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“Money isn’t everything,” Manuel replied, glaring right back. “I need assurances on the timing. If you’re disrupting my profit, I need to know when to expect that, so I can plan accordingly.”
“The chain is already disrupted, thanks to the hit attempt on the Lincolns,” Blue told him. “Why are we beating around the bush instead of you just making shit plain?”
“Clearly you have something to say, so maybeyoushould be making things plain,” Ivan spoke up. “What is it you think you know?”
“We know you’ve found yourself a new partner, a partner with goons that tried to kill one of my lieutenants,” Blue said.
Manuel’s eyebrows went up. “If I wanted any of your people dead, they would be, I assure you.”
“And yet, here I am,” I said, complete with a little wave just to get under his skin. “It’s a bit convenient that word gets out that you have a new business relationship and suddenly people are getting shot at in public places.”
“Why do you thinkwehave anything to do with an ambush?” Ivan asked.
I chuckled. “I’d hardly call it an ambush, but your hitman had some pretty distinctive ink, ink associated withyournew partner.”
“How would you know anything about that?” Manuel asked, and I narrowed my eyes before yanking my jacket off my shoulder, baring my arm.
My ink.
“I know a helluva lot more than he’s tellingyou, I guarantee.”
“Que es esto?!” Manuel exclaimed, immediately pushing back from the table as he registered what he was looking at.
Ivan was shook too; he hadn’t given any outward reaction, but the alarm was apparent in his eyes. “This is some kind of setup?” he asked.
“You tell us,” Blue countered. “Y’all are having the fucking secret meetings, not us.”
“I amdonetalking,” Manuel huffed.
Blue scoffed. “Motherfucker, you’re not done withshit.”
“I sure the fuckam,” Manuel bellowed, standing up.
From the faces around the room, we wereallcaught off guard by his anger.
“I willnotbe manipulated or disrespected by the likes of you. I have done enough. I have sacrificed enough!”
“ThePredatorshaven’t asked you for shit; let’s make that clear,” Blue told him, sitting forward across the table. “The only thing thePredatorsneed from theRenegadosis respect, and you’ve been riding the line too fucking long—let’s talk aboutthat.”
Manuel crossed his arms, glowering. “I’m sure you’ve heard more than once that respect is not simply given; it’s earned.”
“Right, so what the fuck have you done?” Blue asked. “Exactly what have you done that you deserve my undying respect?”He stood too; face pulled into a scowl. “You’re the one talking slick about my vice president.Youhopped up like you want something to pop off.”
“Do you not know what that tattoo on him means? He is one of the Frenchman’s people,” Manuel insisted, looking to me like I was a damn ghost.
“I belong to no one,especiallynot Renard Belrose.”
Manuel sneered. “I’ve seen what he can do to people with those tattoos.”
“That doesn’t have shit to do with me,” I denied, even though I knew there wasn’t much I could do to avoidexactlywhat he was talking about.
The only thing I’dmaybehad on my side thus far was anonymity and I was pretty sure I could consider that blown now.
“I’m sure you’ve noticed a different energy in this town. I noticed it as soon as I returned,” Ivan spoke up. “Getting under everybody’s skin, tempers running hot.”
“Yeah, we noticed,” Blue spoke up, with a warning edge to his tone. “But if you’ve got no problem, we’ve got no problem. If youdohave a problem… you make sure you don’t hesitate to let us know. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
With that, Blue stood up from the table, damn near knocking his chair over as he strode out. I was close behind him, keeping my eyes open for all possibilities as I followed him out through the back of the restaurant and into the parking garage.
