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I offered him a large tip that also covered the money he’d given those criminals. He’d brought me to my destination safely, and I appreciated that. He had a sick wife at home and was dealing with his problems in a positive way. I had a sick mom, so I knew what he was going through. Though I was now more cognizant of my finances, I couldn’t help but be generous with someone who deserved it.

Glancing at the gorgeous, scenic view, I prayed it would bring me the peace and luck I desperately needed.

CHAPTERTWO

FORREST

Sitting in my black SUV in the parking lot of Full Circle Apothecary, I tried to expunge the negative energy that still lingered around me by inhaling for more energy and exhaling the stuff I didn’t need. I didn’t want to go into my grandma’s shop carrying all this darkness. My family must be protected from the evils of the world.

I’d just gotten back from watching my enemy, Afonso Moura,die in a marsh filled with alligators. The location and the method of his death were my decisions. It only made sense that I got to decide how one of the men responsible for my father’s death would suffer. I’d been searching for him, along with the gang’s anonymous leader, for years. So I’d adjusted my schedule as soon as I heard Afonso had been captured.

Money could buy many things, including information and the right people who were excellent at maneuvering in the darkness.I had other commitments that required my presence in Texaslater this week,but the phone call expedited my early arrival.

Watching Afonso suffer while the gators tore him apart should have eased my dismay, but it didn’t. It only intensified the vengeful knots inside me. They only seemed to have multiplied in the past few months. Perhaps finding the leader of the Anacondas would eliminate the growing dread.

I took out my phone and crossed off Afonso Moura's name from my list. Below that was Bento Melo, who had died six months ago. I’d injected a non-traceable drug that slowly broke down his bodily systems before he was fed to the Amazon’s anacondas.

These men had changed my life, and they would pay for it.

Two down, and one to go.The leader of the group would endure the worst of my torture. He had to experience the pain he’d bestowed on my father, my mother, my grandmother, and me. I had a creative mind, and it made me feel better to envision the multiple ways he’d suffer.

I’ll find you, fucker.

Taking a deep breath, I exhaled, shaking off all the negativity from earlier today. I got out of the SUV and headed to the apothecary’s entrance. I yanked the door open and stepped inside. The whiff of sage, frankincense, palo santo, and other herbs slapped my senses awake. I’d gotten used to Grandma Morena’s abundant herb collection. Still, whatever she was doing today was too aromatic for my liking.

The shop had been renovated a few weeks ago—and I footed the bill. At first my grandma had refused the gift, but I insisted, using my power of persuasion. After a few weeks of charming her on the phone, she gave in. It was the least I could do. Grandma Morena had raised me, and that was worth more than any amount of money. Growing up, money had been scarce, but it had taught me the value of a dollar. The feeling of scarcity drove me to want more. Lack had a way of making me feel inadequate. It was like a mental disease, and its cure was success, which I now possessed.

Full Circle Apothecary was a store inside a building that my grandma owned. She had used up her retirement fund to purchase the property. She lived on the top floor of her business, making it convenient for her to go to work. It was in a business section close to downtown Austin, Texas, which had excellent foot traffic. This apothecary was her life. People came to her for help with ailments that western medicine couldn’t cure. There was wisdom in the way ancient people had healed themselves.

I walked over to a table full of pre-made gift boxes and admired the packaging. The apothecary wasn’t just a store. It also held small herbology classes in the backroom for those who wanted to learn the basics. When a thunderstorm knocked down a tree and a light post, hitting the side of the building and causing major damage, I decided it was time for an update. The old building needed new electrical wires and pipes—all of which would have taken a chunk out of her savings. I didn’t want her to touch her retirement money, which I’d replenished. I didn’t even want her to work. She’d worked hard enough.

A strong body creates a strong mind.

Her words had a special place in my heart. I became a better doctor because she’d showed me to look at medicine from various angles, some of which couldn’t be proven by science. She believed the body needed to flow with the energy of the Earth.

Energy is constantly in motion. It’s teaching us a lesson. We have to listen to it.

Laughter stirred in the next room where dry herbs were stored in compartments built into a wall. Two customers chatted with Cara Hoang, the loyal sales associate and herbalist. She was Vietnamese-American and taught my grandmother her traditional remedies.

Not wanting to interrupt Cara, I ambled around, admiring the new meadow green walls with sandy trims. The interior designer Grandma had hired did a wonderful job bringing her vision to life. The rustic display tables, bookcases, and sales counter were all made of wood, giving the atmosphere an earthy and homey feel. This was a place of healing, and yet it made me feel different from my medical clinic and hospital exam rooms. This holistic sanctuary grounded me in a way I couldn’t explain. It was like a walk in the woods versus a walk in a sterilized hospital hallway with fluorescent lights and stark white walls.

Exiting the herb room, Cara looked at me, beamed, and held up a finger, signifying she’d be right with me. She turned to the two customers, who each held a brown shopping bag with the store’s logo. “Thank you for visiting. See you in a couple of weeks.”

After they left, she threw her arms around me. “So good to see you! When did you get here?”

I patted her back. “Happy to see you too. I just arrived a few minutes ago. You doing well?” That wasn’t a complete lie. Though I arrived last night, I’d just gotten to the shop minutes ago.

My mother would have been Cara’s age if she were still alive. Cara had worked with my grandma since the store first opened seven years ago. She was married to an auto mechanic and had no children. With her short black hair and gentle brown eyes, she had a warm smile that could make a bad day turn good instantly.

“What are you doing here?” Pulling back, she stared at me the way a mother would suspect a child was up to something no good. “You’ve gotten thinner. Something happen in Providence? What’s up with the dark circles under your eyes? Are you eating and sleeping enough?”

I smiled at the slew of questions I didn’t want to answer.

Guilt gnawed at me for not visiting as often as I should. I had a medical facility to attend to, along with side projects that occupied a lot of my time.So my visits were rare.

“I missed you and Grandma.” I squeezed her shoulder. “That’s why I’m here.”

“What about me, you oaf?” Yolanda emerged from the back room with a tray of fancy containers that probably held ointment or balm. Three customers entered the shop, and Cara broke away to assist them.