Page 24 of Bad Blood
“You weren’t supposed to see them. You weren’t supposed to take it off. Why did you take it off?”
“I wanted to see you, all of you.”
“How about now?”
“I still do. My mind hasn’t changed. I think you’re beautiful. I have scars too, remember?”
“I have a feeling you’re the type of guy used to telling people what they want to hear.”
“Normally, yes, but with you I find myself only wanting to tell the truth.”
“Then tell me who you really are.”
“Why does that matter now?”
“It’s always mattered. How do you know my father and are you really supposed to kill me? That’s right, I know about you being a hitman, so don’t bother in denying it.”
“I was there that day, you know. I was the one who shot a gun through the window, hitting that guy in the back of the head. He was my first kill, and I knew right then, he wouldn’t be the last. After seeing that maddening look in his eyes, full of evil and hate, I knew I wanted to take it away. Not just in him, but all men like him. All monsters. That’s what Santiago Morales is, a monster. I’ve been after him for years, but he is never alone, and it was never the right moment.”
“What do you mean you were there that day? And what man are you talking about?”
“I think you know. I didn’t know it was you. I thought you were just some boy off the streets they were tormenting for information. Turns out they were tormenting you as payback to your father.”
“You were the boy in the window that day. You stared at me after the man fell to the ground. You were the last person I saw before everything went black. I used to dream of you.”
“And I used to wonder what happened to the boy whose life I saved. I wondered everyday if what I did made a difference, or if you just ended up back in the same place in a different man’s hands.”
“Was it?”
“Was it what?”
“Worth it.” I pull him close to me until our chests are touching and we are sharing the same air. “You are always worth it.”
“Wait, so you have only been using me to get to Santiago?”
I shake my head, running my fingers through his hair. “No, I have been using you to get to your father. Santiago is a bonus.”
“Why my father?”
“A lot of people want him destroyed. Why is that such a surprise?”
“You aren’t anything like those other people. Your motives are different.”
“How do you know?”
“You aren’t as mysterious as you think, Gabriel.”
“When I was only ten years old, your father took everything away from me.”
“My father takes things from a lot of people and it was my grandfather doing the taking before him.”
“He destroyed my family, our home. He left us with nearly nothing. I was too small and helpless at the time, but I’m not now. I had to watch my family burn. I wanted him to witness his whole world erupt into flames the way I did.”
“So, you came after me because you thought I was helpless?”
I shake my head. “You are a lot of things,mi juguete, but helpless isn’t one of them.”
“Don’t call me that.” He backs away from my touch, sneering in my direction. “In fact, never call me that again. Never contact me, stay away from my family, and stay away from me.”
