"Let's go for the thumb next."
Santino curled his fingers in as he continued to wail. "Please, no."
Blood dripped down the chair and splattered on the floor. His pinky also lay on the dirty floor like the discarded limb it was.
"I gave you the choice to make this easy. You chose the hard way, so now you have to suffer the consequences."
"Please, please," Santino begged. "I'll talk. I'll tell you anything you want to know."
The mysterious woman sighed. "And here I was looking forward to having some fun for once. Fine." She waved her hand. "Get on with it."
Santino looked at me. "What do you want to know?" Snot ran down his face and into his mouth. It was pathetic just how quickly he caved.
"Why are you after Jo?"
"Because she took everything from me," he whined like a baby.
"What did she take from you?" I leaned down and looked him in the eye. The fire that was there earlier started to come back to life.
"Los Cangris,"he spat. "Alejandro might've been the face, but I was the brains. He would never have survived that long if it wasn't for me."
Jo was right. Santino was the wizard behind the curtain.
"So why not just take over when he died?"
"Because no one but him and me knew of my involvement. When he died in prison, I tried to convince that sniveling asshole that he needed me, but he refused to listen. He pushed me out and cost me millions. And all because that stupid bitch wrote that damn article."
I had no idea what article that could possibly be. She wrote several aboutLos Cangris,but none of them should've been the reason Alejandro died. It was more likely he needed someone to blame, and Jo was an easy target.
"I appreciate your cooperation. One last question. Is there anyone else after her?"
Santino spit more blood at me, or at least he tried. It dribbled down his chin instead. "No.Los Cangrisdoesn't give a shit about your little town anymore. They've moved on to easier places."
Excellent. That was exactly what I wanted to hear. I turned to the woman and smiled. "I'm done with him. I don't need anything else."
In one swift motion, the woman pulled a gun out from the back of her pants and shot Santino directly between the eyes. It was good to know she didn't lie when she said she would make his death quick.
"It was a pleasure doing business with you, ladies. I owe you my life, so if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call."
The woman just dipped her chin. "Don't forget what I said. No one is to know of our existence, and as far as you’re concerned, you never saw us."
"Don't worry. No one would believe me if I told them anyway."
The woman cracked her first smile. Well, a half one at least and I figured that was the best I was going to get.
"Need help cleaning up the mess?" It was the least I could do.
"Nope, we got it. Get back to your woman and baby knowing they're both safe now."
I tipped my invisible hat toward them and walked back out of the warehouse without a single glance back.
Today was a good day.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Jo
I waited anxiously for Maverick to come back home. As much as I loved hanging out with Nancy, I wanted Maverick back.
