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“God, I can’t fucking wait.” He’s practically bouncing in his seat like a kid excited to try a new game. “This is the good stuff.”

“You’re a twisted guy, you know that?”

“It’s my best quality.”

We step out into the morning sunlight. Four more soldiers climb down from the second vehicle, all of them armed and armored under their suits. I know them all well and trust them to do their jobs. They’re the best of the best.

I don’t bother with some protracted pep talk. We went over the plan a few times before leaving this morning and they know what’s expected of them. Any who don’t make it back, their families will be richly rewarded. And if this turns into a disaster, Vince and Lia will do what they can to keep the ranch running, and I’m sure they’ll keep Marisol in the family.

Nico takes point, striding toward Ruben’s family home like he doesn’t have a care in the world. And knowing my brother, he probably doesn’t.

This shit really is like his Super Bowl.

“Not the front,” I remind him, and we veer off to the side. The soldiers behind us are calm and collected.

“Just once I’d like to kick that fucking door down and toss a grenade inside,” Nico says with a sigh. “But I guess this’ll do.”

We reach the back garden. Everyone’s silent now as we pause in the shadows beside the porch. This is the part I wasn’t sure about, the one moment I thought could go wrong. If it gets fucked up, there goes the element of surprise.

But Graciela swore she’d handle it.

I check my watch. It’s past time and still nothing.

Until…

The sliding door opens.

And Javi steps out. “I could use a smoke,” he calls over his shoulder. He pats at his chest and pants. “Anyone got a lighter?” His eyes cut over to me and he smiles.

Well, now, look at that.

I raise my gun and step forward, but I’m not aiming at him.

“Yeah, I got you.” An Escalante guard steps out holding a lighter. He flicks it and the flame erupts.

He has half a second to spot Nico before my brother blows his head off.

“Shit!” Javi says, staggering away. Blood drenches him. “Ah, fuck, I liked this suit!”

“Get down,” I tell him, pushing him aside as we storm into the house.

Four men are scattered around the large room, three in the kitchen, one hunched over on the couch scrolling on his phone. I kill the lone soldier since he’s closest while Nico goes straight for the other three. He and our men squeeze off multiple rounds, efficiently splattering brains, blood, and guts all over the space, taking out the guards before they can put up a fight.

Screaming echoes down the hall and shouting follows.

“Come on,” I snarl, following Graciela’s directions. “He’s upstairs.”

I walk at a fast clip, aware that running could get me killed. My gun sweeps the space ahead of me, looking for targets. One poor fucker staggers from a powder room, adjusting his fly and fumbling with his gun. I knee him hard in the stomach, kick him in the ankle, and shoot one round into his skull as he drops. Warm blood soaks my clothes. I keep moving.

“In the back!” Nico’s warning comes a beat before shooting breaks out. I throw myself sideways against the wall near the stairwell. Bullets rake the hallway, taking down one of my men. He hits the floor with a grunt, his head missing a thick chunk at the top, his eyes glaze. I shoot back.

“I thought we cleared it!”

“Garage,” Nico responds, and I curse myself. Should’ve checked before rushing past it, but I was in a hurry to get to Cruz.

“Hold them,” I order him. “I’m pressing on.”

“Happy to.” Nico takes cover in a doorway and fires back, covering me as I take the steps. I sprint up, but before I reach the landing, I pause and drop low, coming out on my knees.