Page 88 of Cartel King

“Tío, we should tell him it was Tommaso.”

But I can’t be sure it won’t lead back to Ellie.

Alejandro watches my reaction. I give no outward one before he continues.

“From what I saw and heard in Rio, I think Pasha was behind the shipment delay that started all of this. He saw a way to fuck us over while he thought he was ensuring Tommaso had to give in to Ignacio.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me. Maks must have sanctioned this because that was a lot of moving parts to conspire and carry out on his own.

“Misha was with him, too.” Pablo jumps in to point out, making us all scowl.

Alejandro stares into the distance as he thinks aloud. “That makes it a family affair. Kutsenko Partners are mid negotiations for the vehicle shipping contract with theyakuza. If they don’t have a container ship at the Port of Long Beach because we stole it, then there’s no contract. If we have two ships—ours and theirs—in the Port of Nagoya, then Nishida will accept our offer. Theoyabunneeds the car sales too much to turn us down. It fucks the Kutsenkos while putting theyakuzain our debt. It’ll put a dent in both families’ pride. Nishida still owes us for the Wo Shing Wo confusing our trucks for Nishida’s in Taipei. That was a lot of fucking corn wasted on the side of the road. We barely made it out before the Three Seas Union discovered a Hong Kong triad and the New York Colombian Cartel were operating in their territory.”

I consider Alejandro’s suggestion about Haruki Nishida, and it has merit.

“It’ll cost us to send two empty container ships across the Pacific, but they could be there in less than two weeks. If they sail with the next tide, the bratva wouldn’t catch them before they’re in the major shipping lanes.”

I look at Jorge.

“Are you willing to spend?”

“If we make Tommaso deal with this, he’s more likely to sell out Elodie to get back at us and to deflect his role, even if he’s the one who sent her. It’d be better if you announced your relationship with a public appearance together than have a bunch ofchismososplaying telephone about you and your girlfriend.”

I look around the group, and I know the others agree. My gaze settles on Luis, who nods.

“Pablo, make the ships happen. We don’t involve Tommaso in that. In the meantime, I’m not satisfied Pasha will learn his lesson from that. I want something more personal.”

Jorge’s smug expression and folded arms haven’t changed since he was five and beat Javier atcinco huecos. He tossed one more coin in the hole than his older brother and won. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to. He had more arrogance in his five-year-old body than most syndicate men possess at twenty-five.

“I found out where his rainy-day fund is. So much for Singapore ranking so highly for financial secrecy. I can move the money to a U.S. account, then report it to the IRS. It wouldn’t bankrupt him, but it would make his day suck.”

Pasha is the bratva accountant, so that adds an extra layer ofcoma mierda—go eat shit—coming from my accountant.

I nod and watch Jorge walk back to the SUV and open the back passenger door. He grabs his laptop bag and sits. He’s plonking away at the keyboard before I turn around.

“How about Tommaso?” Joaquin’s usually quieter than the others, but it’s not because he doesn’t pay attention.

It’s a good question. My instinct is to wait to talk to Ellie about this, either to get her opinion or to warn her to stay out of the way. I can’t involve her without compromising her safety. However, we don’t have time for that.

“He’s been on good terms with Salvatore ever since he helped Carmine and Gabriele rescue Misha’s sister-in-law. I think that needs to end.”

I look at Alejandro again. The things we’ve devised might seem simple, but there are swiftly evolving elements he’ll oversee to ensure it comes together. He’ll course correct if anything goes wrong.

“We make it look like he fucked the Torettas over by making a deal with the Lombardos or Randazzos. After what happened with Sylvia’s family, Salvatore will never forgive Tommaso for betraying his wife’s family. Even if he discovers we orchestrated it, he won’t forgive Tommaso for falling for it.”

“Tommaso won’t go near them. How will you get him to make a deal?”

Alejandro flashes a frown and shrugs. “By making it look like Salvatore cut him off from everyone but the Lombardos and Randazzos. He can think it’s Salvatore’s retaliation for involving Elodie. To make it work, though, Salvatore needs to know about some of Elodie’s past with Tommaso.”

“No. I won’t agree to that until I know what involvement she’s had with the Mancinellis. If she carried out any hits on them, I’m not exposing her past to Salvatore. That’s like waving a red flag in front of a bull. She was a mercenary. She’s fair game for them to retaliate. I won’t knowingly make her a target.”

“Then Tommaso can think it’s Salvatore’s retaliation for doing a deal with us, even if it was indirect.”

“That’s better. How will you cut them off? The Vizzinis still have strong ties to Palermo.”

“Make it known he did the deal with Ignacio as our middleman. If the Sicilian families think Tommaso’s on the outs with Salvatore, they’ll treat him like he has the plague. The only ones who’d do business with him are the Lombardos and Randazzos because they still hate the Torettas and have never forgiven them or Salvatore for his arranged marriage to Sylvia, then supporting Carmine and Serafina’s marriage.”

“Do you have enough men over there to make it happen soon? The rumor needs to buzz around the island fast before anyone can talk to Tommaso or Salvatore.” I need to be sure it’s workable before I sanction it.

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