Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
"You don't have a choice," I say.
"But what if we refuse?" Phoenix asks.
"Then I'll kill the both of you," I threaten, raising my gun and pointing it at Phoenix's head.
The boy swallows hard and lowers his head.
"Fine, sir," he mumbles.
"Now go and do as you're told," I instruct, lowering my gun.
As the two boys walk off, I can't help but wonder what my adoptive brother would think if he could see me now. He'd be horrified, and rightly so. But I need to be sure that Heath will be able to take over the cartel one day, and I can't let his father's death go unavenged.
I'm doing this for the family. For the Scorpions. For the future.
Heath will thank me one day.
As the minutes pass by, I watch the monitor carefully. Everything is going smoothly until Phoenix comes up to the target, and a few minutes later, the feed goes blank.
I can't believe it. He fucked up.
I grit my teeth while Saul leans forward, surveying the screen.
"What happened?" I growl.
"Looks like the cameras have been disabled," he responds, his eyes fixed on the screen.
"How could Phoenix have done this?" I hiss, my blood boiling.
"I'm not sure," Saul responds.
"Damn it!" I swear, pounding the table in frustration.
"Sir, maybe it was a mistake. Maybe the boys thought it would be too risky," Saul offers.
"They should have known better than that," I snarl, my anger growing by the second.
"Padron, we should go. The boys will be back any minute," Saul says.
"No. We're staying. We're not leaving until they return."
"Padron, I really don't think that's a good idea," Saul argues.
"Don't tell me what to do," I hiss, glaring at him.
Saul lowers his head, and I turn my attention back to the monitor, scanning the feed for signs of the boys. After a few minutes, the camera comes back online, and I can see the boys making their way back to the van.
"There they are," Saul says, his relief obvious.
I watch as the boys approach, their expressions solemn.
"Well?" I ask, as the two boys climb into the van.
"Mission accomplished," Phoenix answers.
"Good. And you left no trace behind?" I question.
"None," he replies, and I can tell from his demeanor that the boy is lying.
"We did everything as instructed," Heath says, backing up his friend.
"Is that so?" I ask, my tone skeptical.
"Yes, sir," Heath responds.
"Fine. But if you're lying, there will be consequences," I warn.
"We're not lying," Phoenix insists.
"If that's true, then why was the camera feed offline for several minutes?" I demand.
"That wasn't us," Heath insists.
"I'm not buying it," I growl, pulling out my gun and aiming it at Phoenix.
"Whoa, hold on. There's no need for that," Phoenix says, putting his hands up.
"Tell me the truth. Now," I bark, the muzzle of the gun inches from his face.
"Uncle, please. Just let us explain," Heath begs.
"No more talking. More action," I hiss, cocking the gun. "Now go back in there. Bring me the kid's right hand, and I'll let it go."
"You're joking," Phoenix mutters.
"Do it," I order.
"Xavier, please," Heath begs, his eyes pleading.
"No. You do it, or I'll shoot," I state, my voice leaving no room for argument.
"Fuck," Phoenix swears, and I can tell he knows the jig is up.
"Come on, Phoenix. We have no choice," Heath says, and the two boys reluctantly get out of the van and head back to the party.
After a few minutes, they return, their faces grim.
"Where is it?" I ask, gesturing to the hand.
Heath holds up a bloody bag.
"Show me," I order, and he opens it, revealing a severed hand.
"Good. Now you can go home," I tell them.
The two boys get back into the van, and we drive off. Saul and Phoenix are sitting in the front, with me and Heath by ourselves in the back.
"Are you satisfied now?" Heath demands.
"I will be when you've learned to obey," I answer, my voice calm.
"I can't believe you made us do this," Phoenix spits, turning his head to glare at me.
"You shouldn't have lied to me," I tell him.
"You're a monster," Phoenix accuses.
"And you're a liability," I retort. "A weakness."
"What are you talking about?" Phoenix asks, his tone incredulous.
"I know you disabled the cameras, Phoenix," I reply, my voice cold.
"How dare you," Phoenix growls, his eyes blazing.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you," I assure him.
"You better not," Phoenix threatens.
"It's not your fault. You're just not strong enough to survive in this world," I explain.
"What does that mean?" Heath demands.
"It means that Phoenix has to go," I answer, and before anyone can react, I pull out my gun and point it at the back of Phoenix's head. "Unless he offers me something worth having..."
"What the fuck, Xavier?" Heath shouts, his voice trembling with rage.
"Don't worry, nephew. He'll be fine," I assure him.
"You fucking bastard," Phoenix curses.
"Language," I admonish. "So, Phoenix? What can you offer me?"