back of the ambulance to accompany her husband to the hospital. Just before the doors closed, she shot Susan a hateful glare, and Susan turned away, closing up the house and climbing in her own car. There was no way she was going to stay at the house, especially since her mother would be calling Emma, Susan’s sister, any time now.
No, she’d go to the hospital to make sure her father was checked in, see that the doctor in charge knew the circumstances, and then she would leave. She had to work tonight, and she was already missing a class today that would leave her behind the curve. It was the last thing she needed. She’d check in later, when there were some test results or some kind of news to give her.
Instead of going home, she went to the station, deciding she’d rather sit there, with some of the firemen who actually liked her than stew for the next three hours at home alone until her shift started.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Nine men filed into the Court Room, as the Steel Talons called it, and Jim took his seat on the far side, tossing his feet up onto the old oak table that dominated the room. As he looked around, he saw faces as grim as his own staring back. Everyone except Ari felt the same sense of foreboding hanging over their heads, and Jim certainly didn’t like where the club was headed.
If Ari hadn’t insisted on going into enemy territory out of greed and had listened to some of the ideas the rest of the brothers had for new investments, they wouldn’t be in this position. But as it was, their fate rested in the hands of Rechoncho and all of his Diablos Blancos minions. Ten percent of the take wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy anyone undertaking the risk they were asking. Jim would have snubbed his nose instantly at such an arrangement, and he knew it had been a mistake to send Sauza back to ask his president to agree to the terms.
Half a million dollars in counterfeit money, every two weeks, with the feds already looking for the culprits, was far too risky to make a measly ten percent for making the run. If Jim was in the Diablos’ position, he would demand twenty. But Ari was a hard son of a bitch, set in his ways, and Jim wasn’t the only one who thought he was purposefully trying to start a war.
Meeks closed the door behind him, and all nine of them were seated. Ari cleared his throat, and Jim lit a cigarette. He was going to need the nicotine to keep his peace through this meeting.
Ari leaned forward in his chair and said, “We all know why we’re here. Those damn Diablos demanded some kind of payoff if we’re going to be running in and out of their territory.”
It was a warped perspective of the truth at best, and Boxer, who sat to Jim’s left, put a warning hand on Jim’s arm to stop him from arguing. Ari continued, “I’m taking advantage of the situation and trying to ease our own risk factor. I told them that, if they’d meet us halfway on every run and take the unfinished product the rest of the way, then come back and return the completed product at the same halfway point, they would earn themselves ten percent of the cash. Sauza offered a little resistance, but he’s taking it home to Rechoncho, and I’m hoping the man sees reason.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Tipper asked. He was a small man, and he didn’t say much, but he was smart, and Jim could see the wheels spinning in the man’s head. Tipper already knew the answer.
Ari spread his hands wide, as if the outcome was completely beyond his control. “I’m doing everything I can here. But I’m afraid we’re going to have a war on our hands.”
“Couldn’t we just hear them out and find a happy medium?” This came from Donnie, who didn’t usually speak up. It surprised Jim. “I mean, we’re bankrolling already, and it’s going to get better now, with the smaller bills we can run anywhere. How bad could their demands really get?”
Ari’s brows knit
No, she’d go to the hospital to make sure her father was checked in, see that the doctor in charge knew the circumstances, and then she would leave. She had to work tonight, and she was already missing a class today that would leave her behind the curve. It was the last thing she needed. She’d check in later, when there were some test results or some kind of news to give her.
Instead of going home, she went to the station, deciding she’d rather sit there, with some of the firemen who actually liked her than stew for the next three hours at home alone until her shift started.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Nine men filed into the Court Room, as the Steel Talons called it, and Jim took his seat on the far side, tossing his feet up onto the old oak table that dominated the room. As he looked around, he saw faces as grim as his own staring back. Everyone except Ari felt the same sense of foreboding hanging over their heads, and Jim certainly didn’t like where the club was headed.
If Ari hadn’t insisted on going into enemy territory out of greed and had listened to some of the ideas the rest of the brothers had for new investments, they wouldn’t be in this position. But as it was, their fate rested in the hands of Rechoncho and all of his Diablos Blancos minions. Ten percent of the take wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy anyone undertaking the risk they were asking. Jim would have snubbed his nose instantly at such an arrangement, and he knew it had been a mistake to send Sauza back to ask his president to agree to the terms.
Half a million dollars in counterfeit money, every two weeks, with the feds already looking for the culprits, was far too risky to make a measly ten percent for making the run. If Jim was in the Diablos’ position, he would demand twenty. But Ari was a hard son of a bitch, set in his ways, and Jim wasn’t the only one who thought he was purposefully trying to start a war.
Meeks closed the door behind him, and all nine of them were seated. Ari cleared his throat, and Jim lit a cigarette. He was going to need the nicotine to keep his peace through this meeting.
Ari leaned forward in his chair and said, “We all know why we’re here. Those damn Diablos demanded some kind of payoff if we’re going to be running in and out of their territory.”
It was a warped perspective of the truth at best, and Boxer, who sat to Jim’s left, put a warning hand on Jim’s arm to stop him from arguing. Ari continued, “I’m taking advantage of the situation and trying to ease our own risk factor. I told them that, if they’d meet us halfway on every run and take the unfinished product the rest of the way, then come back and return the completed product at the same halfway point, they would earn themselves ten percent of the cash. Sauza offered a little resistance, but he’s taking it home to Rechoncho, and I’m hoping the man sees reason.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Tipper asked. He was a small man, and he didn’t say much, but he was smart, and Jim could see the wheels spinning in the man’s head. Tipper already knew the answer.
Ari spread his hands wide, as if the outcome was completely beyond his control. “I’m doing everything I can here. But I’m afraid we’re going to have a war on our hands.”
“Couldn’t we just hear them out and find a happy medium?” This came from Donnie, who didn’t usually speak up. It surprised Jim. “I mean, we’re bankrolling already, and it’s going to get better now, with the smaller bills we can run anywhere. How bad could their demands really get?”
Ari’s brows knit
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