Chapter 9 WE HAD A DEAL!

"Yo, Lizzy," he said, stretching out his curled fist, and Anna bumped her knuckles against his.

Lizzy though? Serena thought in amusement. She found it funny that Anna had even gone as far as using a fake name. It was a really smart move, but unnecessary.

"Who is this fine chick beside you?" he winked at Serena. Serena immediately felt repelled by that single act. But she knew better than to call him out, especially since she desperately needed his help.

"This is my friend. She loved your weed and thought she could meet you in person," Anna lied, flashing the cutest smile she could muster.

Serena just bobbed her head in agreement, although she was already getting impatient.

"Cool, cool," he said with a proud smile on his face. "I have the best weed in town. Believe that," he added. "So, how much are you looking to buy?"

"Well..." Anna started but was cut off by Serena.

"I will give you two thousand dollars if you tell me where I can find the Trejo cartel's boss," Serena cut straight to the chase. From the corner of her eye, she could see Anna glaring at her, but Serena couldn't care less.

Aziz frowned. "Are you the police?" he asked.

"She's not the police, Aziz," Anna said in a gentle tone, trying not to piss him off-something Serena couldn't be bothered with. "But we really need your help. Please."

He narrowed his eyes. "Three thousand, and I'll write his address for you. But you didn't hear it from me."

"Deal," Serena said almost immediately. She could sense Anna's questioning gaze boring holes into her skin. Of course, Serena didn't have that kind of money. She didn't even have a hundred bucks. But she was desperate.

She would get the information she needed from him, and then they would leave. He should be grateful she wasn't calling the police, because Serena was almost certain that it wasn't just weed in his bag.

He took out a pen from his bag and scribbled the address on a napkin. Serena took it and read the address. The house was in the best part of town, she noted.

"Remember, you didn't hear it from me," he repeated.

Serena nodded as she stuffed the napkin into her pocket, then turned to Anna. "Come on, let's go."

"Hey, you haven't paid me yet," Aziz chided.

But Serena just stood up. "Just be grateful I'm not calling the cops on you. I'm certain you have some heroin and cocaine in that bag of yours."

He turned to Anna, his face red with anger. "We had a deal," he said. Anna just mouthed "sorry" as Serena dragged her out of the diner.

"That was so unfair," Anna said on the ride back.

"What's unfair is me having to pay back two million dollars that I didn't steal," Serena retorted.

The easy part was done. Now came the hard part: convincing the boss of the Trejo cartel to help her.

---

Adriano was wrapping up the last of his workload in the office before he left for Mexico. He knew that Godfrey could handle it, but Adriano always preferred to leave the dirty work for Godfrey and handle the official part of his business personally.

Adriano didn't feel confident about going to see El Padrino. This was the absolute worst timing, especially with the death of his brother. Padrino might not think Adriano was man enough to take care of business and his family.

To Padrino, family was everything. The strongest mafia cartels are the ones led by families-strong families. Padrino didn't think Adriano's cartel was strong enough because it wasn't run by family, especially now that his brother was dead.

Adriano brushed his hand over his face as he exhaled loudly. Diego had been the only family Adriano had left until that tramp snuck into his club under the guise of a dancer and killed his brother. This single act by Serena would make him look weak if word of it ever got out. Adriano was immediately filled with anger.

Even if Serena returned his money, he would still make her suffer for killing his brother. He promised not to hurt Rita, and he would keep his word-he was a man of his word, after all. But he would not spare Serena. Never.

A knock came at his door, and Godfrey stepped in moments later. "Boss, everything is ready, and so is your jet," he announced.

Adriano nodded. "What about the woman in the cell?" he asked, pretending not to remember her name. He could never forget Rita's name, not after the impression she left on him the first time Godfrey brought her to his office.

Rita had been fierce, ready to fight him for her freedom, but at the same time, she played at seducing him.

Under normal circumstances, Adriano would have taken her to his bed and given her the night of her life. She was beautiful, slender, and blonde-just the way he liked his women. But these circumstances were not normal. She was his prisoner, bait to lure her sister out of hiding, and it worked. Serena had come running with her tail between her legs.

Adriano would hate to kill Rita; it would be a waste of such beauty. But if Serena didn't have his money by the end of the week, he would have to kill Rita.

"I already had someone send food to her," Godfrey responded. "Don't worry, I'll make sure she's well taken care of while you're away," he reassured him.

But Adriano didn't really care whether or not Rita was well taken care of. "If Serena shows up with my money while I'm gone, don't let her leave."

Godfrey nodded. "I understand."

Adriano smiled as an idea popped into his head. There was no need for such beauty to waste away in his cell when he could make money off her. "Take Rita out of her cell. Get her cleaned up and take her to the VIP section. She'll be entertaining the VIP clients."

Godfrey nodded and left the office.

Adriano stood to his feet. It was time to finally meet Padrino again, albeit under different circumstances.