“Lovely woman,” he complimented, facing Rose.
Nostrils flaring, he was close to shattering the glass in his hand he squeeze so hard.
“Why are you here, Gerardo?”
“I heard about Max, and we have a problem. I thought you might be able to assist.” Gerardo leaned against the counter.
“What kind of problem?” Rose asked, swallowing his drink and setting his glass down.
“Pablo was killed. Gunned down like an animal. Our sources are telling us that you had something to do with it.” Gerardo put out there.
“Well, your sources are wrong. I’ve been back here over a month. I’ve been dealing with a lot. Ain’t no way I got time to be going up against the fucking cartel. I ain’t stupid, and we squashed all that shit in Miami.”
“I know,” Gerardo replied.
“So why did you come all the way here?” Rose queried.
“You may not have known about it, but someone around here does. All roads lead back here. So I need answers.” Gerardo was plain, direct, and right to the point.
Rose’s brows dipped above his dark, rounded orbs.
“What you got? How can I help?” Rose questioned.
“I thought you would never ask.” He brightened up immediately. “What do you know about a mothafucka named Gannon?”
“Hmm.” Rose laughed to himself and shook his head.
That shit shouldn’t surprise him, but it did amuse the fuck out of him how the tables were turning.
“What about him?”
“Are you friends?”
“We definitely ain’t that,” Rose countered.
“Where can I find him?” Gerardo questioned.
“I know where his apartment is located. You can try there. What you looking for him for though? What he got to do with anything?”
“Nigga came to Miami a while back and met with Pablo about some guns. He said that Max sent him.”
“That’s a fucking lie. I told Max about you needing a plug. He said he would work on it. He would have never sent Gannon to negotiate the deal.”
“Gannon made it clear when he came down that he was acting on word from Max and from you.” Gerardo aimed a finger at him, and Rose stiffened.
Gannon was next on his list of things to address. He was being patient and trying to keep it cool because shit was already hot in town, but Rose felt he might hit the rails soon. Gannon, Eirian, and their entire crew were provoking him. Although no moves were made yet, Rose expected it at any time.
“Gannon is a fucking snake. Max was aware of this before he died, so there was no way that he would vouch for this mothafucka,” Rose explained.
“My thoughts exactly. I did my research. Max was solid. He did square business, and I have never had a problem out of you. That is why I am here, to get to the bottom of this.” Gerardo aimed a finger at the counter and kept his eyes fixed on Rose. “I’ll be around town until I get confirmation on everything.” Rose watched him stand upright, removing himself from the counter. “This is a nice place here, by the way. Tell your girl congratulations on her accomplishment.”
Rose watched him tread to the door, and he searched the rest of the room as Finn joined him. Resting his elbow on the counter, he leaned forward.
“What was that about?” Finn asked, picking up on the energy from Gerardo from ten feet away.
He knew Rose could handle himself, so he was just keeping an eye on things and hanging back in case he was needed.
“The Martinez Cartel is in town,” Rose announced.
