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“Frank sent Chili to get them, but we haven’t heard anything yet.”
“She put my son on fucking national TV. Is she out of her mind?” Anger pushed the drug aside, and I fought not to lose my shit. My son was supposed to disappear and start a new life free of his ties to Mexico.
“I know,” John nodded but kept a heavy hand on my shoulder to keep me put, “but it might have been her only play.”
“She used him for a damn story.” I was so angry, and suddenly the phone was too heavy, and as my arm dropped, John grabbed it. “There’s low, and then there’s that,” I moaned in anguish.
“Oh, shit.” Mike’s voice made the hair on my neck stand up. “Like father, like son.” He turned his phone around, and my eyes widened in horror as I watched another video. “Paul, looks like you’re the newest chess piece.”
TWENTY-THREE
BRUNO
“Where is she?” I screamed at my men as they scrambled like fools all around the place trying to find her. Why was the border so damn busy? “You’re all fucking useless!” The pain in my foot radiated from extreme to unbearable. She was fucking dead. I was going to rip her from scalp to ankle, let her bleed out while I watched, and just before she took her last breath, I’d do the same to the boy.
I limped over to Armondo, who was on the phone. “Well?”
“She was last seen talking to some women who took a bus over the border. Maybe she’s with them?” I whirled and spotted where the buses stopped before they crossed. “Ey!” I pointed at two of my soldiers. “Go!” They rushed off in that direction.
“Señor,” Armondo stepped into my murderous view, “look.” He held up his phone as a video played, and I closed my eyes to steady my rage as I read the headline.
“How am I losing control?” My voice boomed and made a whole bus line of people look at me. “Ahh!” I kicked a trash can and sent things flying. My ears rang from the pain, and it only fueled my temper.
All right. Think. I pressed my palms into my eyes to try to stop the pounding behind them. Okay.
I wiped the sweat from my face and placed a hand on Armondo’s shoulder and moved him closer to me. “I want them found, alive.”
“Si.”
“No.” I could literally feel my brain start to unhinge, then a sudden calmness went through me as realization came to the surface. “Wait.” I held up a finger in front of his face. “Not just Nicole and that fucking kid, I want them all. Every one of them. It’s time, Armondo.”
“Yeah?” His face lit up as I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text.
Bruno: It’s time.
J: Understood.
“Spread the word, it’s time to wake the embedded.” I shivered as I stood and ignored the pain. “And start in Montana, at Camp Green.”
The End