and cleaned them both off. He pulled his pants up and tossed the wipes in the garbage can. He took some bleached cloths and wiped the table down and then picked his wife up and set her in a chair.
“Tadias is meeting with that writer today. He called me after the meeting was set up. He said he was surprised she was willing to help after being such an asshole.”
“Has Mano made his connection with her yet?”
“Oh yeah, he connected alright—told me it was a connection he’d never forget.”
“I guess that means he’s claimed her,” she chuckled. “I know how you cartel men are.” Roxanne knew to say: ‘you cartel men,’ if she said: ‘I know how cartel men are,’ it would set him off—it was disrespectful. Setting Antonio Wayne Ramirez off wasn’t a smart idea. Short fuse didn’t even begin to describe him.
“He has marked her and claimed ownership.” Antonio Wayne said it as if talking about the weather. It was the ‘normal’ of cartel life, and any gangster knew it.
“She just doesn’t know it yet,” Roxanne laughed again. Colombian cartel men owned their women, and taking them was just part of the process—the thrill was in the hunt. They were predators by nature, and when they set their eyes on the prey of their choosing, nothing would stop them from capturing them.
“He’s going to surprise them at the meeting. I need you to have lunch with the girls and gather information.”
“I already knew you’d be asking me to do that. I’m not sure how much they’ll trust me.”
“You’ll do fine. Women bond quicker. It won’t take any time for them to open up to you. Invite them back to 'The Club' and get a couple of drinks in them to loosen up their tongues. ‘In vino veritas.’” 'The Club' would be a better atmosphere for them to cut loose and reveal their intentions. “Party down girls.” He smirked. Antonio Wayne had studied the psychology of people, and he knew each victim was different when it came to gathering information. Roxanne would come in handy. She had learned a lot since working for the cartel.
“Yes…alcohol has a way of loosening up people. How ‘bout tonight?”
“That’ll work. Call them and have them meet you at 'The Club'. We’ll find out how much of his story Tadias told them. The man wants revenge, and I believe he deserves it. He’s waited for years. No man should have everything taken from him and not get the revenge he deserves. This is one torture session I’m looking forward to.”
Roxanne studied his cold black shark eyes, “You’re a sadist. You look forward to every torture session.”
“This one is special; I don’t have to be there to experience it. A child was robbed and left an orphan, it’s a feeling I know all too well. Even though my mother abandoned us, it still leaves an orphan on the cold streets of Colombia—she is a beautiful land with no mercy for those cast into her slums—the streets run rampant with the children who have been left behind.”
Roxanne felt a tug in her heart for the children she was unable to have. Maybe one day, they could adopt and offer an orphan a loving home. She pushed the heavy thought from her mind before it had an opportunity to lodge in her heart and cause her grief. She had to remain strong. Some memories were better left in a vault of forgetfulness. They were too painful to dwell on and would only cause grief for her and Antonio.
Chapter Fifteen
“She’s the best person to write your story, my man. She’s a prolific writer with a pen dipped in the blood of truth. She doesn’t hold back when she writes people’s stories, and I respect that. Most writers are scared of the Colombian cartel; she’s gained their respect by telling their story, and she’s gained mine too. I will tell you, she better not get hurt. I’m certain you have enough sense not to set up my woman over past grievances. She’s not at fault for the death of your parents, Tad.”
Page could tell by the look in Tad’s eye he had a healthy fear of Mano or at least respected the damage he could do to someone who crossed him. There was an unspoken truce with Colombian cartel, and the brotherhood these men shared wouldn’t be broken. This was Mano’s way of letting Tad know Mano had Page’s back now. Word would travel through the organization, and Page