“He’s only interested in getting the boy back to his family.Nothing more. You have my word on that.”
“You said you speak Russian,” Sasha said. “You should know promises mean nothing.”
“That’s why I brought you a gift as well,” Sundance said. “It’s in the side pocket of the bag,” he said, bending over.
“No. Wait,” Sasha said, stopping Sundance before motioning to one of his guards to retrieve the item. The guard unzipped the side pocket and produced a small white gift box wrapped with a red ribbon which he then handed to Sasha.
“What’s this?”
“Go ahead, open it,” Sundance said.
Sasha pulled the ribbon off the box and opened it to reveal a severed finger wearing a silver ring adorned with the Los Psychos emblem.
“What the fuck is this?”
“That’s a piece of Jocko, the Los Psychos member you sent to kill the aunt of the little boy you kidnapped.”
“Is this supposed to scare me? Are you trying to prove how tough you are?”
“Not at all,” Sundance replied coolly. “We’re still talking business. The Russian way. Just in case the cash offer isn’t enough to sway you, I wanted to make sure I had some leverage as well.”
“Leverage?” Sasha asked.
“We know Los Psychos supplies you with all the heroin and cocaine that you sell here in Monument. We also know you were paying Jocko off the books to take the boy and kill his aunt.”
“So, the fuck what?”
“We’re gonna send a fresh piece of Jocko to Los Psychos every day with a note to remind them that you’re responsible.”
“Me? I’m not the one who wants to cut him up!”
“No, but you’re the one that got Jocko involved and that’s all El Cacto will care about. He’ll cut off your supply and your drug trade in Monument will be done.”
Sasha paused for a long time before finally speaking, “And if I know where the boy is?”
“Then all you have to do is bring him safely to me. You’ll get your two mil in cash, Jocko is sent back to Mexico with nueve fingers, and the cops will stay away from your racetrack.”
“And no more trafficking,” Luca added.
Sasha started to protest but Sundance cut him off. “He’s right. This ends your little foray in the skin trade.”
“You’re out of your mind,” Sasha said.
“You want to go to prison like all your brothers? Take the money and be happy running your McSpeakeasy. Hell, start a whole franchise for all I care. But tell us where the boy is.”
Sasha sighed heavily. “Go get him,” he said, to one of the guards who then disappeared through a curtained doorway.
“He’s here?” I asked.
“I have a couple girls taking care of him.”
“I swear to God, if he’s hurt at all—”
“He’s fine, relax. We fed him peanut butter and jelly and mac and cheese. He’s been watching Sponge Bob and playing GTA. He’s happy.”
Just then the bodyguard returned with Felix.
Only he wasn’t lucid. “Why the fuck is he unconscious?” I demanded.
