Page 13 of Extraction
“No, Mama, you don’t.” You remind me every damn time I see you. “I have everything under control. We’ll win this battle and then the next. They have no idea what’s coming, and I intend to keep it that way.” I spat some chew in a cup and leaned back into the chair. “Unlike the others,” I glared around the property, “I know my role, and when we win, I will take my place at the top of the family and control both Rosarito and Mexico City the way it should be.”
“Very good.” She lit the tip of her cigarette and drew the embers back into the tobacco. “I’m tired of losing my family to those northern cucarachas.” Her eyes watered for her brother, and I knew his death sat heavily on her heart. “I don’t care what else you do in this world after, but you climb this family to the top and destroy every last one of those Americans.”
I leaned forward and took her hand. “I promise you, Mama, I’ll cut out their hearts, their families’ hearts, and jam them on posts around the perimeter of our property for all to see. We will take back our land once it’s stained in their blood.”
She blew smoke out of her mouth as she studied me with her dark eyes. “Make it rain blood, son.”
FOUR
PAUL
“Uncle Paul?” Easton tugged at my shirt, and I moved my attention from Olivia’s soccer game to where her brother peered up at me. “I need to pee.” He shifted from foot to foot.
“Hey, buddy, I can take you.” Savi started to stand, but I held up a hand. “I got it.” I lifted Easton up like he was a football and tickled him as we raced off.
“Uncle Paul,” his laughter rang out, and it made me laugh harder, “I’m going to pee!”
I spun him around before I set him on his feet and watched as his body dipped to the side. “You need to lay off the juice, my friend. You’re starting to walk like your mama after a few glasses of wine.”
“Huh?” He looked confused, and I shook my head.
“Never mind.” I chuckled and opened the door to the diner across the street from the field. I tugged off my ball hat when a hostess greeted us with a friendly smile.
“Well, hello, there. Table for two?”
“We need to use the restroom please.” I placed both hands on Easton’s shoulders to show it was for him.
She scrunched up her nose. “Sorry, it’s only for customers, but there are restrooms just down the street.” I looked out the window and wondered how far down they were. I wasn’t familiar with this town. It wasn’t often Cole let Olivia participate in the away games, but he figured since we traveled to North Dakota so often and Mark had a shipment to pick up that we could attend this one. The fact that Olivia was beside herself excited made it doubly worth it.
I bent down to Easton’s ear and pointed to the picture of the chocolate milkshake. “I won’t tell Mom if you don’t.”
“Tell mom what?” He grinned, and I nodded for the hostess to seat us.
Once Easton saw where our table was, we hurried off to the restroom. I checked to make sure the coast was clear and gave him a fist bump as I left. He was old enough that I didn’t feel he needed me to wait. The kid was at that age where he wanted to do things himself, and I fully embraced that as an uncle. Still, I kept one eye on the entrance and another on the side exit.
I picked up the menu and eyed the cheeseburger. It looked good in the picture, and I was suddenly hungry. I wondered if I should eat something, since we were to head straight home after this.
“What can I get for you, darlin’?” The waitress held up her notebook.
“Chocolate shake, cheeseburger and extra fries, please.” I knew the little bugger would home in on my fries, so I made a defensive move.
“Coming up.” She left, and I pulled out my phone to check in on my team. They were keeping an eye on Jerry Canos’ compound in case some new activity started. There was a lot of unrest in that area of Mexico, and now that we pretty much knew Bruno was alive, I was damn nervous about what that might mean for us.
The waitress set the food in front of me, and I smiled, unsure I wanted to eat something made that quickly. I didn’t think much more of it and went back to my phone. So many emails had come in from Frank. He wanted me to show off my new drone at a conference next month. My answer was always the same. No. I wasn’t about to share my technology just so some government department geek could make their own version and cash in on it. My stuff was strictly for our teams to help save innocent people, and no one else.
Easton slid into the booth. “Feel better, little man?”
“Yup.” He grinned and reached for my fries.
“Whoa, you wash those mitts?” I eyed his hands. At his enthusiastic nod I let him go at them. I heard the door of the diner open.
“No, thank you, miss. I’m meeting someone.” That voice made my head shoot up and I instantly scanned the room. What the…
“Mr. Gates? What on Earth brings you here?” Something was seriously off. How the hell did he find me?
“Relax. Mike told me you were here.”
“Why would he do that? How would he even know I was here?” He didn’t answer that but glanced at Easton and head pointed for him to move over in the booth so he could join us. The look on Easton’s face almost made me laugh.
