-Chapter 12-

-Chapter 12-

-28 December 2006-

-POV MC-

"Their private landing strip is really incredible, isn't it?" said Michael, observing the Alvarez Cartel's private airstrip.

I nodded, slightly uneasy with the security measures the Alvarez family had put in place just for us: "Are you sure they'll agree?"

"Don't worry, they will," said Michael, completely calm.

I tried to calm myself, but inside I couldn't because no matter how strong I was, I was just a human being, and a bullet to the head would be the end of me.

A Mexican man, clearly over 60 or even 70 years old, about 170 cm tall, and sporting a mustache, approached us and said, arms wide open:

"Michael, my friend!"

Michael smiled and hugged the man, saying, "Salazar, you old rascal, how are you?"

The old Salazar, whom I identified as the head of the Alvarez Cartel, Salazar Alvarez, smiled and said, "Like a charm since you took over your father's business and started laundering our money. Everything is going perfectly for us."

"I'm happy to hear that," said Michael before stepping aside and saying, "This is..."

"The man with 40 million dollars, David William Copperfield III," said Salazar, looking at me this time with not an ounce of kindness in his eyes.

I smiled and said, "It's an honor, Mr. Alvarez."

"I highly doubt that. Call me Don Alvarez when you address me, kid," he said in an annoyed tone.

I nodded without showing the slightest sign of frustration, and after a few seconds, he turned to Michael and said, "Come on, son, we need to discuss this opportunity that will surely be the best of my entire life."

"Precisely, this opportunity is related to this young man," said Michael.

"Mr. Salazar, I don't have much time, so I'll try to be clear and concise to save us all some time because, after all, time is money. You have powder, and I have money, so I'd like to place an order."

Salazar, puzzled, turned to Michael and said, "Where did you find this clown? Do you know who I am? I am SALAZAR ARMANDO ERNESTO ALVAREZ, I hold the balls of all of Mexico in the palm of my hand, and I can order my men to shoot you down without hesitation."

I smiled and said, "I want to buy 37 tons of powder."

Every word he was about to say got stuck in his throat, and he repeated, "37 tons of cocaine?"

"You sell your powder for $5,000 per kilo. As a sign of respect and sincerity, I'll buy it from you for $6,000 per kilo. Here's $6,000,000 as a deposit. What do you think?" I said, dropping two bags filled with bills totaling 6 million dollars.

Michael tried to stop me by saying, "David...", but Salazar interrupted him and said, "I agree, but it will take me some time to gather that much powder."

"Don't worry, I don't need it all at once. Give me the equivalent of my deposit today, and we'll set a new date."

He frowned and then whispered something to one of his bodyguards, who immediately ran off in the opposite direction.

"Very well, young man. I like people like you. You've got quite a pair. I'll bring you what you came for, but you'll have to wait two hours."

"Perfect," I said before turning around and boarding my plane.

'That old fool clearly seemed like an old fox, and I wasn't going to enter his den,' I thought, feeling safer surrounded by an elite squad of 20 people I had hired as my personal mercenaries, bound by all kinds of contracts and debts.

---

-Michael Trevor POV-

"We are not in our country. You shouldn't have provoked him like that," I said, sitting across from this much too reckless young man.

"He started by looking down on me. I'm not his equal, but I am a client, not one of his dogs," he said, looking disinterested while keeping an eye on Salazar's men.

"You don't have the money for 37 tons of coke," I said.

"I know, and he knows it too. But I clearly stated my intentions to reinvest all the money I make into the business, and he's testing me right now."

"Have you decided who you're going to sell to?"

"Yes, I've decided. We'll sell to the Czech."

I frowned and said, "It wasn't the highest offer."

"I know, but it's the most stable offer. He's been in the business for over 20 years and continues to stay under the radar. Even with his fortune, he stays quiet. He's the kind of person I need to manage my distribution network in Europe."

"He won't work for you."

"I know," he said, finishing dialing the number on his satellite phone and bringing it to his ear.

"Perfect," I said softly, ensuring everything was perfectly clear before we launched definitively into this venture.