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[color=gray][sub]LOCATION & TIME : SWAN SONGS, MONDAY EVENING[/sub]
[sub]INTERACTIONS : ASSOCIATES , SHANNON - [@Pilatus][/sub]
[sub]MENTIONS : N/A  [/sub][/color]
[hr]


	Alejandro watched the woman carefully. She carried herself with some sort of pride and what he considered arrogance. Or was it the facade of power? No, no, what was it? He couldn't really put his finger on it, but the woman reminded him of his mother. Oh, his dear mother. How disappointed she would be if she were here. She wouldn't hear a word coming from this woman's mouth for more than a second. She would have just shot her between the eyes for even looking at her in the eyes. Alejandro loved his mother, but that woman was ruthless and unforgiving. She only demanded and took. There was no need to wait for her. She only took, much like this Nikki, that Shannon mentioned. 

	[i]Ah.[/i] Alejandro leaned forward slightly as the carefree smile returned to his lips. So he was right. It was this Nikki guy. Mara and John had told him that the name kept popping but gave it no importance due to the lack of information on the guy. Alejandro knew when there was no information; there had to be something hidden under. Shannon's words had confirmed it. 

	[color=gray]"You have been watching then."[/color] John said as he put aside the food Alejandro had given him. [color=gray]"And there is no bullet in Alejandro's head."[/color] This only meant that Nikki was either not interested yet or was waiting. There had been no suspicious activity that jumped out too much around Alejandro since they had arrived, so it must have been a coincidence.
	[color=BC8F8F]"Yes, yes."[/color] Alejandro rubbed his beard, eyes never leaving Shannon's cold stare. [color=BC8F8F]"You hate him. You hate his little sidekick too."[/color]

	[color=gray]"He killed your husband."[/color] Mara said with a monotone voice. 

	[color=BC8F8F]"So Nikki is in charge. He is interested in properties. He is not afraid to take things by force."[/color] Alejandro tapped his index finger on his chin as he continued to list a few things he had learned from Shannon's brief dialogue. [color=BC8F8F]"He killed your husband, or was involved with it. You are not going to be around for much longer, and I assume you have some sort of power within Sol, because obviously."[/color] Alejandro rolled his eyes as he continued to tap his chin. The situation in Sol wasn't any different from places where he had been to already. Los Angeles had had a similar situation when his father rose to power. Jose had been some random guy from Sinaloa coming to LA selling his stuff. Years later, he had power that reached South America all the way to Argentina. Isabel, his mother, had been the one to take charge after his father fell ill and extended up North. Alejandro now stood in a similar position, his parents had stood years ago. 

	[i]Tap. Tap. Tap.[/i]

	Isabel would have just started a war in Sol. Valeria would have done the same, but quieter. Bloodier. Valeria would have sent a message by now. Torture a poor soul and let him loose with a message for Nikki. Let the man know that she wouldn't be waiting any longer. Or she would have just sneaked in, make herself part of his little ring of goons and get close enough to disrupt the hierarchy of their little organization. 

	[i]Tap. Tap. Tap.[/i] 

	That wasn't Alejandro. No. Shannon was right. Alejandro was a business man. He saw profits and opportunities. His mother saw power. His sister saw influence. If he wanted Sol, he would have to change his plans. Think bigger. Think outside the box. An ally wouldn't be bad. His father had taken lots of allies during his rise. He had been gotten key members from the top gangs in the city to work for him. 

	[i]Tap. Tap.[/i]

	Shannon mentioned that Nikki's goon had been close enough to put a bullet in his head. Mara and John would have to look into the when they returned to their building. Shannon had also made it quite clear that Nikki was not interested in talking business with Alejandro, but how could he take her word for it? He needed more. More information. Shannon could be working with Nikki. It could be a trap. 

	Alejandro should just leave. 

	[i]Tap. Tap.[/i]

	No. He couldn't. He had invested in this city already. Sure, he could pack his stuff, sell this shop and just go back to LA or even Dallas to help his family there. But Alejandro was invested. He had even gotten the attention of Shannon. If she was telling the truth, she needed him just as much as he needed her. How unpleasant.

	[i]Tap.[/i]

	[color=BC8F8F]"Fine. I'll buy in with you."[/color] Alejandro said, just seconds after. Both Mara and John turned to look at him like he was crazy, but he just smiled and leaned forward, easy smile still on his lips. [color=BC8F8F]"If you're going to take care of everything, why would I refuse? I assume you want to get rid of this dude, and you have a motive. He gets the boot, or the bullet, I don't care what really, then you have no reason to stay in Sol anymore,"[/color] Alejandro leaned back and reached in his pockets to pull our a cigarette. [color=BC8F8F]"And I just do the rest. Clean up the city and bring my people in. Sounds like a deal to me, doesn't it, Shannon?"[/color]

	[color=gray]"Alejandro, you can't. It's not how we do--"[/color] Mara was interrupted by John, who raised a hand towards her and shook his head. She simply sighed and glared at Shannon. Oh, how she wanted to pull out her gun and just shoot her. Maybe in the thigh or knee. Make it painful for being such a bitch. 

	[color=BC8F8F]"Mara, manners."[/color] Alejandro said without taking his eyes off of Shannon. [color=BC8F8F]"I am willing to work with you to obtain a mutual goal. I am sure my two associates here will be delighted to do so too."[/color]