"I wasn't aware we became so close in such a short time."
I sigh. "Listen, hijo, I know I'm practically a stranger to you and your brothers. Hell, I'm still trying to figure out who I am myself, but we are in dangerous times, and nowhere near beingin the clear of our recent enemies. I'm guessing we aren't the only ones who are receiving brass shells."
"No." He sighs into the phone. "Every one of us has had the pleasure of getting them, even Angel and Santiago. They want to let us know they are coming for us. This isn't a warning, it's a promise."
"It may have been Santana’s doing before she died. It would make sense for her to cover her own ass. She had a lot of dissatisfied clients and partners."
"I was more than sure we covered our tracks better and killed everyone she was in contact with. Looks like we signed a new death wish by waiting too long to kill the bitch."
"Or maybe they signed theirs."
"We don't even know who all we're dealing with. It's harder to see them coming. They have us at an advantage."
"They clearly have no idea who they are dealing with either. We won't make this easy on them. We never do. We will first try to catch the next group of men who come by in the act and get them to talk. They can probably tell us at least one name involved. We will go from there and then we will make sure he isn't left breathing."
"Carlos and I will try and see if we can find something else to lead us to whoever's in charge. We have a higher chance if we do it together."
"I don't doubt you do. If you are able to track down one of them first, bring them to me. I have questions of my own."
"You should hear from me in a few days whether I find anything or not."
I may have been an assassin back in the day, working for a man I was never supposed to get too close to, but I was never good at locating people like my sons are. They are masters at tracking people down. While I had always been the perfect shot and hyperaware of my surroundings more than most people.
They were natural born hunters and trained killers. I did what I could to survive, teaching myself to be indispensable. I needed to blend in with the life my brother had dragged us into. He stayed alive as long as he did, because of me. I tracked down, captured, and killed people in exchange for my brother's life. Then I met him, Miguel Juventino. I'd killed many of his friends and a few of his top clients. When he asked me to work for him it was in exchange for my own life. I had to make up for all the money he lost due to me, starting with the men who hired me before him.
Once I paid my dues, I was in too deep to leave. I was addicted to the kill—to him. I probably would have been better off letting him kill me before he infected me with lust and got under my skin in ways I could only dream of. I was too weak. Addicted. While his customers got their fix through his drugs, I got mine through his touch and reassuring words.
If I died at his hands, who would have shown my boys how to survive? If I could've given up my life for my wife's, I would have. Even though we weren't in love, we were still each other's rock. She was my best friend, the mother of my kids. Only Gabriel was mine biologically, but it didn't stop me from loving them all the same. I had no choice but to step up to the plate when my brother fled, and I'd gladly do it again. We both had the same flaw, me and her. We fell in love with the wrong man and couldn't find our way out, losing ourselves in different ways.
Being held captive and tortured daily at the hands of Julia Juventino led me to letting my family down. Not anymore. She is dead and so is her piece of shit father. Soon these men threatening us would be too.
Someone clears their throat from nearby. "Marcus? Sorry to disturb you but a package has arrived for you."
I freeze where I stand. I never have anything delivered to my home. "What is it?"
"We haven't opened it yet. We wanted to let you know about it first. There are words written on the side. It says, come back to me. Didn't know if you wanted…"
My pulse beats loudly in my ears. "Bring it to me. I'd like to open it myself."
He shuffles with hesitant eyes. "Are you sure? It could be anything."
"I'm sure."
With nothing more than a quick nod, Hector turns around, exiting the room. When he returns, there's a medium sized brown box in his hands. He walks with careful steps.
"Set it on the desk."
He stares down at the package and back at me with weary eyes. "Marcus…"
"I said, set it on the desk."
He does as I demand without questioning me this time. His hand remains on the package even after it's sitting on the wooden desk.
"That'll be all, Hector."
He opens and closes his mouth. "Yes, boss. Let me know if you change your mind."
"That won't be necessary."
