“Don’t worry, old man. I have someone who’s been dying to meet you. The plan to destroy Hector wasn’t your son’s idea. I’ve had time to think about it, and the only reasonable explanation is that Hector’s position in the cartel made it seem impossible to topple him. To make a move on a man like that took planning and forethought, and we both know Jerome here doesn’t have those talents.”

“Fuck you,” his father said.

“So unimaginative, and back to where we were. I’m sure your boy thought it was his idea, but he forgets all those whispered conversations in his ear guiding him along.” She glanced at the door where Hector stood in the shadows. “What you didn’t plan was what would happen if Hector found out. What would a man like that do?”

“I guess we’ll never find out, bitch. We’ll—” The words died in his throat as Hector walked in.

“You tried to cut my balls off,” Hector yelled. “That’s going to cost you yours, but first you will watch your son die.”

“Cain, wait.” Jerome’s demeanor changed. The bravado was gone and replaced by palpable fear. “I’m not your enemy.”

“You’re right, you’re not, Anthony. I know you don’t like the nickname Tony, so Anthony it is.” She put pressure on the blade and it sliced into his side like an arrow through wet bread. Anthony was trying to stay quiet, but he couldn’t seem to help the moan that escaped. “Back to the subject of Hector and what he’d do.” She twisted one way, then the next before pulling out.

“It was only business,” his father said. “We didn’t mean anything personal by it.”

“Hector,” she said, and Hector cocked his head slightly. “Did you take this as only business?” Hector seemed too enraged to speak, and he shook his head. “See, Matty, that particular line only works in the movies. Someone blows your world to shit, and it is personal.”

“All you need to do is kill this bitch, and we’ll give you all the product we have,” Matty said to Hector. Jerome seemed to be working to breathe, his head bowed as blood seeped from various holes.

“You shut up,” Hector yelled so loud that Cain was glad they were in a deserted part of town.

“Like I was saying, when someone blows your world to shit, it’s personal. That brings me to the day you and Juan took my wife. What exactly was going through that tiny brain of yours?” She didn’t have the same patience on the other side of his lower abdomen, and she slammed the knife in, making him yell for the first time. “What did you think I’d do to you the day I finally caught you? And believe me, I never forgot about you.”