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“Very funny, brother of mine. However, your instincts were good. Rico will attempt to retaliate. Whether or not he believes his brother is alive or floating in the murky waters doesn’t matter. He’s a brutal son of a bitch who has his sights set on invading our territory. We need to think about how we can best handle his blatant attempts at conquest.” I thought about what I’d heard from the Brotherhood, my mind already formulating a plan. However, whatever choice I made would need to be handled carefully.
“Well, the information presented to me on Rico’s whereabouts turning out to be factual. He was spotted at some swanky party in Beverly Hills two nights ago. From the photographs, it would appear he didn’t have a care in the world.” Miguel lifted his eyebrows, a sly grin crossing his face.
“You have me curious. What was he doing in Beverly Hills?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” he said, laughing. “I made a few phone calls, called in a couple favors, and found out that Rico Garcia is now part owner of the Thousand Acres production studio.”
He kept the look of amusement on his face while I was processing what he’d said. “As in making motion pictures?”
“Yep. Exactly.”
As in a direct competition to Diego and Dante’s hold on their movie studio. The combined movie empire consisting of the Santos Corporation along with Carina DeMill Santos’ takeover of her father’s studio was considered the most profitable production company in the world. Thousand Acres was number two. “Fascinating. I wonder if Dante and Diego Santos are aware of the maneuver.”
“Given the sale was kept on the downlow and it was just finalized two days ago, yet to be announced, it’s possible they do not.”
“Perhaps you should tell them, son,” Pops said from his perch in my leather chair.
“Perhaps I will.” That would add fuel to the fire as well in driving them to provide me with assistance if necessary. And that could come to pass. The smart way of handling a brutal savage like Rico Garcia was hitting him head on early in the game.
Only this didn’t feel like any typical game to me.
“Where is the man now?”
Miguel shrugged. “That I don’t know.”
“But he still owns a house in LA?”
“Three at this point, two of them purchased recently, although he’s rarely at any one of them.”
“Women?”
“He does spend some time with a certain B-rated actress.”
“Email me her name and whatever information you have on the recent sale,” I told my brother. “I want him tracked. Once he’s found, we send a brigade of soldiers there to keep watch on him.”
“Good idea, son.” The way Pops was adding his two cents was unusual. The man typically preferred remaining on the golf course, not interfering with how I handled business. That meant he’d lost confidence in me. Perhaps I’d been wrong about one of my two most trusted men opening their goddamn mouths.
I found myself bristling as I gave my father a heated look. “I do have decent ideas from time to time.”
Pops finally rose to his feet, placing his nearly empty drink next to mine. As he walked closer, he continued studying me, unable to resist glancing down to my boat shoes. “I have a four o’clock tee-off I need to get to. I’m going to give you one last piece of advice, son.”
I tilted my head, waiting for whatever he had to say.
“Whoever she was, get rid of her.” When I didn’t say anything, he took an exaggerated whiff. “I can smell her stench on you. Find one of the tarts you usually spend the night with and spend some quality time with her. Maybe that will jog your memory of who you are.”
The one thing about my father was that he never minced words. I was exactly like him in that regard.
He didn’t wait for my reply as he almost never did, walking out of my office without looking back.
“Whew,” Miguel huffed. “Is it chilly in here or am I coming down with something?”
“I need Rico tracked down.”
“I’m on it.” He started to leave as well but stopped short. “Was there a woman? I mean someone obviously helped you when you were out of your mind.”
“Who provided assistance is of no consequence, Miguel. None whatsoever.” Maybe I hadn’t been out of my mind. Maybe the severe blow had actually brought me clarity for the first time in years.
“Understood. I’m not pushing.”
