Page 128 of Shifting Hearts 1
I tear my gaze away from the woman and try to focus on the conversation between the two men.
“Why did you ask me to meet you here…Don?” My uncle isn’t used to taking a knee. And this man clearly expects it from him.
Putting his hand on my uncle’s shoulder, the don gestures to the shots lined up on the table. “First, let’s take a drink to mark this occasion.”
He grabs two seemingly random glasses, but something doesn’t feel right.
Hesitantly, my uncle takes the shot glass handed to him, and I motion with the slight shake of my head for him not to drink it, catching his look over the don’s head. The drinks were already in the room when we got here. We have no idea if it is safe to drink. But my uncle can hardly refuse as the man clinks the glasses together and downs the shot.
A movement from my side draws my attention as I see the strawberry blond trip over her own two feet and fall forward onto the table to demolish all the shots still left standing.
My uncle also seizes the opportunity to get rid of the shot in his hand.
I dive forward to help the woman up as her two friends only stare at her and the destruction she has caused.
Shot glasses are sprawled all over the floor, and my men rush forward to help gather everything.
“I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. It’s my first time in these shoes, and I put them on to impress you, but it seems I might’ve done more harm than good.”
If this woman only knew. She saved me from putting the new Don in a chokehold and maybe a situation that could decimate the little goodwill we have with this rival cartel.
She seems more stable on her feet, and my hand wanders to her waist to ensure she doesn’t take another tumble.
And that is when I felt it.
It would have been imperceptible if I wasn’t already familiar with the feeling. My fingertips graze against a slight texture on the skin of her bare hip, and when I focus on her shoulder, that is when I see it. The distinct ripple of smooth skin transforming right before my eyes into a scaly texture, hidden in her fairness and the lights of the room.
The iridescent gleam doesn’t escape my keen sight, and my heart does a little flip.
She shudders as she watches me take it all in. The spell is only broken when the don jumps up from the couch and starts screaming.
“You stupid, good-for-nothing woman. How can you fuck this up so monumentally and still beg for my forgiveness? There’s nothing that can save you. Disappear before my eyes. NOW!”
My body vibrates with my reluctance to let her go, but my uncle gives me a look that forces me to. I drop my hands from her waist and watch her walk out with her shoulders back and her back straight.
She might not have said anything, but I saw the look of determination on her face. She wasn’t going to be treated this way.
The other two girls start dancing again, and I motion for one of my men to go get more drinks. If the don wants to drink something, we would ensure it was safe to drink.
“I’m sorry for the interruption, Angelo. It’s just so hard to get good help these days. Now, where were we?” the don whines with a nasally tone.
My uncle gives me a slight nod, and I return to my place against the wall, weary of anything that looks out of place.
I already have an eerie feeling in my gut that everything is not as it seems here. And I can tell just by looking at the shiny eyes on the odious little man that I’m not going to like what he says next.
Uncle Angelo leans back and waits patiently for Don Alvarez to continue. It is an intimidation technique I have seen him use many times.
And it never fails.
“Well, yes, as I was saying, I have a business proposal for you.” He starts stuttering. “I’m aware that you’re the only lieutenant dead set against expanding the business.” Don Alvarez folds his hands in his lap, but tiny beads of sweat form on his bald head.
Uncle Angelo takes another minute and then answers strategically. “That is not true. I am the only one who disagrees with the trafficking of innocent women and children. And as you know, all decisions in our cartel must be unanimous.”
“But the possibilities are endless, Angelo. In fact, I can almost guarantee that there would be no repercussions. And if no one is looking for these women, are they really missing?” he objects.
Confusion that matches mine crosses Uncle Angelo’s face. “What do you mean by that? Not only is this morally wrong, but there will also, of course, be someone who misses these women. And we would take the heat with our proximity to the border.”
Don Alvarez rubs his hands with the short sausage fingers together in glee and almost squeals in delight. “Not if nobodywanted them to begin with. Orphans, my friend, orphans are the way to go.”
