“They’re… in the armory,” Dominguez says uneasily.
“They…”
“Velle and Rook.”
“Okay…”
“And they won’t come out.”
A scoff actually bursts out of me. “Perdóneme?? You said theywon’tcome out… of the armory?”
They both nod and gulp visibly.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I release the most exasperated sigh of my life. “I can’t believe I have to say this out loud to you pendejos, but fuckingmake them!Believe it or not, you don’t answer to those ratas!”
“We t-tried, sir,” Dominguez is shitting himself. “They shot Lopez.”
My jaw tics.
I swear to God… What is even the point of running the cartel?!
Reaching out, I grab the Beretta off of his belt and cock it aggressively. “Fine. If I really must doeverythingmyself…”
Storming off, I follow the road that leads around the prison, from back to front, taking the long way to avoid having to climb over or go around the goddamn guard tower wreckage. I hear my men scurrying after me.
But a loud pop brings us all to a screeching halt. It’s distinctly different from the gunfire I’m expecting.
Shimmering blue and green fireworks are bursting above our heads.
“What in the hell?” I murmur, watching on, dumbfounded. But also momentarily transfixed, because fireworks have a way of hypnotizing you.
Unfortunately, there are only three of them, which has me pouting as I resume my march.
Why do I feel like that had something to do with Warren Xavier…?
“Get me a walkie,” I bark at whoever is closest. I don’t have the time or brainpower to think about the arsonist right now. “And my satellite phone. Tell the others to have theirs on at all times. Andkeepthe goddamn linesclear.We’ll be on phantom. I don’t want them hearing anything we’re doing.”
A few voices rush outyes, sir, but I’m not paying any attention. I’m on the march. Hoping to get into the prison easiervia the west, so I can sort this out with my protege and get back to my searching.
Yes, I realize I replaced Jonathan and kicked him out of his home, and was planning to lock him up until he apologized, but still… I cannotbelievehe’s pulling this shit right now.
Hijacking the armory? Really??
It’s so predictable I could gag.
Although… I didn’t have anyone covering it, did I??
Ugh… Jesus! No wonder my staff are slacking. Look at how scattered their jefe is!
I’m all over the place and it’s embarrassing.
In truth, I’ve been distracted for a while… Maybe since I lost my little bird, or even before. Since my guard dog started growing more and more disobedient.
I was so distracted, I actually allowed one of the Alvarez twins to be locked up in the East forweeksbecause I apparentlywasn’t paying attentionwhen Carlito told me about it.
Loco.
That an intruder could even be on this island for weeks without me knowing proves that my machine is nowhere near as well-oiled as it once was.
