's been deep in his Mexican mountain fortress, probably hiding from Reyes. That stupid fuck knows I'm Reyes' contact here in the States. Bet he dove for cover directly after that last aborted strike, thinking the Bolivian might have my back."

"Yeah, Reyes has your back alright. Handed you over to Sotza on a platter. So what makes you think Domingo'll come up for a meeting?" Danny asked skeptically. "Especially if he knows Sotza's in town. My opinion, most of these guys are more afraid of The Butcher than even your boss, Reyes."

"We'll tell him Reyes is going to shut the borders to him and go to war if he doesn't get his ass up here for a meeting. And I don't want an underling. We're going to have a civilized conversation, boss to boss."

Danny snorted. She didn't blame him for thinking her plan wasn't going to work. It was reckless at best, suicidal at worst. Each time she was supposed to meet with the Mexicans, take a shipment, they attacked her, tried to undermine her regime. Damn near killed her on that last confrontation. But she didn't have a choice. Sotza was backing her into a corner. Alienating her contacts, brutally taking over Miami. If she didn't get the Mexicans on her side then she'd soon have nothing left.

Maybe something in her face finally convinced Danny. He nodded and straightened away from the desk. "I'll see to it."

Danny moved away from her, leaving Vee to contemplate how she wanted to play her upcoming confrontation with Juan Domingo. A man that had plagued her time as Miami's queen. A man that was known to kill family members for fun.

* * *

Vee strode into the warehouse like she owned the place. She didn't. Technically, the Mexicans owned it. Domingo probably had it listed under a shell corporation. It was a place for him to do business whenever he crossed the border. It was big, it was empty, it was easy. It was also eerily silent.

The Mexican cartel were not known for their silence. Especially not when it came to Elvira Montana. They postured, made noise, generally tried to make her feel uncomfortable and undermined at every opportunity. Not all Mexicans, to be sure. She'd done successful business with the some of the cartels further East. But Domingo and his crew were a bunch of pigs. Unfortunately, they were an evil she had no choice but to work with if she wanted to keep trade flowing under her regime.

"We got the right day?" she asked Danny, who was walking beside her, his shoulders tense, his eyes alert. She was half joking and they both knew it. Danny never made mistakes.

"Friday, noon," he confirmed.

"We should've been stopped by now."

Danny pulled his gun and walked faster, moving in front of Vee. Obviously he agreed. They made their way through the warehouse toward the back offices. No one stopped them.

"At least there're no bodies," she pointed out beneath her breath.

Danny shook his head and kept walking. She knew he was thinking what she was thinking. They should've brought more men. But Domingo's instructions had been clear. She could have two outside the building and one at her side. He promised that he would talk, not negotiate, not yet, but he would talk. If she agreed to call Reyes off. Apparently there had been some rumblings out of Bolivia regarding his attack in Miami and Domingo was finally afraid of reprisals.

Her steel-tipped heels tapped against the concrete, echoing through the space as they approached Domingo's office. Danny said a quick prayer, crossed himself, pushed Vee to the side of the door and opened it.

Vee peeked around his shoulder. "Anticlimactic," she said drily, stepping around her second and into the empty office.

Danny followed close behind, turning so their backs weren't to the open door. "We need to get out of here," he mumbled. "Something's not right. We can get hold of Domingo later, when you're safe. Reschedule."

"Well, fuck," Vee sighed as she approached the desk. It was completely empty except for a white box wrapped with a red bow. "Somehow I don't think Domingo will be able to reschedule."

Vee really didn't want to open the box. She was beginning to think she wasn't cut out for this shit. Perhaps she should throw in the towel, empty her accounts and go someplace where she could happily shop for the rest of her life. Get her nails and hair done, both of which were long overdue. And while she suspected it would be a short life, because no way would Sotza let her just disappear forever, she would be happy. For awhile.

Vee untied the ribbon and started to pry the lid off. Danny grabbed her wrist. "Bomb?" he suggested questioningly.

She shook her head and laughed. "No Danny, the Gentleman Butcher is more subtle than that." She lifted the lid, glanced inside for a few seconds and then replaced it. "He also has the grimmest sense of humour I've ever seen."