The waiter came with three cups of coffee and a plate ofquesitos.
Waiting to be alone again, Mercutio took a sip of coffee. “I think that there are times to challenge and others to submit. I believe in change. In evolution. I do have a daughter, Miss Landry. And even though she’s quite young, I fear for anyone that forced her to do anything she didn’t want to.”
Gabrielle took a sip and put her cup down. “Well, are you a feminist, Mercutio?”
The man grinned. “I’ve been surrounded by strong women all my life. I have two fierce ladies in front of me, and I’m ready to listen to them. I don’t know if I’m a feminist as you say, but I don’t discriminate due to gender. If I met a woman strong enough to make the ranks, I would gladly accept her.” He leaned back in his chair. “Is that what this meeting is about? I don’t know anything about your skills, Deva, but I would be more than honored to have you, Gabrielle in our ranks.”
“I’m greatly flattered, Mercutio, but I have no immediate intention of changing jobs.”
Mercutio slightly bowed his head and turned his attention to Deva who shook her head. “Thank you for the offer, but I would feel uncomfortable working for a man under the control of Jamieson Finch.”
The way Mercutio looked at her, revealed much more than it concealed.
“And you know him well it seems, Mercutio.”
The look of disgust on the older man’s face was telling. “He’s a fool, hungry for money to the point where he would step on dead children to get his way. I may be walking on the wrong side of the law, ladies, but some lines should never be crossed unless you are ready to lose your soul.”
Deva looked at Gabrielle who nodded.
“It seems that even a man as cunning and intelligent as you may not see the devil in his own midst.”
“What do you mean?”
“When Jamieson Finch wanted to make an alliance with you, and you refused, do you really believe that he simply crawled back into his hole?”
Soltero leaned back on his seat. “My dear Deva. I rarely backtrack on a decision I make. As I said, Finch’s methods are against what we believe here.”
“And again, knowing the kind of man Finch is, it’s against everything he stands for to bow and go away. Don’t you think?”
His eyes glinted. “Why are you so interested in Finch?”
It was Deva’s turn to offer him a patronizing smile. “Because between two evils, I prefer the civilized one. Finch is about to unleash a war over the city, in such a cunning way that nobody can see it coming. Not even you, Mercutio.”
The man shook his head, clearly in denial. “There is no war, Deva. If there was one, I would be the first to know. To sense it.”
It was Gabrielle’s turn to lean forward. “From one strategist to another, Mercutio. War not only comes from the outside. It can brew from within too.”
“If you are suggesting that one of my men is a traitor, you know nothing about me!”
Deva shook her head. “And that’s exactly what Finch planned for. It’s taken years in the planning, and the grand prize will be to overtake your organization.”
“I don’t believe you. You are insane!”
Gabrielle sighed. “We knew you wouldn’t believe us. Not without proof, at least. That’s why we are sharing some privileged information we have gathered, about one of your men.” She pushed the file toward the mob boss. “Inside is the name of your traitor, with several emails sent between him and Finch over the years, as well as his financials. The official ones, of course, not the one you can access. Also, in it, you will find the names of his potential followers.”
Deva frowned. “You don’t have to believe us, do your own checks.”
Both Deva and Gabrielle got up, as Mercutio looked at the unopened file before him, still seated.
Deva almost took pity at the man. “You are not the only one who’s been fooled by Finch. Every important syndicate has been.”
Stone-faced, Mercutio got to his feet, one hand resting on the file. “What do you expect from me? If the information is correct, how much do I owe you for this?”
Deva looked at Gabrielle before looking back at the man. “We expect you to do some cleaning up. And there is nothing owed. As I said, better the devil we know.”
Gabrielle turned, and Deva was about to follow when Mercutio called her name. “Mex Johnson may have been broken after losing his son, but he should never have dismissed you, Deva. You would have made a lethal adversary. A worthy president.”
Flattered and disgusted at the same time, Deva bowed her head and followed Gabrielle outside, back into the limo. The day was far from done, and meetings were close together in various parts of the city.
