Page 4 of Bad Blood
Me:Nowhere, I was there for the whole shit show unfortunately.
Maria:Sure you were. I don’t blame you from wanting to hide from Santiago and your father.
Me:Hiding is better than seeing how I constantly disappoint him.
Maria: How about you do something else he will disapprove of and come out with me tomorrow night?
Me:Fine, but it can’t be any of my father or Santiago’s clubs.
Maria:Oh, it won’t be. It’s a new place and we are going to get you to loosen up a little. You are too tense lately.
Me:You see who I’m marrying. You would be too.
It wasn’t just who I’m marrying. It’s also this life I’m stuck in and the father I have. My mother has always followed with his plans, nodding and smiling. Almost as if she was no longer her own person. I slide my phone into my pocket and rush to my room. When I close the door behind me, my phone goes off again.
Maria:You coming or not? I’ll message you the address.
Me:I’ll be there.
I am nothing like my mother. She may abide by my father’s rules, but I always did my best to escape them. I may have agreed to marry Santiago, but I’ve never said I would make things easy for him or anyone else. I’ll fight against him until the very end. I would defy him every chance I got, because it was the only small amount of freedom I had left.
4
Gabriel
Another day and another kill. The money was good, but I never did it for the money. I didn’t need it. Not anymore anyway. My brothers and I managed to dig ourselves out of the hole Miguel Jeventino left us in. It took many years of sleeping in the streets, going hungry for days, and doing things we were ashamed of. Things his precious son never had to experience. He was always kept safe in his small bubble, but not for long. I saw the recklessness burning inside him last night and I was ready to help him bring it to surface. The streets are quiet except for the sounds of vehicles moving in the distance. There is only one person I need walking out of the shop across the way. I wait for the tall, older man dressed in a blue suit to get into his sports car. I normally only stick around to make sure the job is complete. I place a cigarette between my lips and light the tip as I continue to wait for the man to start his car.
Once I see what I need to see, I don’t stick around much longer. I walk away from the large gray building after making sure he slips the key into the ignition of the car I planted an explosive under. I didn’t normally like causing scenes, but it was per the client’s request. Today’s target started a fire a few months ago killing many women and children, including my client’s wife and kid. I sympathized with the guy and this man deserved to die. It wasn’t the target’s first time killing innocent people either, but it would be his last. I continued to pick up my pace as I walk alone down the long, narrow road. I make sure the surrounding streets are clear of people and reach for the remote control in my pocket, pushing the magic button.
A loud boom goes off behind me, along with the sound of broken glass and flying car parts. I lift my phone up in front of me, watching the rising flames in the reflection as I pull up my brother’s number to send a message.
Me:It’s done.
Carlos:Good. Want to grab lunch?
Me:No time for lunch. Raincheck?
Carlos:Sure thing,hermano.
The sounds of sirens are loud and pounding in my ears, and people are rushing toward the burning vehicle behind me. I keep walking ahead and climb into my car and drive off, not looking back.
I was too busy to eat with my brother, because today, I would be having lunch elsewhere. I pull up my phone and watch the tracking device I planted under Mateo’s car this morning. He was running errands, checking on one of his father’s many businesses, and I wanted to see where else he would be going. I always follow my targets ahead of time, getting to know them better. I know Mateo’s day to day activities by now. It helps that he is very predictable. I scarf down my sandwich and potato chips while I watch him walk out of a restaurant with his mother. She slips in the car with him and I knew I would have to wait to pay him another surprise visit. He will be alone again soon.
Every time I watch him, he never wears the face of a man who is happy. There is light missing in his eyes. He looks trapped and lost. I am ready to be that light so I can slowly rip it away and send him straight into darkness. He will become mine, my own personal plaything. He will learn to love it and then he will learn to hate me. By the time that happens, it will be too late. I will already have what I wanted. There will be no marriage, no alliance, and no one to take the place of Miguel Jeventino. The Morales’s will no longer be in his corner, and he will be left weak and vulnerable after losing his son and the support of one of the largest crime bosses. He doesn’t have another kid he could marry into the Morales family. This wedding is his last hope.
I drive around for what feels like forever, watching Mateo go to place after place with his mother. Him storming out of a cake shop catches my interest. Knowing I could use his anger to my benefit, I continue to follow him back to his house. Why would he come back here if he felt trapped and angry? Wouldn’t he run off somewhere else? Maybe I was just hoping he would. He runs into his house, but the driver keeps the car running. Maybe my little bird is getting away for a bit after all.That’s it, little prince. Run away from your tower and away from the safety of your father’s guards. Do something reckless.
The sky goes dark as I follow Mateo’s car down a backroad heading into town. He is making this too easy. His driver stops in front of a brand new club with bright blue and purple lights that make the front entrance blinding. There is a long line pouring out the door, but someone like Mateo would never have to wait in one. All he has to do was tell them who he was. I park the car and walk to the front of the line. I am friends with the owner and knew that would get me right in, but I will wait until he goes inside first. He stands on the sidewalk staring up at the lights, shoving his hands in his pockets.Go inside, little prince.He turns around searching for the car that’s already gone. Knowing it’s too late to change his mind, he walks to the front of the line.Good boy.
5
Mateo
The day was dragging, and my mother constantly talked about the wedding, and how beautiful it was going to be. “I thought you would be happier,mijo.”
“Happy about what?”
“For starters, my father would have never allowed me to marry another woman.”
