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“Please accept my apologies. I didn’t mean to offend you.” Masking my confusion, I made a lazy wave at a more comfortable leather armchair. “Have a seat, and we can talk.”
Perhaps his tardiness had been the result of a genuine delay. I’d assumed he couldn’t possibly be willing to deal with me, but I might have misjudged him. If I could get an influential man like Armendariz to swear fealty to me, my transition to power would go more smoothly than I ever could have hoped.
He moved stiffly to the chair and settled onto it, his scowl remaining fixed in place. I would have to do some major damage control. If this meeting went well, I would invite him to my club tonight. Women and booze always improved men’s moods.
“You said you came here to make a deal,” Raúl prompted, speaking up for the first time. “What did you have in mind?”
Usually, he let me do most of the talking, and then, he hit directly with the blunt questions. It worked beautifully in catching our enemies off-balance.
“A lot of men died last night, including my friend Pedro,” Armendariz growled, far from placated.
“Yes, the outcome was rather unfortunate,” I said sympathetically. “If Pedro hadn’t chosen to kidnap Sofia and declare war on Adrián Rodríguez, he would be alive today.” I shrugged. “I suppose we all make mistakes.”
I put the blame for his own demise firmly back on Pedro. Everyone knew I’d been waiting for my opportunity to eliminate my rival for years, but it was his fuckup with Rodríguez that provided the perfect circumstances for my victory.
Armendariz appeared to be chewing on his own tongue, his complexion practically purple.
I waited him out. I no longer intended to personally insult him, but I would stand by Rodríguez and declare the legitimacy of my takeover.
“Yes,” Armendariz finally bit out. “We all make mistakes. Pedro made a poor choice. But Carmen shouldn’t suffer for it.”
My muscles locked up at the sound of her name on her former lover’s lips. I knew they had a romantic history, but it had never bothered me before.
I forced my body to return to its relaxed pose. “Carmen isn’t suffering,” I said blandly. “She’s my guest.”
“You mean she’s your prisoner,” Armendariz growled. “Drop your bullshit act, Duarte. I’m here because of her. I’m concerned for her safety. Let me take her home with me, and I won’t make a move against you.”
“No.” My refusal was vehement and instantaneous. I took a quick assessment of my body language and realized I was sitting rigidly straight, my fists clenched at my sides.
I could feel Raúl’s shocked stare burning into the side of my skull.
Shit. It was too late to reel back now. I had to lean into this aggression, or every dangerous man in this room would know that my reaction had been involuntary.
“If you don’t want to consider her my guest, you can think of Carmen as my hostage,” I said, my voice deadly soft. “You seem to care about her well-being. If that’s true, you would be wise to ally yourself with me.”
I would never harm Carmen to coerce Armendariz’s fealty, but he didn’t have to know that. He obviously still cared for her, even though their relationship had ended years ago.
My heart rate ticked up a notch, my blood running hotter through my veins.
“You would declare yourself as our ally if we give you Carmen?” Arturo interjected, overriding my authority to address our enemy directly.
“That’s not what he said,” I snapped before Armendariz could answer. Arturo was tempted to hand her over to this beast. I wouldn’t fucking allow it. “He said he wouldn’t make a move against me. That leaves him free to rally support as soon as we let our guard down. He’ll build his own army and attack us when we are no longer keeping an eye on him as a potential threat. Carmen is my leverage. I’m keeping her.” The final declaration came out roughly, my voice raised to a louder pitch than usual.
“Carmen is mine!” Armendariz thundered, surging to his feet.
I mirrored his movement, relishing the excuse to beat his weathered face to a pulp. Raúl stood beside me, his knuckles cracking as he curled his fingers into meaty fists. The rest of my allies stood straighter, each bracing to defend me. Arturo might have questioned my decision-making, but every man present would protect my life at the expense of Armendariz’s.
My enemy jerked to a stop with a snarl, his sturdy frame vibrating with rage.
Several seconds passed, and I craved his aggression. My pulse hammered in my ears, and my muscles flexed, preparing to attack. I just needed him to try to throw a single punch. Then, I could kill him.
Armendariz let out a roar of frustration, but the madman managed the presence of mind to turn on his heel and storm out of the meeting without drawing first blood. The guards outside the library immediately closed ranks around him, escorting him off my property.
