Page 24 of Kiss of the Cartel

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he demands. Both he and the bodyguard reach for their guns, but I have the element of surprise. I bring my two pistols up. I put one bullet through the bodyguard’s forehead and swivel around to face Renaldo, both guns trained on him before his even clears his holster.

“Drop your weapon,” I say coolly.

He has no choice but to do as I say. He’s shaken at the quick, merciless death of his personal bodyguard. His eyes stray to the man on the floor.

“Why?” he demands.

I narrow my eyes. “Don’t play pretend, Renaldo. You know exactly what papa has been up to. Now move.”

I meet Emiliano in the hallway. He nods at my captive. “Good work.” As if there was ever a doubt. He opens the door to the study without knocking. Tomás looks up sharply from where he’s standing behind his desk. Luis is sitting on a leather sofa, leaning back, his arms across the back of the couch, one leg crossed over his knee.

Tomás’ eyes bulge as he registers the gun I have trained on his son, and he reaches for his desk drawer.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Luis drawls. “She’s fast and has very good aim.” When Tomás’ eyes fall to the phone on his desk, Luis continues. “There's no point in calling for help. The men at your gate have been taken already. We came in far more prepared than you apparently were. I’m insulted that you thought I would be such an easy mark.”

Tomás’ hand falls from the desk and he stares at me with loathing. Unable to help myself, I smirk back. He's trapped in a box of his own making, there’s nothing he can do now. Still he tries to plead with Luis, his gaze softening to confusion as it swings back to my lover. “Why are you doing this, son? I’ve given you my home, my protection. I even gave you my son, Roberto, as a sign on good faith.”

Luis stands, his body going from a supposedly relaxed position, uncoiling like a viper, tension and cold fury running though him. This man is the boss of an entire cartel, beautiful, majestic and lethal. And he belongs to me. Pride blossoms in my chest as I watch him face his nemesis.

“I am not your son, Garcia. I never was. You killed the only father I have in a dirty warehouse where I was meant to be next.” Tomás opens his mouth as though to deny the accusation. Luis cuts him off. “Your time is over. Don’t insult both of us by pleading. Keeping you and your sons alive, even this long, is more than you gave my family.”

Tomás thinks over Luis’ words and then his entire demeanour changes, going from mild old man to a sinister, calculating would-be cartel boss. He straightens, his rounded shoulders going back. His face reflecting defeat, but also defiance. “My son will have Arturo by now. I want to negotiate. Arturo for my life and the lives of my sons. Let me go and you can have your cousin back.”

Luis chuckles. “Bold words. But incorrect. My man, Juan, and Arturo will have captured your other son and his men by now. You have nothing to bargain with.”

Tomás explodes in rage, his hand gripping his cane so hard the knuckles are white. “I should’ve put your whole family in the ground years ago!” he snarls, pointing at Luis. “Manuel was never supposed to be boss, I was. He moved in when my health deteriorated and took over. In the guise of friendship, he offered me the position of his second-in-command. This regime should belong to my sons, my family. Not yours!”

Luis doesn’t say anything, just watches dispassionately. Renaldo, who is standing stiffly next to me, tries to speak. “Father, enough. We’re finished. It’s time – ”

Tomás cuts him off, turning his furious gaze on his son. “If you weren’t so goddamned weak, we wouldn’t be in this position. You and your fucking brother. Both useless!” He swings back to Luis, evil intent lighting his eyes. “I wanted to deal with you as a baby, but I was swayed by your mother.”

A chill settles over the room, freezing everyone in its path.

“Explain,” Luis demands.

“You think she betrayed Manuel only that one time?” he sneers. “She craved power like an addict craves heroin. She spread her legs for any man who would have her, so long as he promised protection if her husband found out. She was beautiful, so I took her offer. If I’d taken that opportunity to wipe out your family years ago, I wouldn't be in this position now.”

Every word out of Tomás’ mouth is a poison dart, hitting Luis like a bullseye. To the other men in the room he looks stoic, unmoved. But I can see the seething rage, just simmering. He wants this man dead, needs him dead. Luis would kill him now with his bare hands but he must follow protocol. Take him back to his territory. Negotiate terms. Perhaps spare one of the sons. And then there’s Arturo to think of. Arturo deserves his own justice for being set up to take the fall.

I can’t allow this. There can't be a chance that Tomás survives this. He must die in atonement. Luis must be allowed to take justice the way he wants, the way he needs.

“Enough.” Luis cuts off Tomás’ ranting vitriol. “You can speak all you want when you’re in my basement, under my knife.”

Tomás looks unmoved by the threat, his face set in stone now. He’s old world cartel, he understands the concept of justice. Knows what’s coming his way, probably sees it as some kind of vindication. I see an opening. “I’ll secure the prisoner,” I say to Luis, already moving toward Tomás.

“Lena, get away from him!” Luis’ voice is sharp and commanding. He suspects what I’m up to.

I look over at him, as though distracted, giving Tomás the opportunity to grab me. He tosses his cane away, grips my arm and spins me around to face the room. He’s holding a knife at my throat. I grip his forearm and stare unblinking at Luis. His eyes are glowing their rage. Not at Tomás. He knows I could take the old man down in less than a heartbeat. No, he’s furious at me. For interfering, for cutting through cartel politics.

He may be furious, but he’s not about to refuse my gift. I’ve given him exactly what he needs. Swift and decisive revenge. A death for a death. Fast, cold and cruel. The way Manuel died.

His hand goes for his gun at the same time as I twist in Tomás’ arms, spinning myself against him and then ducking under his arm. Luis leaps toward the desk, grabs him in the blink of an eye, slams him down on the desk and shoots him in the head. I step away as Tomás’ body slides off the desk and slumps to the floor.

Stunned gasps pop through the air. Renaldo starts screaming his fury and grief. Emiliano hauls him away, leaving the room empty except for myself and Luis.

Luis rounds the desk, coming at me swiftly, angrily. I back up, hold my hands in front of me to ward him off. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

He shoves my arms out of the way and lifts his gun, pressing it against my head. It’s hot from being recently fired and the smell of gunpowder is sharp.

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