Capítulo 16: Chapter 16

"A pleasure to meet you," he told her then looked from one to the other. "I understand this marriage is recent?"

"It is." Max nodded. "I waited a long time for the right woman."

"I'm happy to see you've found her. Congratulations to both of you."

Regan gestured to a tray on the coffee table holding a carafe, cups, and a plate of miniature pastries. "I took the liberty of ordering something. I find having conversations over coffee always makes them go so much more smoothly. Please have a seat and let me fill a cup for you."

Her voice was a warm contralto, soothing yet at the same time confident. Not a woman Jed would want to cross. He found it interesting that she not Max, seemed to take the lead in this situation, but maybe that was by design.

When everyone was seatedMax and Regan on one couch, Jed on the other facing themRegan gave him a smile that felt strangely as if it had skewered him.

"I understand how unsettling it has to be for all of you," she told him, "to have this switch take place at what is a critical time. I'm sure it's made you all question the situation."

"I'm not" he began.

"Please be assured," she interrupted, "that Bernardo has fully briefed us on everything. Also, Max works very closely with his brother at Ferren Arms Manufacturing and can deliver on what is needed. We're happy to answer any questions you have to put your mind at ease. But understand, we also have some questions of our own."

"Of course, and I'll be happy to answer them. Bernardo said he made you aware of the critical nature of this meeting and the timeline."

"He did." Max nodded. "Although he and I had been discussing it a lot recently. We wanted to make sure you were 'sufficiently supplied.'"

Jed nearly smiled. Sufficiently supplied was a mild way of putting what their needs were.

"Fine. Then let's get to it, shall we? The others in our group have some concerns regarding your readiness that I promised to address, and I, of course, will answer yours."

"The meeting starts in two days," Regan pointed out. "Did you really think you needed that much time to assure yourself we're the real deal?"

Jed shifted in his seat. These were not novices or also-rans as Lorena and Gavin had feared. They were very smart people. Max might even be smarter than his brother. And Regan? In just the few minutes since he'd arrived, he'd realized there was more depth there than any of them had expected. He wasn't just the shadow of his brother that they'd feared, even tried to prepare for. His earlier thoughts popped into his brain, and he wondered why the hell these two people weren't at the helm of Ferren Arms Manufacturing.

When they were all settled with their coffee, Jed cleared his throat.

"I thought it might be good for all of us if we reviewed the situation before the meeting starts tomorrow. Just, you know, to make sure you were up to speed." He pulled out his patented friendly smile. "I know your brother has kept you in the loop from the beginning. He said"

"Every decision that impacts Ferrens Arms is made together," Max interrupted.

He didn't sound angry or pissed off. No, there was something more dangerous there Jed was almost looking forward to Max and Lorena meeting for the first time.

Now he just nodded. "We're all well aware of that, but please look at it from our perspective. We have a deadline looming in front of us, and we need something more than Bernardo's assurance that you can step in without causing a hiccup."

"So this little meeting isn't just to be sure we have all the information we need, right?" Max's smile made winter look warm. "No problem. I'd do the same thing in your situation. Bernardo told us it would be on the agenda, so fire away."

Jed had a format for the afternoon, and he was determined to stick to it, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was the one being dissected. His very brief moments with Max Ferren during the years hadn't shown him this side of the man at all. Why hadn't Bernardo warned him about his brother and sister-in-law? Of course, what would he say? Watch out for them? On the surface they were friendly, smart, and cordial. Yet he kept getting the feeling they were just tolerating him, and he didn't like it one bit.

By the time the afternoon ended, he felt as if he was the one being subtly interrogated. He'd told the others he'd be spending two days at this, but truth be told he didn't think he had much more to ask. It would be up to the others to judge now. He drained a last cup of coffee and rose from the couch.

"I want to thank you for going through all of this with me. It will help to be prepared when you get to the lodge." He pulled out his public smile. "Hope I wasn't too much of a pain."

"Not at all," Regan said. "As Max told you in the beginning, we have some questions of our own that we hoped to ask."

"Then how about meeting my wife and myself for dinner tonight, as our guests? I had planned on extending the invitation anyway."

The couple exchanged glances then Regan nodded.

"That would be incredibly nice of you. The plans in place will completely change the face of this nation. We wouldn't want to do anything to screw it up."

"I'm sure that's not even possible," Jed told them. "Bernardo would not have sent you in his place if it was. So how about if I give you some time to yourselves and pick you up about seven. That work?"

"Not necessary," Max told hm. "Just tell us where to meet you."

Yes, Jed thought, these are people who always want to control their situation. The meeting at the lodge was going to be interesting.

"Works for me."

They decided on a restaurant and a time, they all shook hands, and Jed left the suite. As he headed for the elevator, he breathed a sigh of relief. He felt completely wrung out, yet the Ferrens had still looked cool and collected when they were finished. There was something here, something he could not put his finger on, which was unusual for him. Maybe when they threw their questions at him tonight, he'd figure it out. He just wasn't happy with the feeling the dynamics of the group were about to change, and maybe not for the better.

He had silenced his cell when he entered the suite, but now he pulled it from his pocket and checked the call log. Six from Lorena plus several from each of the others. Figured. Damn! It amazed him how people with ice in their veins, who plotted mass murder without shedding a drop of sweat, who planned the destruction and takeover of a government, could be thrown off kilter by something like this. Yes, this was a crucial situation but there were options. If Bernardo's in-laws proved unstable or uncertain, he'd just arrange to have them taken care of. He'd force Bernardo to handle their supplies even if it killed him in the end, and they could move forward with their plans.

He'd said he'd take care of things and get back to them. They'd known he'd be tied up all afternoon. He hit redial for Lorena first.

"Well?" she answered.

Jed smiled to himself. This conversation was actually going to be a pleasure.

"You have no worries," he told her.

"And what do you base that on?" she demanded. "Did your meeting with them go that well?"

"Better than I expected." He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "First of all, they match the photo I had of them, as much as anyone can match pictures taken of them. Second, these people are not here just because they are Bernardo's relatives. In fact, I'm beginning to wish I had spent more time with Max over the years. I might have extended the invite to him instead."

Silence. Then, "Explain, please."

Jed chose his next words carefully. "I have a funny feeling that Max is actually the one running the company, or at least handling all the backroom deals. He's not someone I'd want to get on the bad side of. And I have a feeling he'll have some ideas to tighten up our plans."

"I don't want a stranger coming in and fucking things up," she snapped.

"Lorena." He made his voice as calm and even as possible. "I know you think you know more about what needs to be done than anyone, but you'd do well to listen to these people."

"We are three weeks away from kickoff," she reminded him. "Tinkering with things now would be a big mistake. And I know you don't like to make mistakes."

"Nor do I make them." His fingers tightened on the phone.

There was a long pause. "If you vouch for them, I'll listen to what they say. That's all I'll commit to right now."

"Fair enough. I'm going to call the others then I'm going to meet Max and Regan for dinner. I'll text everyone after that."

He disconnected without waiting for her to hang up. After this upcoming meeting, next on his agenda was figuring a way to contain Lorena Alvaro without shutting off her connections. Once they made their move, they'd still need the cartel for a number of things. He couldn't shut off that faucet, especially since they had contacts all over the world.

When valet parking brought his car, he pulled away from the hotel and drove down the street to a strip center. He pulled into a space in the back, took out his cell again and began to call the other partners.

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