by LK Shaw
“I’m still less of a pussy than you.”
That got a chuckle out of Javier. Practically foaming at the mouth, Alejandro jumped up from his seated position, simultaneously tossing the chair out of his way, and took two steps toward me, sucker punching me right in the gut. I groaned and coughed up more blood, almost puking in the process. Served my dumb ass right for taunting the little shit. Still worth it though. Pissed off people made mistakes. I needed him to come a little closer. I was ready to wrap my legs around his neck and choke the asshole to death.
“Fuck you, Brody. Oh, that’s right, the pequeño coño already did that. Did I tell you I paid her a little visit last night?”
“You better not have touched her, motherfucker.” I coughed out, spitting up more blood.
Heedless of the agony in my arms, I jerked and yanked at the bindings holding me, my body thrashing as I tried to work them loose. Alejandro’s sinister laugh mocked my efforts. He pulled a knife out from behind his back and turned it blade up, blade down, the overhead lights reflecting off the silver while his eyes followed its movement.
“She got a small taste of this. You should have seen her bleed.” He continued as though I hadn’t even spoken. “She’s not so pretty anymore. When I’m king, I plan on paying her another visit. I bet she has the sweetest pussy. First, I’m going to fuck it raw and then I’m going to slit her throat. Or maybe I’ll slit her throat and then fuck her. I haven’t decided yet. Tell me, Brody. How does that pussy taste?”
Despite his words, or maybe because of them, a calmness entered me. It was intense and overwhelming. I stopped struggling, all pain forgotten, as a hatred so pure entered me. I looked right at Alejandro and spoke with deadly intent. “I’m going to kill you. It may not be today, or even tomorrow. But I promise, I am going to kill you.”
The temperature in the room dropped at the iciness coming from me. I hadn’t lied to him. The reckoning was coming, and Alejandro was going to pay for whatever he’d done to Ines. My gaze never left his, and he must have read the truth in them, because he shifted nervously, no longer the cocky piece of shit he was moments ago.
“Good—” his voice cracked on the word. He cleared his throat and began again. “—good luck with that.”
I merely continued to stare, not blinking. He quickly looked away and took a step back. The sound of a car on gravel broke the tension. Alejandro darted a glance at Javier.
“Are you expecting someone?”
Javier shook his head. “Just you.”
Alejandro moved to the window and moved the curtain aside to peek outside. “Well, well, well, it looks like my uncle has decided to pay us a visit. I wonder what he could want?”
I started laughing despite the pain. “Looks like maybe you’re not as smart as you thought you were.”
He took five long strides toward me and backhanded me across the face. “Shut your mouth.”
His strike loosened a tooth, and I spit out more blood. Against the pain, I gave a smile. “You hit like a little bitch.”
Before he could hit me again a knock sounded on the door. Without waiting for a response, it swung open, and in stepped Miguel, dressed to the nines in his pinstriped designer suit and wing tip shoes. Right on his heels was José Perez, Miguel’s second-in-command.
“Hola, mi sobrino.” Miguel greeted a little too nonchalantly.
“Tio. What brings you here?”
Miguel began to move, circling the room with slow, confident strides, his hands clasped behind his back. I saw the tension in the lines of his arms and knew his relaxed pose was a façade. No matter how cunning Alejandro thought he was, this was a man who was meant to be in charge.
He stopped near me, and my breathing slowed while I waited to see what he would do. When he merely moved away and began another trek around the room, I started breathing normally again. I still remained wary and alert, my attention bouncing between Miguel and José, who’d remained by the door, arms crossed over his chest.
“I heard some disturbing news today, and I came to find out whether it was true or not. I didn’t realize you owned this cabin. You’ve never invited me here before. I wonder why that is?”
“It was a recent purchase,” Alejandro responded calmly.
Miguel made a non-committal noise. “I see. And why is it you haven’t answered your phone? I’ve been trying to reach you for well over an hour now.”
His question was deceptively innocent. Apparently, Alejandro wasn’t ready to reveal himself yet, because he adopted his former persona, attempting to look appropriately chastised. “Sorry, tio. I must have forgot to turn it off vibrate. I was actually about to call you. But, if you’re here, I wonder if you heard the same disturbing news I have.”
“And what is that?”
He gestured in my direction. “There’s a traitor in your midst.”
Miguel steepled his fingers and tapped them against his lips. “Ah, yes, a traitor. I may have heard something about that. It makes me wonder why Tomás is here, especially in his current condition.”
I watched the interplay between the two, trying to puzzle out how Miguel discovered Alejandro’s betrayal. Was Ines involved somehow? Is that why she’d been harmed? Had she found out the truth and approached Miguel? Discreetly as possible even though every move was pure agony, and still knowing it was useless, I attempted to free myself.
Alejandro sent a look of mock surprise. “Why, he’s your traitor. Dearest tio, may I present D.E.A. agent Brody Thomas.”
Chapter 27
We’d followed Miguel through Chicago and onto the highway. I had no idea where we were going. For over an hour, we drove further and further away from the city, until finally his vehicle took an exit, and I realized he was heading toward Fox Lake. I was the last car and far enough behind that I could take the same exit and not seem suspicious. In the meantime, my father and brothers continued straight ahead and planned on backtracking. I stayed a fair distance back until I saw the Mercedes turn down a road. I kept going and radioed Pablo.
“He just turned right onto Wilson Road. Not sure where he’s headed though.”
“I’m coming up on it, now. I also have the area pulled up on satellite. The road dead ends right at the lakeshore. It looks like there’s several old cabins there. Running some data now. I don’t know if they’re inhabited or not.”
Well, at least now we knew the general vicinity.
Pablo’s staticky voice came across the bandwidth. “The road dead ends so they’re not going anywhere. There’s a copse of forest surrounding the cabins. There’s a service road about a mile from the house that runs into the trees. I say we park there and hoof it.”
“Roger that.”
Within ten minutes, we were all parked at the dead end of the road. Victor opened the trunk of his car and started pulling out Kevlar vests. Once we were covered, we gathered all our firearms, strapping holsters on belts, packing pockets with ammunition, and started our hike. Manuel, who was a member of S.W.A.T. and had brought A/V equipment, halted us about ten minutes later. Quietly, and working in unison, we began circling the house, looking for evidence of what was going on inside and a safe entry point. Victor and I positioned ourselves, guns drawn, at the back door on the south side, my father on the west side at a bedroom window, Pablo on the north side at the front entrance, and Manual on the east side at the kitchen window. To our knowledge, the only people inside were Alejandro, Brody, and Miguel, but we needed to be sure before storming in. I couldn’t take the chance that there were some extra guests and risk Brody’s life.
Static sounded in my earpiece and then Manuel’s voice came over the line.
“I’ve got a visual through the kitchen window. Five males present. Ramírez and an unknown male on south side of living room. Álvarez and Perez on north side of room. Victim in middle of room hanging by arms from ceiling. Conscious but injured.”
I ignored Manuel calling Brody a victim, and instead focused on the fact that there were two extra peop
le in there. What I didn’t know was if mystery man number four was on Miguel’s or Alejandro’s side. However, based on positioning, I’d guess he was with the latter.
“No weapons in sight at the moment.”
It didn’t matter that we couldn’t see them. I knew for a fact that José would be armed, and I could only assume, based on prior visual confirmation, that Alejandro had a gun as well.
“Can you get sound in there? We need to know what’s being said.”
“Roger that. Give me a few minutes.”
I waited tensely while my brother worked on getting us ears in the house. I had to trust that he could work his magic and get us more intel. The fact that Brody was alive was the most important thing. Static and crackling voices burst through my ear. It took a few moments before finally, the static settled and the voices became clear. Immediately, I recognized Miguel’s baritone.
“There were rumblings that I was making a mistake by bringing you in, but I ignored them because we are la familia. Your mother was my sister. I promised her I would raise you like my own and this is how you repay me? By attempting to take me out? By destroying everything I’ve worked so hard to build?”
The calm tone behind Miguel’s words didn’t fool me. I wondered if Alejandro heard the strength behind them? Miguel was no one’s fool. Nephew or not, Miguel would never forgive this betrayal. I craned my neck to listen more closely when Alejandro spoke.
“I’m not destroying anything. I’m making the Juarez cartel more powerful. Something you’ve failed to do. Instead, you’ve let the Sinoala cartel run us out of our own territories. You’ve become so weak that you didn’t even know you had this traitor in your midst. I was the one who discovered his betrayal. I was the one who captured him. You have become complacent, and it’s time a new regime took over.”
I could imagine the scene. Alejandro in his condescension and cockiness. Miguel, however, had been part of this business for longer than Alejandro had been alive. He’d never seen the inside of a prison, because he was fucking smart.
More static crackled in my ear and then Manuel’s voice boomed out loud and clear. “Ramírez pulled a gun on Álvarez.”
My stomach dropped. “Damn it. I’m going in.”
A chorus of warnings echoed in my ear, but I disregarded them all.
Before Victor could stop me, I kicked in the back door, trusting my brothers to have my back. I heard my brother curse behind me.
Gun drawn, I stormed into the living room. “Freeze. Chicago P.D.. Drop your weapons and put your hands where I can see them.”
All four men jerked in my direction, hands reaching for their guns. I swept my arm back and forth between all of them in warning.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
My eyes briefly darted to where Brody hung, but I quickly moved my gaze back to Alejandro, still holding his gun, even if he’d lowered it slightly. I felt Victor move in behind me at the same time the front door burst open and my father and two other brothers raced in with guns drawn. His eyes dragged up and down my body, and that smarmy, shit-eating grin I hated so much appeared on his face.
“Well, well, well. Isn’t this a surprise? It looks like you’re not just some worthless puta after all.”
I answered with my own condescending grin. “I guess not. Just think, after all this time, you never figured out that I was an undercover cop. Who looks like a dumbass now?”
Alejandro’s cocky grin disappeared and rage crossed his face, his arm moving slightly then stopping like he was itching to shoot me. Like a chameleon, his expression instantly changed again. Back to arrogant. He glanced over at Brody and with an evil twist to his lips, practically snarled.
“Poor, poor Brody. I wonder if he knows you’re just my sloppy seconds. That I know exactly what a sweet little pussy you have. How tight it is. How you screamed out my name when I fucked you from behind. You rode my cock like the whore you are.”
I blinked. Then I belly laughed until I was almost in tears.
“Oh, you stupid, stupid boy. Do you really think Brody is going to believe you? Not one time have you and I ever fucked. And if you’re thinking that first night we met at the club, when I spent the night, you’re wrong. I drugged your sorry ass and you passed out within five minutes. You’ve never had this ‘sweet, little pussy’ you worthless piece of shit.”
Chapter 28
When Ines came crashing through the back door, I couldn’t believe it. Especially when four men followed her in. I drank in the sight of her. Holy shit, she was badass. She looked entirely in her element with her black leathers, Kevlar vest, and 9 mm Glock pulled. She charged in here like she owned the fucking place. Regardless, I was terrified she was going to get hurt. All because of me. When she turned, I saw the stitches down the side of her face. Hatred burned through me like wildfire. I could almost feel it sizzling inside my veins like that first shot of heroin. Alejandro was going to fucking pay. I needed to bide my time. I also wanted her to know I was okay, but the less distraction I offered, the better off she’d be, so I remained still, no matter the agony in my arms and loathing in my soul.
A slow, dramatic clapping had me jerking my head to the left. Miguel, whose presence I couldn’t believe I’d almost forgotten, gave one final clap before clasping his hands together against his stomach.
“¡Bravo mi sobrino! You’ve somehow managed to get two undercover cops under one roof. I didn’t think it was possible for someone to be a complete and utter fuck up, but this, right here?” Miguel shook his head mockingly. “This is why I am the leader of this organization and you’re only playing at it. You led them all here with your ignorance. You will be the one that goes to prison for his incompetencia. Eres un imbécil. Estupido. You want to be powerful? You think you can run this organization, and yet you can’t even do a single thing right.”
Throughout his speech, I wanted to warn Ines, but all eyes were on Miguel. None of them, including Alejandro, noticed what was happening. But I did. I knew exactly what Miguel was doing, and that was pushing all of Alejandro’s buttons. Pushing him past control. I’d been working, in some capacity, for Miguel for five years. I knew him. I’d studied him. Right now, he was forcing a fatal reaction, and based on Alejandro’s beet-red face, flared nostrils, and heavy breathing, it was working.
“A fuck up? I was the one who cultivated relationships you couldn’t begin to. I was making deal after deal, while you sat back and let Emilio Salazar make you a laughingstock. You haven’t even realized the number of your employees who are actually working—” Alejandro pounded his own chest with his fist, “—for me.”
Miguel snorted in disdain. “Making deals? Is that what you think you were doing? Child’s play. Because for every employee you think has turned their loyalties to you, there are two more who think you are nothing but a worthless pendejo. No eres nadie. You are nothing.”
I saw the change in Alejandro. The final button had been pushed. The shift in his eyes and the muscle twitch. I guessed his intention, and at the same time Alejandro raised his gun and aimed it at Miguel, I roared out a warning. “Don’t shoot!”
It was too late. Gunfire rang out, and I waited for any number of bullets to strike me. Multiple rounds were fired. I flinched at the sound, knowing at least one of them was meant for me. When the last echo faded, I took stock of my body. No new aches or pains seemed to appear when I moved. The silence was thick and deadly.
I searched out Ines and found her standing near the same spot she’d previously occupied, her gun aimed at someone on the floor. I didn’t see any blood on her, but it was hard to tell with the black leather she wore. She didn’t seem to be in any pain. I took another look around and saw three bodies on the ground. Wait, where was Miguel? My eyes darted around the room, but still nothing.
“Is everyone okay? Talk to me you guys.” I identified the source of the shaky question. It belonged to the man I immediately identified as Ines’ father. Dark brown hair with flecks of gray and her choco
late eyes, only his were feverish and over-bright as they darted hastily around the room, checking on the safety of all his children.
“I’m hit, but it’s just a flesh wound.” He rushed over to the injured man, immediately checking on the wound.
“These two are dead.” A brother confirmed.
Ines stepped toward the final body. Alejandro’s. His gun lay next to him and she kicked it away. Staying alert, she nudged him with her foot. He groaned in response. The amount of blood pooling beneath his body indicated how seriously he was injured. She squatted and rolled him over. His breathing sounded wet, and blood spilled from his mouth.
One of her brothers ran over and ripped open his shirt. Blood was everywhere. He applied pressure while another brother called out, “Paramedics are on their way.”
Alejandro’s eyes fluttered open.
“Tio?” He spat out blood with his question. His eyes slowly closed again and with one final raspy exhalation, he was gone.
Eyes scanned the room and Ines’ father raced outside. I shifted, intense pain shot up my arms, and I choked out a distressed sound.
“Brody!” Ines screamed just as she raced over to me, patting me down, causing a small moan, no matter how gentle her hands were. “Were you hit? Talk to me, please.”
“I’m okay.”
She shouted over her shoulder. “Victor, help me get him down.”
“Where’s Miguel?” I needed to know. Had he escaped during the melee? If so, how?
“I don’t know. All of my attention was on Alejandro.”
Just then, her brother, Victor, slid to a stop in front of us and began sawing away at my bindings. I screamed in agony when the rope was severed and my arms fell, one out of the socket, causing me to stumble. Ines caught me and helped me stay on my feet. The pain was so great, I wretched and vomited up nothing but bile. I swayed and almost passed out, but I gritted my teeth and willed the darkness away by sheer force.
