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“Mi amor, don’t be like that.” He tugs her against his chest, a move she tries to fight, but she gives in when he pecks her lips. “You know where my heart lies.”
“Quit your lies. Quit hurting her.” Her face is pinched with anger while trying to pull away. “When a relationship is over, mutually you break things off. There’s no taking your time or a few months of planning a separation down the road. Over means done. No more.”
“Now you care about my wife?”
“I won’t deny making some bad choices and owing her more than an apology. We should’ve never been, and I see that now.”
“You don’t mean that.” His tone is tinged with anger at her words. “You love me.”
“Love and hate walk a very fine line.”
“She means nothing to me, Lulu. You know that.”
“Answer the question, Chiquito. Are you or—”
“Enough. No more questions.” His hold becomes tight and my sister whimpers, yelps to be let go. “Shut the fuck up before someone comes looking, Lulu. You don’t want your mother or sister-in-law to end up in a body bag because their curiosity will kill the cat.”
“Let me go, and leave. I never want to see you again.”
He barks out a laugh, sardonic and cocky. “No one is taking you from me.”
“I’m not yours,” Lourdes sneers, but you can hear the fear. See it in the way she shakes.
“That’s where you’re wrong, you stupid little cunt.” Salazar brings his lips to hers once more, biting the bottom one and when he pulls back, there’s blood there. “After I turn Alejandro in to the Quintero family, no one can save you. I’ll make sure Emiliano, Daniel, and every last brown-nosing soldier under his command will die with the help of Signio Cortez before the sun comes up.”
The recording stops and everyone remains quiet. My guests are breathing hard, and poor little Edwin is whispering the Lord’s prayer.
“Daniel.”
“Yes, Patron.”
“These two are yours,” I say, pointing at the two tired and bloody bodies bound to the metal. “He walks.”
Flicking my eyes to Salazar’s brother, I nod, and Emiliano pulls him toward one of the chairs. And it’s when he’s close that Mariana makes a sound. The first in hours.
It’s part whimper, part sob, and the room takes in how she hugs him tight and he apologizes. No malice. No fear. They were forced to do things or accept the cards my ex right-hand dished out.
“Why did you help him?” The question comes from Daniel right before pulling the trigger twice. Both heads bounce back, slamming into the pole as blood sprays out. They sag against their hold, and horror-filled, vacant eyes stare at us. “You’re not a bad kid, Edwin. I know you.”
After a moment, he pulls back from his sister-in-law’s embrace and swallows hard. “He threatened to kill my mother.”
Same father, different mother.
“You could’ve come to me. I would have—”
“He shot her in the leg that night in warning, and I... I couldn’t take the chance. I’m sorry, but I had to protect her and Mariana. It was the only way to get close and try to help her escape. Both girls if it came to that.”
“If?” I ask, taking my Cabot back and placing it in the holster.
“I was hoping he’d chicken out. He’s terrified of you.”
“Good to know, and you’re forgiven.” Walking over to Mom, I bend at the waist and kiss her forehead before doing the same with Mariana. The men will be coming with me as we have another meeting to attend, but Edwin will be staying here for the time being. “I’ll be transferring your brother’s pension to your name, and I hope to never cross paths this way again. Go to school and make me proud.”
“Yes, Patron.” He’s wincing, and the swelling on his face is becoming grotesque.
“Mom, get him checked out and in bed to rest. I’ll be back.”
“Already called, and the doctor will be here shortly.”
