Page 42 of Brutal Monster
"I have connections you need! Contacts in the government, judges on payroll?—"
"Thirty seconds."
His desperation is palpable now, sweat darkening the collar of his ridiculous white suit. "I know where the Sinaloa cartel is moving next! I have inside information!"
I stop in front of him. "Last chance, Emilio."
He looks up at me, hatred replacing fear in his eyes. "You were always Papá's favorite. His precious daughter. No matter what I did, it was never enough."
"Time's up." I press the gun harder against his forehead.
"Wait!" He raises his hands. "I can give you the names. Everyone involved in the coup against your father. Everyone."
My finger eases slightly on the trigger. This, I hadn't expected.
"We already know their names," Vanya says, his voice dangerously curt.
Emilio nods frantically. "Not everyone. They’re meeting next week in Guadalajara. I can take you there."
I study his face, searching for any signs of deception. Finding none, I make my decision.
"I know who's behind all of this." I smile, cold and precise as a surgeon's blade. "Guadalajara is just another trap you're setting. I don't need your help."
The confidence drains from Emilio's face, replaced by genuine fear as he realizes I'm not bluffing. His lips part, struggling to form words.
"Your mother put you up to this, didn't she?" I press the gun harder against his forehead. "Always whispering in your ear that you deserved what was mine. That Papá made a mistake choosing me."
"Inez—"
"And Adan? Your brother laundering our money through his nightclubs." I click off the safety. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice the patterns? The missing funds? The coincidental police raids?"
Emilio's breathing quickens. "Leave them out of this. This was my idea?—"
"Too late." I lean closer, my voice barely above a whisper. "Your ambition has sealed their fate. My men are in position right now."
"No!" His voice cracks. "Inez, please. My mother—she's still your father's wife."
"She stopped being family the day she started plotting against him." I straighten my spine. "The same day you did."
Tears gather in his eyes. "You won't get away with this."
"I already have." I glance at Vanya, who gives me an imperceptible nod. "They're dead, Emilio. I can’t afford any loose ends. You must understand, I need to ensure my future children are safe from your delusions of grandeur." I lie to his face, hoping his last moments on earth are filled with regret. His mother has been kidnapped and taken to a family property in Brazil, where she'll be under house arrest and given time to repent her transgressions. However, Adan will meet his brother's fate.
His face crumples as the truth sinks in.
"Your ambition did this." I step back and aim at center mass. "Any last words?"
"You'll regret this," he spits. "You think you're so perfect, so worthy. You're just like me—worse even."
I pull the trigger twice. The shots echo across the harbor, but I know no one will investigate. This is our territory.
Emilio slumps forward, blood pooling beneath him, staining his white suit crimson. I holster my weapon and turn to Marco.
"Clean this up. Make it look like a deal gone wrong." I check my watch. "I need to call Papá."
Marco nods, already speaking into his earpiece to coordinate the cleanup crew. I walk away from my stepbrother's body without looking back, pulling out my phone.
My father answers on the first ring. "Is it done?"
