[Fractured State 02] • Rogue State by Konkoly Steven

Author:Konkoly, Steven [Konkoly, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Thriller
ISBN: 9781503940338
Goodreads: 30848525
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2017-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 28

Leeds shook his head as Olmos steered their SUV between the two gaudy, illuminated marble pillars that marked the entrance to La Araña’s gated estate. He had to give this Spider guy some credit. Instead of building a mansion on a sprawling tract of land on the outskirts of town, he had declared the drug cartel’s equivalent of eminent domain and confiscated something a little closer to the action. The digital maps still listed his estate as a public park. Impressive.

Leeds tensed when a few guards appeared inside the gate and pointed flashlights at the SUV, still wary of the safe passage guaranteed by Chukov. The men kept their rifles and submachine guns pointed away from the vehicle despite the murderous glares directed at the tinted glass windows. They had reason to be angry. He just hoped their fear of disobeying La Araña’s orders would trump any drug-fueled vigilante notions. Chukov’s team hadn’t been subtle when they’d breached the compound. They’d cut a wide path through the guards on their way in.

A massive Mexican wearing a black suit over a stark white collared shirt waved them through.

“Drive slow and steady,” said Leeds. “Don’t give them an excuse.”

“I don’t see how this is supposed to work for us. Why can’t Chukov go to work on Spider-Man and leave us out of it?”

“Because we need Señor Talamanco’s cooperation and blessing, no matter how insincere, to continue operating in Mexicali. If the cartel turns against us, we won’t last the hour.”

“I’m worried about later,” said Olmos. “I can’t imagine he’s going to take Chukov’s stunt lightly. These guys build their reputations on fear and respect. Chukov just knocked him down the ladder a few notches.”

“We just need to get through the night.”

“I don’t know. These guys look hungry. Never know who’s got their eyes set on the big mansion.”

“I think we can reach a satisfactory agreement with this guy,” said Leeds.

“I hope so.”

Leeds didn’t exactly trust the situation either, but Chukov hadn’t left him much of a choice. He’d been just as surprised as Olmos when the Russian’s call came through. Somehow Petrov’s ragged bandits had managed to infiltrate the cartel boss’s compound and capture a man who had, until tonight, respectfully declined any association with Cerberus. Now he was politely requesting an audience.

They were directed to park beside a Range Rover under a carport set behind a line of trees. When they got out, one of two men standing at a thick, black gate set into a tall, brick wall gestured for them to follow. Leeds was pleased to see that neither man appeared armed, as he had insisted.

They followed the men into a lush courtyard. Apparently, the water crisis hadn’t reached Señor Talamanco’s private gardens.

The guards guided them across the exquisitely manicured grounds, past a brightly glowing pool to a softly lit, open-air dining room attached to the main house. A man Leeds assumed to be Talamanco sat alone at the head of a thick wooden table, casually eating from a plate piled with food.

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