Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Knowing the police will be here at any moment, I order, “Load them into the vehicles. Let’s get out of here.”
I stalk toward the exit, and Pedro catches up to me. “There are three women who barely speak English. I think they’re Polish.”
“We’ll get someone to translate for them at home,” I reply. “Have two of the men take them to the airfield while we deal with the fuckers.”
Pedro nods and falls back to give out the order.
I climb into the passenger seat of the SUV, and I don’t have to wait long before Pedro gets in behind the steering wheel.
We have safe houses and warehouses everywhere, and after starting the engine, Pedro drives us toward our destination in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. It’s situated near the airfield, so we’ll be able to make a quick getaway after dealing with the four men who worked at the club.
We drive for about twenty minutes before Pedro pulls up to the warehouse that looks abandoned.
I climb out and watch as the other SUVs park. My men take the prisoners into the warehouse, and I glance around the area to make sure it’s quiet before I follow them inside.
I hand the machine gun to Pedro and pull my deck of tarot cards out of my pocket.
The four men are forced to kneel while I shuffle the cards, then I say, “There are so many other ways to make money.”
“Who are you?”
I glance at the man, then ask Pedro, “What’s his name again?”
“Braga. He’s in charge of the club.” Pedro points to a man dressed in a three-piece suit. “That’s the owner, Campos. The other two are just soldiers.”
I reach behind me, and pulling my handgun from where it’s tucked into the waistband of my pants, I aim and give the soldiers quick deaths by shooting them in their heads.
“Remove the bodies and cut the cable ties on the other two,” I order.
I tuck my weapon back into place behind my back and continue to shuffle the cards.
Campos keeps staring at my hands, fear tightening his features, and it makes me chuckle. Tilting my head, I say, “You’ve heard of me.”
He nods. “My cousin drew one of your cards.”
I raise an eyebrow at him. “Which one?”
“Temperance.”
With that card, I tie a noose around the guy’s neck and make him balance with one foot on a wooden pole. If he can hold out for twenty-four hours, he’s free to go, and if not, he hangs himself. Pedro and I came up with that one over a dozen beers out on the veranda.
“He must have good balancing skills,” I say. “Seeing as he lived to tell you about it.”
Campos nods.
“Braga first,” I mutter. “Stand up and choose your card.”
“Is this about the pussy?” Campos asks. “Everyone sells pussy.”
“Not everyone.” I spread the cards as Pedro shoves Braga closer to me. “Choose one.”
Braga gives me a confused look but pulls a card out of the middle. A frown forms on his forehead. “The Chariot?”
A grin spreads over my face. “One of my favorites.” I make a scene of bowing and gesturing at the door. “Your chariot awaits. Enjoy the ride.”
Pedro shoves Braga toward three of my men, and they drag him out of the warehouse to tie him to the back of an SUV. They’ll drag his body until he’s dead.
Just like the cartel did with my mother.
My grin turns into a deadly sneer as I look at Campos. “Your turn. Choose your fate.”
“I can pay you,” he tries to bargain.
The revving of an engine sounds up, and then Braga’s terrified screams follow as he’s dragged away from the warehouse.
Campos is sweating so severely the drops are running down his face. “I can pay you millions.”
I give him a surprised look. “How much are we talking? What is your life worth?”
“Five million.”
I start to shake my head, and he quickly shouts, “Ten.”
Every time I shake my head, he doubles the amount until I say, “I’m getting bored.”
“Fifty-six million! I can give it to you in Bitcoin. Untraceable.”
Smiling wide, I say, “I like the sound of that.” I glance around the warehouse at my men. “Do any of you have a laptop?” They start to shake their heads, and I look at Campos. “Such a shame. Pick a card.”
“No! I can give you the money.”
My expression turns grim. “If you don’t pick, I will.”
Shaking like a leaf, he finally pulls a card out of the pack and slowly looks at it.
“And?” I ask.
“The Magician.”
“Oooh. The fun is just starting.” I glance at Pedro, who quickly jogs out to get the three boxes.
“W-what does the card mean?” Campos asks.
“You get to choose again.”
Relief washes over his face, and bending over, he places his hands on his thighs and breathes hard.
“There are three boxes. One has a gun, which means I’ll shoot you in the head. The second has a card saying you get to walk free, and the third has gasoline and a lighter.” When the horror returns to his face, I chuckle. “Cheer up. You still have a chance to walk free, then you and your cousin can bond some more over surviving fate.”