Page 38 of Defy

I feel my mother’s eyes boring into me, most likely waiting on a reaction that I refuse to give her.

One day soon, I’ll come back for that gun and use it for justice... or revenge… or some combination of both.

For now, I grab a basic, all black Glock 17, nothing fancy about the grips, average magazine, already loaded of course, and tuck it into the back of my waistband. I grab two extra clips and turn to my mother.

“Ready.”

“Take the Mercedes again, you’ll have bullet proof glass.” She sounds annoyed by the fact that she has to send me out for Luis.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve had to send someone after him, is it?”

She cuts her eyes to me and forces an exhale, telling me the answer before she speaks.

“No. You were bred for this. He wasn’t. Too much indulgence and freedom before the age of ten, too much power and input after it.”

There are a lot of responses I could give, but I’m already tired of this conversation so I keep my mouth shut.

Imelda and I head back out of the house the way we came. My father tosses me a radio that’s crackling with life. Our security team trying to find Luis.

Lucky for me, I know exactly where he is.

Thirteen

I CHECK IN WITH DIEGO on the secure line. He chuckles as he answers the phone. “Man, you didn’t waste any time starting shit, did you? You’ve been here what, six days?”

“Seven. Time isn’t a luxury I have if I want to get Libby the fuck out of here.” After tonight, I know I can trust Diego so I opt for the truth. “Thanks, man. I owe you big time.”

He’s choked with emotion when he answers, “No repayment necessary. You weren’t the only one who loved her, you know.”

He’s talking about Adriana again.

I’ll circle back around to this statement with him later. For now, I need to concentrate on what I’m doing.

“Luis is in the old club?”

“Yeah, Pollito. Just like you asked. I put him there myself after my buddy grabbed him right out from under the guards. Those guys couldn’t find their own asshole even if a flag was flying from it.”

“I just turned in. Are your guys clear?”

I throw the SUV in park around the back of the old club. Luis had already told me when they bought the new building, they let this one go. It wouldn’t do to sell it so someone could create competition so it’s occasionally used as an old storage warehouse but it isn’t monitored unless something is being kept here.

“Yeah, they just pulled out.”

We disconnect without goodbye and I pull my weapon, eyes scanning the area. I silently open the back door to the abandoned club open and need a second to catch my breath. I haven’t been in here in a while but the ghosts are ever present. I’ve done a lot of bad shit in this building.

I considered having them dump Luis somewhere else, but I figured this place was the safest for me. Surroundings I could control and a layout I was familiar with. Plus, if Luis wakes up and realizes where he is, it may prove my earlier point that my return is likely to piss a lot of people off. This is the second time inside a week he’s been grabbed because of me. He just doesn’t know it was me that orchestrated this one.

It’s dark as shit in here but I know these hallways better than the back of my hand. My eyes adjust to the lack of light and there’s just enough moonlight pouring in through the skylights overhead for me to see my path around the broken furniture and across the dusty floor.

Walking quietly into the men’s room, I find Luis tied to a chair. Bag over his head.

“Luis?”

No answer.

I pull the bag off his head and smack his face to wake him up. His eyes flutter but then close again. Perfect.

I untie him and throw him over my shoulder, stashing my weapon. No one is here but us.

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