J Speaks (L & J 2) by Emily Eck Read Free Book Online Page B

they need for expansion.”
    “The drugs?”
    “Someone is gonna deal drugs in Missouri. If it ain’t Burns or the Delmarco’s, it’ll be someone else. At least this way you know what you’re dealing with, if you choose to stay in the game.”
    “What about the guns I’ve been moving?” I wasn’t sure what the deal with the weapons was. I knew most of them went into the hands of enforcers and disappearers like me, but I didn’t know what he was doing with bombs and grenade launchers.
    “The Delmarco’s will need firepower.”
    “Those come from Mexico too?”
    “Some come from Mexico. Some move the opposite direction though. The cartel likes to blow shit up now and then.”
    I was confused. How were we going to fill the cartel’s demands for the bombs and shit? “Where’s that shit coming from?”
    “Well, that’s a funny story,” Dig said, sitting up and leaning on the table. “My intel says it’s coming from the Delmarco’s.”
    “Why would Burns buy the heavy explosives off of the Delmarco’s? He knows they want nothing more than to see him dead.”
    Dig tapped his pointer finger on the table. “My guess, they’re doin’ it on the down low. Burns don’t know the origin of the shit. He thinks he does, but I bet the Delmarco’s are frontin’. They gotta have someone else as the face of their artillery. We need an in with the Delmarco’s. I’ve collected all the info I can on them.” Dig pulled an envelope out of the inside of his cut. He handed me a roll of papers, each piece with the name and face of a man in the Delmarco’s family.
    “This one,” I said, pointing to a guy whose face I recognized. “He part of the crew?”
    Dig turned the paper towards him. “José Saldón. He’s family, but not part of the operation. Him.” Dig pointed to another face. “This is his cousin. Ernesto Delmarco. He’s a heavy hitter. If you could get us connected with him, we might have a real chance at making this happen.”
    Fuck, why’ d this shit have to collide with Elle’s world? Larry’d come to Checks with that José guy while Elle was still in the hospital. They tried to start some shit with me over Elle. I didn’t blame them. I’d kill anyone who hurt Elle. I hurt Elle, and they wanted a piece of me, so I gave them a piece. José recognized my cut and tried to pull Larry away, but that cracker ass mother fucker was hell bent on ending me. I let him get a few shots in before I put him on the ground. I got it. He needed someone to hurt the way Elle hurt, and I was the guy who deserved it, but there was no way he was takin’ me down. I gave him a fat lip, and laid a punch on his eye that undoubtedly left a mark. I left both him and José out back, behind Checks, secure that José knew enough about MM to stay the fuck away. Larry was lying in the gravel screaming and swearing at me as I walked through the back door, leaving both men outside alone. No one from Elle’s kitchen had been to Check’s since then.
    “Fuck. Lemme see what I can do about getting a line on Ernesto.” I stood up from the table. I was done with this conversation. “I’ll let you know what I can make happen.”
    “There something else you wanna talk about brother? I can’t replace Ratchet, but I know he’d want me to try.” Dig was MM when Ratchet was voted Prez. He missed his uncle just as much as I missed my surrogate grandfather. Dig was doing this for him. I was doing it for Elle, something I wasn’t ready to discuss.
    “Thanks, man. I got nothin’ to say right now, but I’ll let you know if I do.” With that, we gave each other a slap on the back , and said we’d meet up again in a few weeks. This plan wasn’t going to be rushed, no matter how much I wanted Elle back. Once I made contact with José, I’d get to Ernesto. And once I got to Ernesto, there’d be no turning back. As much as I wanted this done today so I could work on my other task, winning Elle back, I knew this plan had to be