Not only that, but if Jonathan was angry enough,hecould just kill me the moment I stepped in front of him. That was certainly what my men were most worried about.
They actually didn’t want to stand down. We had pretty strong words about it…
“What part ofpull backdon’t you understand, soldado?” I’d growled at Pedroia, on the front steps of the mansion, where he was literally trying to block me from getting into my car.
The nerve, I’m telling you.
This was the bullshit I was sacrificing Angel for?? No gracias.
“Sir, with all due respect, you’re not thinking rationally right now…”
“Back the fuck up before I break your fucking jaw,” I snarled, shoving past him, going for my Rolls.
“Jefe! We can’t justsurrender—”
“Yes, we fuckingcan,becauseweisme, andI’mtelling you to!” I roared, turning back to him. His eyes were wide. They all were. Baffled speechless. “It’s over, don’t you get that?? Kent is dead…” I gulped over the grief those words held. “And he was ten times the man you’ll ever be. Termino. Teretirarás, entiendes?”
I could see how coiled he was; how much he didn’t understand why I wasgiving upwhen it would’ve been so easy to win. And thus refused to accept my orders.
He blinked, shaking his head. “Jefe… por qué?”
“Because they won,” I grunted, fear lancing my insides with every shot I could still hear popping off.
Pulling my walkie, I barked into it, “Stand the fuck down,now. The next person who fires a shot gets a round to the cojones.”
The gunfire came to an immediate halt—from our side anyway—and I could breathe slightly easier.
“Sir…? Y ahora qué?”
“Retreat, for fuck’s sake,” I growled, immediately switching the station to one of theirs. “Jonathan?”
Stalking to my Rolls, I whipped the door open. But before I could slide in, my goddamnsoldiercame at me.
I’m not sure what he was trying to do, but I grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the fucking ground.
“Adelante, puta. Give me a reason,” I hissed. Glancing around at the rest of them, I hollered, “This war is officially over. You willsurrender, or you will be dead. Anyone else wanna question me?? Go ahead, because I’ve got nothing left to lose and I’m justitchingfor an excuse to rip someone’s tongue out through theirgoddamn asshole!!”
They all stood frozen, just gaping at me.
Pedroia was gurgling, my gaze narrowing at them all until they began to mutter, “Si. Claro…”
I threw him to the ground, got into my car and peeled out, tires skidding, kicking up dust.
I don’t think I’ve ever driven so fast. Certainly not on this island. Speeding runs you the risk of accidentally careening off a cliff into the ocean. But I barely cared.
I had only one priority, and that was making sure that Jonathan knew he’d won, so long as Angelito was unharmed.
And if he was ready, my little bird could kill me. I would allow that…
It was time.
It wasover… And I was just so tired.
Too tired to fight any longer. Too tired to deny for one more second that this island was slowly killing me, and it had been since the moment I’d inherited it.
The forces here work in mysterious ways. Surely it’s no coincidence that every other person who attempted to conquer Alabaster Isle met their inevitable end here. Yes, they were weak, and it took them out much quicker and easier.
I’d like to think this island met its match with me.
