Page 18 of Savage Rule

“You’d be dead now.” Sergio looks poignantly at me.

“I have an agreement with Gideon Black. Something you should have done from the beginning.”

Sergio laughs. “You can’t make agreements with death.”

“Well I did. I’m taking what you should have given me long ago.”

“You didn’t earn it.”

It’s strange to stand here and watch the exchange between the two. I’ve never had to wait for my cue to strike from someone else. But that’s exactly what this is. I have to wait for Jorge to finish his bitching.

“I’ve been the face of the Ramos Cartel for months,” he argues. “You sent me and I went.”

Sergio takes a long swig of his drink. “I sent you because you were dispensable.”

This apparently hits a raw nerve with Jorge, because he roars in utter rage and throws his cigar across the room. I go to it and put it out. No need to burn down a historic building over this.

“You piece of shit. It’s no wonder your own men were so willing to help me.”

“Yourmen, Jorge. Not mine.Mymen are all dead.”

“How do you know?”

“By now, you would have killed anyone who opposes you.” Another calm puff of his cigar.

There’s a lot you can tell by being still and listening to a conversation. I’m beginning to get a very clear picture of who these guys are. Sergio, the older and much wiser man who has done and seen it all. A man who’s earned his respect. Jorge, the younger more ambitious one. The one that wants it handed to him without any of the work.

“I’m tired of this. Kill him,” Jorge says with an entitlement that grates my nerves. Likehe’smy boss and all he has to do is ring a little bell and I’ll come. He grabs another cigar and lightsit. “And make it real. Don’t want any of this shit coming back to me. The Sinacores must believe it was all you, baby.”

A grin spreads across my lips. “Sure thing, boss.”

I stand in front of Sergio who is staring straight ahead, completely at ease with his fate. He takes a deep breath, straightens his spine and looks heavenward. “Perdona mis pecados, o señor Jesucristo. Perdoname. Perdonala a ella. Que no lleve la culpa de esta muerte.”Forgive my sins, oh Lord Jesus. Forgive me. Forgive her. May she not carry the guilt of this death.

“Enough! Just get it over with.” Behind me, Jorge steps closer, as if he wants to have a good view.

Sergio’s gaze drops ever so slightly as he glances over my shoulder at his traitor. There’s something so fucking sad in his expression, so heartbroken, but no shock. He expected this betrayal from his cousin.

“Any last words?” I ask.

“Take care of Lulu,” he says.

Now, I don’t know who Lulu is, but something tells me that Jorge won’t give two shits about her. Mostly it’s the mocking chuckle he lets out.

It’s that laughter that changes everything.

I swing my blade around and behind me so fast, that the chuckle that is still coming from Jorge is now exiting through the deep gash in his neck. It’s a grotesque sound that makes me cringe, but it’s only momentary, quickly turning to a gurgling scream as he grasps the gaping hole with both his hands.

He falls backward, twitching for a few seconds before he succumbs.

“Good thing he died fast.” I step aside to avoid the puddle of blood thickly moving toward us. “I’m not sure how much of that I could have taken.”

“You killed him.” Sergio grunts as he struggles to stand.

“He annoyed me.” I look at him, then at the body at his feet. “You knew he’d betray you.”

Sergio nods. “I knew.”

“Who is Lulu?” I ask, genuinely curious.

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