Sold To Mr. Milano - Daniella Wright Page 0,17
government is purchasing the land. They’re having it rezoned as a nature preserve. A rare species of something-something...ah, I really can’t remember what they were rambling on about. I don’t really care so long as they pay me. But the paperwork has already been started. Perhaps the other strip of land on the north…”
“No,” I waved abruptly. “I have no interest in that one.” I slid over to whisper into Pablo’s ear to confirm my plan, and he nodded in agreement. “We have connections to the wildlife conservation board,” I smiled. “Speaking of which, I’m sure you’ve heard of my expansive hunting grounds, which I’d love to show you in person some time. Anyway, I’m sure we can put a stop to the pending sale if it could be promised to us instead. We’ll top their price, of course.”
He looked skeptical but didn’t seem too keen on opposing me. “Well, wonderful.”
“Wonderful indeed! As soon as the sale is finalized we’ll take that hunting trip! One of my ranges is rampant with water buffalo and wild boar this time of year.”
The man’s interests peaked, but quickly faded again. “Oh, but they are out of season right now…”
“You’ll find we do have a number of liberties many don’t when it comes to little things...like restrictions on hunting big game. I’ve never taken too kindly to the government telling me what to do on my own property. That’s when those wildlife conservation connections come in handy,” I explained casually, popping my knuckles as I spoke.
“I’ve heard about some of your hunting properties,” another man chimed in. “But is it true that they are shared with the Mendoza’s?” With this, every head in the room turned towards me. “You’ve been too welcoming and generous with us, Mr. Milano. But I think I speak for everyone when I say I want no affiliation with the Mendoza’s.”
I took a sip of my drink and cleared my throat. “Affiliation isn’t the same as an endorsement. Do I share some land with the Mendoza’s? Yes. But other than that, we couldn’t be more separate. I don’t condone their actions any more than you do.”
They were a ruthless band of criminals, but they were also blood relatives - a fact which I kept well hidden. Our closest affiliation to them was through our half brothers, Julian and Javier, who mediated and drifted between our two rival gangs. We kept our distance with a peace treaty to stay out of each other’s business. They could commit whatever kinds of crimes they wanted to, as long as it didn’t interfere with our business and our names weren’t drugged through the mud along with theirs.
I could see Pablo and Felix fidgeting. Part of me always suspects they would rather go off to run rampant with the Mendoza’s, but even they were too civilized for those brutes.
“Well,” he considered my reply carefully. “I suppose there’s no harm in a little hunting. I have a few shared properties myself, and who knows if all of those connections are wholesome,” he decided in laughter. His associates followed suit, so the three of us joined in as well.
My stomach turned with all the fuss of the evening. None of it was so out of the ordinary. This was the life I was used to. Maybe it was Felix and Pablo’s prodding that had me feeling uneasy. I was already being too soft in giving Alicia the job and accommodations she begged for, but if doing so was going to cause the others to question my authority and the respect I demanded, something would have to change. She had thrown me off enough by appearing so suddenly in the market that day. Her only ticket to sticking around until that baby was born was staying hidden away without causing me any trouble.
An hour later, I had told a few of our guests about a special type of ammunition I had acquired that couldn’t be bought anywhere in Argentina. They were curious and asked to see a few of the shells. It was all a part of the game of shock and awe in impressing them, but none of them would ever be stupid enough to share too much of what they learned within the walls of my home.
I left them to go to the gun cabinet in one of my dens. As I pulled out the drawer and reached for the box, I noticed something fly by in the darkness outside. I squinted to take a closer