We were stopped countless times on our way into Cali, and we were even almost searched on a few of those occasions. The countryside is littered with checkpoints, disguised under the legitimate veil of military operations and government concerns. An election is fast approaching, and the country has never been so precariously perched.
The underbelly that I once held in check is unstable at best. Dante may be succeeding in keeping me away, but it doesn’t appear that he’s doing a great job at holding everything else together.
Good. That gives me an opportunity. I’ll take full advantage of that, but first, I need to rescue my girl from his slimy grip.
“Thanks for the help, hombre,” I say to the brawny young man at my side. Jesus Medina. He’s a low-level enforcer from the countryside, but when I take back control, he’s going to be one of my generals.
“It was my pleasure, Mr. Montoya,” he replies. “What else can we do to help?”
I look back at the car full of misfits who helped get me here. They will all be rewarded, but right now I have personal business to take care of, personal business that I need to handle alone.
“Don’t linger too far from the city,” I tell Jesus. “Things happen quickly around here, and when I call, I want you ready, understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. That will be all for now.”
Jesus seems confused by my dismissal. His curious eyes dart from me down to the sparkling city below. “You’re going alone?” His nose scrunches up in bewilderment.
“It’s the only way forward.”
“Are you sure? We can help, boss—” I raise my palm to the young man and he stops in his tracks. I know he’s just eager to help, to play his part in my reckoning, but that will come later; right now, I need to operate on my own.
“Thank you for your help, Jesus,” I look past him towards the car. “Boys,” I nod. “Thank you. I will not forget what you’ve done for me, and there is more to come... but right now, I am ordering you to stand back. Right now, your mission is to wait for my signal. Can you follow my orders?”
Every last head nods in understanding. I place my hand on Jesus’s shoulder. He can’t be more than five years younger than me, but he looks like a child in my eyes. “You’re going to go far, kid, I’ll make sure of it. Just be patient.”
He nods and we shake hands. The boys in the car wave and I turn away, ready for the fight of my life.
Taking back my empire is a task that I won’t be able to do alone, but rescuing my girl is something that I can only do by myself.
The time has come to make my final push. My sources tell me that Dante plans to marry Catalina. I’m not going to let that happen. I can’t let it happen.
I’m coming for you, little bird, and this time, I’m not stopping until you’re in my arms—I don’t care if I have to burn down this whole country to get it done, we will be together again.
I promise.
Streetlights flicker over the empty Cali streets.
Trash lines the sidewalks and pot holes litter the pavement. The slums nearly sink into the side of the hill. I don’t miss the destitution of this place, but I know it’s probably the safest path to take. No one cares about these poor areas, let alone someone as s
heltered as Dante.
Sure, we once lived in squalor like this, but my little brother seems to have long since forgotten what we rose from. Before he decided to play king, he would use our accrued wealth to jet set around the world like a senator’s son. I never thought he’d change, especially so drastically. So, what the hell got into him?
... Enzo Barella.
The cunning puppet master tugged at my cruel brother’s strings and found just the right way to play him.
Enzo knew I was too strong to handle directly, so he had to undermine me and put someone he could manipulate on the throne. There was only one person he could do that with: my little brother, the fool.
But being played doesn’t excuse Dante’s betrayal. Still, I haven’t decided on whether or not I’ll kill him for it. Hell, I don’t know if I even can. He’s the only blood relative I have left, but he’s taken everything from me, and for such selfish reasons. Envy. Ignorance. Hate. I remember the speech he gave me in the flames at my old compound. Everything was always given to you... If only he knew how much work I did while he slept, while he played with his friends, while he was off terrorizing girls.
I guess the grass is always greener on the other side, because I was often somewhat envious of him, too. Here he was, an orphan who had the luck of finding a fortune with me. Dante barely had to lift a finger for it, yet he still got all the benefits.
... But Enzo made him desire control, as well as a different kind of power. I’m sure of it. My brother may have grown up to be cruel, but he was never one to ever use that cruelty for any purpose other than his own sick enjoyment...
“Hey, did you hear that?”