Kent was a good man. He didn’t deserve to die.
Aside from him bringing me my meals, though, there’s been only one other person I’ve interacted with since the night of the storm… And despite the confusing turn our last conversation took, he’s never been exactly forthcoming with me. If anything, he’s intentionally obtuse.
Ugh… Coño. Pendejo guapo….
Basically, I went from seeing so much of what goes on around this island to nothing but darkness.
Velle tucks his walkie back in place, returning to scrutinizing me with his penetrating blue gaze. “Troops are on the move,” he says to everyone, but he’s still looking at only me. I simply blink up at him, because I don’t believe I qualify to have an opinion on his war games. “Our men, the prisoners… They’re on their way. And when they get here, we’re gonna end this.” He closes the gap between us, and I swallow. “Once and for all. We’re gonna endhim.”
I’m not sure if he’s saying this to gauge my reaction, assess any visible allegiance I might have to Manuel Blanco. I almost grin.
That’s funny.
“We’ve spilled blood, lost lives for this place. Because of him. And I know you know that.” His voice is a low rumble.Amedrenta. “I’m sorry to say, kid, but you’re my bargaining chip. I don’t want to have to… but I will kill you if it means toppling his goddamn patriarchy.”
I see Trevel step forward, concern on his face.
Byron holds out a hand to stop him. “Whoa, Velle, come on…”
“Yea, come on,” Felix chirps, like a trusty parrot on Byron’s shoulder. It’s comical.Weren’t they sworn enemies not long ago?“That’s a little extreme…”
Officer Jasper snorts. “Aren’t you a serial killer?”
Felix frowns. “Yea, but I don’t killeveryone…”
“Yea!” Dash chimes in.
Officer Hancock scoffs. “Way to contribute to the conversation, 101.”
“All of this chatter is irrelevant,” Velle grumbles, head cocking. “It’s my call. Chances are he’s already realized his toy is missing… If not, he’ll be figuring it out real soon.” He lifts a brow, and I purse my lips by way of verification.I’m sure el diablo will be on his way…“At the very least, we know his troops are coming. Pande-fuckin-monium is about to be raining down on our asses. So when bullets are flying, andmyfamily’s lives are on the line, I’ll have a choice to make. And trust me when I tell you, I will not hesitate. Iwillprotect them at all costs.”
Lashes fluttering, I slant my head.
“I don’t know who you are to him, or if he’d let you die to win this war… But no matter what happens next, hewillkneel at my feet,” he snarls, and it zips up my spine. “I let him take someone from me before… I will not be making that mistake again.”
Vengeance.I can see it on his face, in every angle of his features. Smell it on him, like blood, smoke and metal. My eyes fall to his hand, the one clutching his brass knuckles.
“Entiendo.” I nod. “I understand, Officer. Your pain, your wrath… I’ve felt it. Also at his hands.”
His brows lift in clear surprise, and he asks, softly inquisitive, “Who is he to you?”
Gunshots ring in my ears. Screams echo, the memory still sitting at the forefront of my mind. As if nineteen years haven’t passed since that day…
Just a regular day…
“El diablo,” I state. Feeling the weight of their full attention, I pull in a breath.
“Ojos abiertos, boca cerrada, pajarito.”
“Manuel Blanco saved my life…” I begin the story, “and he killed me in the process.”
It was a regular day.
Just like the ones before it, and the ones I was sure would come after it.
The mind of a toddler doesn’t comprehend mortality. Three-year-old me couldn’t fathom the possibility of no future. Nor did I see very far into it.
I was too young to understand things like death, or living the rest of my life without my family in it. The furthest into the future I could see was Avianna’s and my fourth birthday. I knew it was happening in two months, but that was only because Mami was planning a big party.
