Page 79 of Shadow Man
Dante doesn't pick it up. He doesn't even glance at it. “You willneverhave control of Colombia.”
“I already do.” Fernandez rolls a pen across the table at him.
“And I told you we don’t sign paperwork in our business,” says Dante, flicking it back.
“Not even the deeds of properties?” There’s a hint of triumph in his voice.
“What properties?” scoffs Dante. “I don’t even live in this fucking country anymore.”
“I want your brother’s former estate,” he says, steepling his hands with a smirk.
“I don’t claim that ownership.” Dante glances around the courtyard. “Can I get a drink, or is your hospitality as poor as your word?”
“I beg to differ,señor,” says Fernandez, ignoring his request. “Gabriela Lopez may reside there, but she doesn’t own the—”
“No, she doesn’t, but my brother’s daughter does.”
It’s not true. He’s stalling for time again. But the smirk drops from Fernandez’s face so fast I reckon we’ll be needing one less bullet tonight.
“What daughter?” he demands. “What is this trickery?”
“I thought you two would have been introduced.” Dante leans forward and plants his elbows on the table in front of him, adding a gravitas to his lie. “After all, she’s been enjoying your hospitality for the last twenty-four hours.”
“Hijueputa,you liar!” blusters Fernandez, his composure slipping.
“So, in a fucked-up way, a Santiagodidshoot you son dead, after all,” muses Dante, tossing his word bomb at Fernandez’s red face.
“Malparidos!Bring them out!” he bellows.
There’s movement in the shadows in front of us.
Anna.
One of Fernandez’s men shoves her toward us. Her mouth and hands are bound, but her eyes are liquid fire. I know that conviction. I killed for it. I restored it. She’s been here before, and she knows she can survive it.
Viviana’s the same. Her two fireballs of fury are working overtime tonight. Her natural Santiago arrogance is starting to emerge.
Together, they make a formidable pair. I watch them shrug their captor’s hands away. I can hear their silent curses in my head. They've killed together; they've faced their fears together. A bond like that binds two lives together forever.
Fernandez’ssicariosmanhandle them toward the table and force them into the two spare seats at opposite ends. At the same time, I feel the muzzle of a PKM machine gun ramming into the small of my back as anothersicariosticks his gun in Dante’s face.
Kalashnikovs.Russian. There’s no need to guess which side of Fernandez’s fucking family they came from.
“I thought you were giving us a choice with the women?” says Dante, re-crossing his legs.
“I’ve changed my mind,señor,” sneers Fernandez. “As for the house, I’ll be taking it anyway and putting all the runawayputasback to work.”
“Then what the hell is this?” Glancing at Anna, I watch her gaze shift to the rings around my neck. Her eyes widen before jerking up to meet mine again.
“This?” Fernandez waves his hand between the girls like he’s the ringmaster introducing the first act. “Thisis justice.”
A bad feeling starts chewing up my insides as two 9mm Berettas are brought to the table. He releases both magazines in turn, removing the cartridges until only one is left in each before slapping them back into place. At the same time, the cable ties are cut from Anna and Viviana’s wrists.
“Both these bitches deserve to die for what they did to Alberto, but the choice is in their hands now.” He leans back in his chair to enjoy the show. “Will it be love or will it be family who takes the crown?”
At a click of his fingers, his men slide the guns across the table—one in Anna’s direction and the other in Viviana’s. They skid to a halt right in front of them. “One bullet each,” he explains silkily. “First one to fire wins their freedom.”
This wasn't in the script.