I sat back, rubbing my forehead before finally pushing the envelope over the table. "Does this look familiar to you?"
John looked back and forth between us, darting a glance over his shoulder to make certain we weren't being observed. The moment Santiago tugged the pictures out into the open, I heard an audible groan.
"Where did you get these?" Santiago hissed under his breath.
"My father, although there was no explanation. I assume that he's blackmailing you for murdering the president's son almost forty years ago. I certainly don't know the circumstances, but I guess that doesn't matter any longer. I simply need to know the terms of the deal." While neither man said anything, they were both beginning to sweat.
And neither seemed eager to talk.
A full minute ticked by.
Then two.
My patience in the toilet, I pulled out the picture I'd also brought of Rodriguez to gather Santiago's reaction. At first there was none, then he yanked it closer.
"Where did you get this?" he demanded.
"You mean one of dozens of photographs of men you murdered?" I asked almost casually.
John leaned in, glancing down. "What are you talking about?"
"I have a friend who supplied an envelope full of bloody pictures; horrific scenes of families that Santiago and his men have taken out. This just happens to be the one man his daughter fell in love with. Now she knows the truth about you, Rivera."
"I didn't kill Rodriguez," Santiago said defiantly.
"Maybe not, but you had one of your minions take care of it," I said quietly, growing weary of the lies.
He shook his head several times. "I did not want that man to date my daughter. That is true. He was true scum that I managed to buy off. I watched him leave the country. There was no reason for me to kill him."
"Unless he didn't keep his end of the bargain."
"What does this matter, Miguel? We need to figure out who's attempting to muscle in on both our organizations." John kept his tone even.
Now I wished I had a scotch in front of me. A Bombay and tonic just wouldn't take off the edge. "Let's assume you're telling me the truth, Rivera, then who the hell is attempting to do this?"
"I have an idea," he said quietly, pushing the pictures back in my direction. "You're going to have to trust me."
"Trust." I laughed. Maybe it was the late hour, but I almost bought his story. "As you can imagine, there is no such thing in our worlds."
"But there is respect and I hold your father in the highest esteem," Santiago insisted.
"Even after he's blackmailed you all these years?" I asked, not expecting an answer. "I find that hard to believe. However, that does bring us to the question of why my father would enter into any kind of deal with the likes of you."
John placed his hand on my arm, forcing me to look down before giving him a hard stare.
"Miguel, there are some aspects of the past that you should hear from Carlos," John said, offering a slight smile. "We knew each other a long time ago. There was a kind of group of us when we were much younger who met in private. We often made certain deals together." He glanced up at Santiago, who actually smiled.
"What are you saying?" I demanded, tired of the bullshit but once again returning to the conversation I'd had with my father, including his sadness.
They both laughed, a moment shared. "You forget that various organized syndicates have been through several generations. There was an alliance formed years ago, powerful young men who gathered together in secret to offer support or muscle as necessary. We believed that we could run the families much better than our fathers. Our arrogance and stupidity soon caused disillusionment and eventually we abandoned the idea." Santiago's words were... fascinating.
An alliance. I had to laugh inside.
"Your father allowed me to be a part of it," John said. "That's why I could never be disloyal to him. Have I had two conversations with Santiago since he's been in town? Absolutely. With your father being ill, he asked me to try and find out what I could. He knew you wouldn't understand why Santiago could possibly be trusted. The rest you're going to have to get from your father."
"This doesn't make any sense," I half whispered, but in truth, I was floored with the notion they'd once worked together, just like the Sons of Darkness. "Who else was in this group?"
"We all promised secrecy and anonymity," John insisted.
"You think that's important," Santiago added.
I had to be crazy to think I could trust him, but it would easy to corroborate whether Santiago had shipments destroyed. "I do. I'm going to venture a guess that somehow your alliance was discovered, and everyone involved is a target, although they're pitting one against the other."
Santiago's eyes opened up wide. "You are as brilliant as your father always said you were. I will contact them and find out."
"All right. This idea of yours, you need to follow through on it quickly. I have a feeling that it's coming to a head very soon," I directed, still uncertain what to believe.
"That I will do," Santiago confirmed, giving me a respectful nod.
"What about the president's son? How did he die and why does it seem to be such an important event?" I glanced back and forth, waiting.
"I think that's something you're going to have to ask your father," John said before taking a sip of his coffee.
I felt drained, exhausted from the games. When I heard my phone, my instinct was on high alert. Castillo. Getting his side of the story could prove to be interesting. "I need to take this. We will talk again in twenty-four hours. No less. If I find out you're fucking with me, Rivera, I will stop at nothing to destroy your world." I walked away before answering the phone. "Yes?"
"I'm glad I caught you," Castillo said in a hushed voice.
"Just spill it. I'm in no mood for crap tonight. What did you find out?"