He came to stand in front of me and folded his arms across his chest.
“I’m Fred Hoffman, the Wild Stallions’ general counsel.”
I gapped at him, at a loss for words, not having expected that.
“Wh—what?” I stammered.
“It’s come to my attention the Stallions have recently procured your services. I’d like to know, what is your involvement with them?”
I looked from Fred to Rocco and then back again.
“This isn’t about Alejandro?”
“No,” Fred clipped. “It’s about you providing legal services for my employer. Services of which I am not aware.”
“What I do for my clients is none of your business. And, quite frankly, from what I know about them, I don’t think any of the Stallions will be too pleased to hear you have kidnapped me for this littlechat,” I stated confidently. “If you have questions about why they’re working with me, why don’t you just ask them?”
“I’ve been working for the Stallions for more than twenty years. I’ve never had to worry about competition. Don’t quite know what they see in you, other than a pretty face. I’ve been at this almost as long as you’ve been alive. And yet, here we are,” he said, not at all answering my question.
“Preferred it when Scorpion was running the show, but the glory days never last forever. Bull can be a fucking prick. The fact that you’re sitting here is proof. But they aren’t the only ones who help me pay for all this.” He paused and looked around before he continued. “If they’re double dipping, then so must I.”
It was like he was speaking in riddles.
“What?”
“Hoffman and I—we report to the same guy. I knowyouknow that guy expects results, or else,” answered Rocco.
I coughed out a startled, humorless laugh as I stared wide-eyed at Fred. “I’m sorry…you’re telling me you’re in cahoots with the drug cartel, and you’re somehowsurprisedthe Stallions don’t trust you?”
“So long as the Wild Stallions stay in their lane, there will be no trouble. The deal I have with the cartel is not a betrayal. It’sbusiness. But it requires me to be in the know—and right now, I’m on the outside and you’re not.”
I shook my head at him, deciding I didn’t like Fred Hoffman. Not merely because he forced me at gunpoint to meet with him, but also because his integrity was worthless.
“You should know, as well as any lawyer, what I discuss with my clients is confidential. I won’t tell you anything.”
“Here’s how this is going to go,” he replied, his voice pitched low, his face suddenly a mask of anger inches from mine. “You have two choices: respectfully drop any and all Stallions as clients and walk away; say nothing, and we’ll pretend none of this ever happened. Or cooperate with us. I have no interest in making you a middle-man, but I haven’t been left with much of a choice. I’m paid for information—but you are currently a bottle neck that’s stopped up. I’ll cut you in, five percent. It’s perfectly fair.”
I jerked my head back, aghast.
Partly because he thought I was such an idiot that I’d consider five percent ofanythingfair, but mostly because he thought I was just flat out stupid.
“I’m not a dirty lawyer. I respectfully decline your offer. Now, can I have my phone? I’d like to leave.”
Fred grimaced.
“Seems I forgot to mention there’s a third option,” he said, returning to full height. “It’s the default choice, should you decide to discard your other two. If you remain a problem, I’ll get rid of you.”
At this, Rocco barked out a laugh and said, “And he thought I was dramatic.”
“Is this a joke?” I murmured, my bravado gone as if it never existed.
The memory of a gun at my back was so strong, I could almost feel it.
“No, my dear, it’s not. The world is full of pretty faces. It won’t miss yours. I’ll give you twenty-four hours to decide.” Jerking his chin, he instructed the men behind me, “Start the clock. Take her back.” Then he said, “I’m sure you can figure out how to reach me,” before he disappeared into the stall from which he’d come.
Rocco’s men did Fred’s bidding. The one with the gun took hold of my arm and forced me to my feet. I didn’t need encouragement to follow him. Glancing back over my shoulder, I looked at Rocco who stood there watching me, his hands tucked casually into his pant pockets. I didn’t know what I expected him to do, but he didn’tdoorsayanything. He called Fred dramatic, but he didn’t overrule him. His threat met no resistance.
I couldn’t stop hearing what he said to me.
