Estes came over to her and removed baby Monroe from her arms. The one year old went to him happily. Estes was the only man that had ever been around her son. He was the only stability in her life, but seeing Mecca had been like a bad omen, and she felt it in her bones that a deadly storm was about to blow her way.
Chapter Eight
“A real live American boy.”
– Illiana
When Zyir stepped off of the private plane, the overwhelming heat hit him instantly. His baggy khaki shorts and white button-down linen shirt seemed too heavy for the Mexican heat. He unbuttoned his shirt, revealing the crisp white wife beater underneath. His eyes were hidden behind the Homme shades he wore.
The hidden airstrip that they had used to fly in on was undetected by the Mexican government, so Zyir felt secure as he stepped off of the plane. Still, he knew that because his presence in Mexico was completely undetected, if something were to happen to him, no one would even know where to begin looking.
He had wanted to bring Mecca along, because that was the one person he knew would not be afraid to pop off if things got out of hand, but Mecca was a hot head, and could easily blow this deal for them. Because of this, Carter had insisted that Zyir go alone, and even though he went everywhere strapped, he felt that it would be of little use in the foreign country.
“Buenas tardes, señor,” the driver greeted as he held open the limousine door.
Zyir nodded his head to greet the man, and then stepped inside of the plush vehicle. A full liquor bar was set up for him inside, but he chose not to partake. He was there to handle business only. He could bullshit back home.
He attempted to keep his bearings as the limo took him to his destination, but he quickly realized that it was no use. He did not know where he was being escorted, and the fact that he was not in control pushed him out of his comfort zone. Trust would be his only way of getting through this meeting. He would have to hope that the men he was about to meet with were men of honor. If not, he was about to walk into a situation where he was greatly outnumbered.
Zyir watched as the city turned into countryside as they drove along the coastline. An hour later, they pulled up to an estate much grander than anything he had ever seen. The beauty of it was magnificent. He admired the stone exterior. He was brought back to reality, however, when he noticed the armed guards standing post at the gates and aiming their automatic sniper rifles from their high towers. The property was guarded like a fort.
Zyir’s palms began to sweat as he attempted to keep his composure. He removed his pistol and placed it underneath the seat of the limo. He knew that the sixteen bullets from his 9 mm would be no match for the artillery that the guards were equipped with. They would fill him with holes before he even let off a shot. So, he was making the first effort to establish a trusting alliance with the Mexicans by going in unarmed. It was his way of showing good faith.
The guards peered into the car, and once Zyir’s identity was confirmed, he was admitted onto the property.
The atmosphere was not what he had assumed it would be. There were no bikini clad women and no sleazy lifestyle taking place. It reminded him of the Diamond estate. It was a family home, and he relaxed a bit when he stepped out of the car.
“Welcome to Mexico, Zyir,” a man greeted as he emerged from the mansion.
“You must be Felipe,” Zyir responded. “I appreciate the invitation. We have a lot to discuss.”
“That we do, but my wife has prepared a beautiful lunch for you on the back terrace. Let’s eat first. The time for business will come soon,” Felipe stated. He led Zyir through the home and out onto the back terrace that faced the ocean.
“Zyir, this is my wife, Maria, and my sister Illiana,” Felipe introduced.
“Very nice to meet you, Zyir,” Maria greeted.
“A real live American boy,” Illiana stated as she surveyed Zyir, her dark, mischievous eyes looking him up and down as she sipped on a cocktail.
Her dark hair and striking features immediately stood out to Zyir. He had never seen a woman so beautiful. As she stared him down, Zyir knew that there was nothing good about this girl. She was a temptress, and the deep pools that were her eyes were hypnotic. He quickly broke their stare to avoid becoming lost in them.
She was the most exotic young woman he had ever seen. She exuded a confidence and sexiness that he had never encountered before. Zyir was no fool, however. He knew that to do business with the Garza family meant that Illiana would be the forbidden fruit. Wars had been sparked over women, and no matter how exotic she appeared, no pussy was that good. He was always about his dollar.
Not wanting to appear too friendly, Zyir nodded his acknowledgements and took a seat. It was customary for a wife to welcome the guests of her husband, and Maria ensured that Zyir was comfortable. The four ate and spoke as if they were old acquaintances, but Zyir was simply being polite and going through the motions. He was itching to get to the money, but knew that he had to build a rapport before Felipe would even bring it up.
Although there were only four people at the table, Zyir was well aware that he was being evaluated by many more. After much unwanted banter, Zyir finally spoke up. His patience was running real low. I’m not here on a social call, he thought. If we ain’t talking money, then we’re wasting time.
He leaned into Felipe so that the women could not overhear and said, “I’m ready to get down to it. I appreciate your hospitality, but it really isn’t necessary. Time is of the essence, nah mean?”
Felipe put his hand on Zyir’s shoulder. “My man… in such a rush. Sometimes you have to do things slowly in order to do them efficiently, my friend,” he replied. He stared tensely at Zyir, and then snapped his fingers, making one of his housekeepers rush quickly to his side.
“¿Si, señor?” the elderly woman asked.
“Rosa, please take my friend’s glass and get him a fresh drink,” Felipe instructed.
Zyir never broke Felipe’s stare, because there was not a man on this earth who could intimidate him. He was fearless as he sat, one man against what he was sure was an entire Mexican army lingering in the shadows of the massive estate. It was clear that Felipe held the power, and by making Zyir wait, he was sending a clear message that everyone on the southern side of the border moved at the pace of the Garza family, including Zyir.
Illiana watched Zyir’s interaction with her brother and secretly admired him. In no form was Zyir bowing to Felipe, and his demeanor intrigued her. She was not used to opposition. No one ever had the balls to hold their ground against the Garza Cartel, but it was obvious that the reputation was not impressive to Zyir.
The housekeeper came back with a new drink for Zyir and then turned to Felipe and announced, “It has been done, señor. He is not in the database.”
Felipe’s mood immediately changed, and his callous expression transformed into a satisfied smile. “I apologize, Zyir. I had to make sure that you are who you say you are. I lifted your prints off of your cocktail glass and had one of my men run them through your country’s national federal database. All federal agents must have their prints taken. A man in my position can never be too cautious,” Felipe explained.
Not wanting to appear too impressed, Zyir held his cards, but he was inwardly pleased at how thorough Felipe was. “I understand,” Zyir replied.
“Now, if you two will excuse us,” Felipe stated as he stood to his feet. “I think I have wasted enough of this man’s time.”
“Surely lunch with me was not a waste of time,” Illiana spoke up, seduction oozing off of her words.