I didn’t want to bring that up in front of Maddy. Joaquin frowns, and his brow furrows before he answers me.
“So did we. I took a look, and someone’s changed the glass recently. These aren’t the windows that were here when we moved to America.”
“Did somebody compromise the house’s security? Or didMamáorder repairs and didn’t mention it to us?”
Neither of my brothers have an answer to my questions. It’s unlike our mother to do something like that. None of us think her doing some remodeling is the answer. But that means we must consider this betrayal goes far deeper than we initially believed. Somebody has been planning for this for ages, hoping for an opportunity where they can get to us.
I squat beside Jorge as we peer around a curtain and look toward the beach.
“How do things stand right now?”
I can’t tell what’s going on because none of our attackers are on this side of the building, but we can hear stuff happening around us.
“Miguel and Tómas just led four of our guys around the windward side to disable their vehicles.” Joaquin points over his shoulder to where the surveillance screens are in this room.
I barely tear my attention away long enough to follow where he points. I see one SUV on fire, and the other clearly has all four tires punctured. The hood’s raised with smoke coming out of the engine block.
“How many have we lost?”
“Three.” Jorge names the men.
I know my brothers will inform the families when this is all done, so I can be with Maddy throughout whatever comes next. I don’t envy them the job at all. It’s one of the worst duties we havein this world. But we never pass it off to our men. Someone in thejefe’sfamily always informs the survivors.
“So that leaves us with eight because somebody betrayed us.”
“It was José.”
Joaquin’s answer sends fury through me unlike anything I’ve felt in years. Not since our father was killed. Hearing his name aloud from my brother was different from hearing it through the earpiece from someone else.
“Our José?”
“None other.” Jorge’s rage matches mine, even if no one outside my family could hear it.
Thathijo du putais our second cousin on our dad’s side.TíoEnrique did José and his brother, Miguel, a favor by bringing them to America and giving them jobs when they each turned eighteen. He could’ve left them on the streets of Bogotá to fend for themselves against the street gangs our mother packed us up and brought us to America to avoid.
Instead,TíoEnrique gave them jobs, the opportunity to get higher educations, and even work outside the family. They chose to remain in this life when they could’ve started fresh here. Both of them swore their loyalty. Clearly, only Miguel meant it. That betrayal runs so deep it makes me want to vomit.
José was one of the men just inside the first gate when we arrived. He looked straight at me and at Maddy. I don’t know if someone put him up to this or how he made a connection with the Albany mob, but for whatever reason, he’s put mychiquitain grave danger. José will pay, and it won’t be with a quick death either.
My brothers and I remain quiet as we listen to what’s happening around us.
“Jorge, where’d Jimmy go?” That’s the pilot who flew them in.
“He’s been guarding the helo along with Pete.”
“Can we get out of here? Or do they have artillery to take out the helo?”
“Nothing we’ve heard or seen on the cameras makes us think they can take the helicopter down, but we can’t be totally sure.”
“Why haven’t they attempted to breach the house yet?”
They seem to have stalled or something because they aren’t picking off our guys, and they aren’t storming the house. What are they waiting for?
“Your guess is as good as mine at this point.” Jorge shrugs as he answers.
Joaquin has nothing to counter that, so he remains quiet. None of this feels right at all. We’re missing something. One man ordered Maddy to come outside. A few shattered windows that were supposed to be bulletproof. Random bursts of gunfire that accomplish nothing more than a failed scare tactic. Three dead or unaccounted for guardsmen and one traitor.
Our men neutralized their vehicles, so they can’t leave on their own. They aren’t forcing their way into the house or scrambling to retreat. I ease my way over to the security screens. I tap on them, running through the live feed. Two of our men have five of the intruders at gunpoint. The Albany mobsters are bound and gagged, so some of our other men must have helped before moving on. Our pilot and a regular guard are near the helicopter. Jimmy’s in his seat, and I can tell he’s ready to flip the switches the moment we can get to him. Pete’s got his rifle raised and is scanning his surroundings. No one’s approaching without one of them noticing.
