“Harris, we’re blind right now. Someone’s gunning for us, and we don’t know if it’s Alejandro or someone else. Miguel is our only hope to get to the bottom of all of this. Let’s just hope Orlando can get what we need out of Miguel without hurting him worse than he already is.”
“I hate to say this, but maybe this is a sign that it’s time to get out of all this. Look at it as an opportunity. We’ve got some pretty successful legitimate businesses.”
This wasn’t the first time Harris had suggested this, and once again, it was the wrong time. “I appreciate your idealism, but our legit businesses don’t bring in a tenth of what the dope money does. With our overhead and expenses, things would not be as pretty as they might seem. Besides, there would be blood on the streets if we suddenly left the game. Nature abhors a vacuum. All our lieutenants and their crews would be fair game for every fool wanting to make a name for himself. I go back too far with some of those men to abandon them like that.”
“Look around, LC. There’s blood on the streets already. Alejandro’s people are dead, and Miguel’s damn lucky we didn’t pop him. And just how loyal are your lieutenants, anyway? We still don’t know if Pablo was working with someone against our interests when he got popped.”
“Your arguments aside, we’re staying in the business, and I’m still sending somebody to L.A.”
“Okay. I tried,” Harris said with a shrug. “But you’re not really gonna send one of the boys to L.A., are you?”
“Yes, I am. We have to show a sign of good faith,” I said, shaking my head. “It’ll be okay. We’ll send Rio.”
“Rio?” Harris snapped back. “Rio doesn’t have anything to do with this. He runs a club and distributes designer drugs. You don’t even think of him as an executive.”
“Exactly,” I responded. “He’s not essential to our operations.”
“Damn, LC. That’s cruel.”
“It’s a cold, hard fact. We can still function while Rio gets a little vacation out west.”
“But it could be dangerous. He could get killed.”
“That’s life. Everything we do is dangerous and comes with risk. Do you think peddling club drugs all over Manhattan is safe? Sometimes celebrities and entertainers are more irrational and unpredictable than the criminals we deal with day in and day out. And besides, Rio’s never shied away from wanting to prove himself. Now’s his opportunity.”
“But he’s your son,” Harris said. “How are you going to tell him you’re sending him to his possible death?”
“I’m not. You are,” I stated flatly. “I want you to make arrangements right away for him to be on that flight.”
Harris stared at me for a moment, his face twisting and contorting as he mulled over a response. I could’ve sworn real concern flickered in his eyes for a nanosecond.
“That is, unless you plan on taking Rio’s place. Otherwise, I suggest you get moving so he doesn’t miss his flight.” I sat back and folded my arms.
“Nah, I’m good.” He stepped toward the door. Now that he knew his own ass could be on the line, he was all business, no more protecting his brothers-in-law. “You don’t have to worry about it. He’ll be on that plane if I have to carry him on myself. Should I send a security detail to keep an eye on him out there?”
I shook my head. “No, Alejandro and his people are too smart for that. Our people will stick out like a sore thumb out there among those Mexicans. Rio’s going to have to be on his own on this one.”
Harris
30
I pulled up to the family residence and got out of the car. It was about a thirty-minute ride to the house, but it felt like forever with all the anxiety building up inside me. I loved being LC’s right-hand man and lawyer, but telling my brother-in-law he was being exchanged for that scumbag Miguel was not something I was looking forward to. I just hoped Rio was awake so I could tell him what he needed to know, get him on a plane, and put this whole ordeal behind me.