Page 86 of Lethal Vengeance

He screams and screams until the only thing coming out of his throat is strained air.

When the bleeding stops, I pull the pen away. “You have a remarkable tolerance for pain. Your brother passed out when I cauterized him.”

His whole body is shaking with adrenaline. Hanging his head, he fights to overcome his body’s reaction.

Dismissing him, I step over and place the pen by the machine. Two rounds down. Final round coming up. A part of me is impressed by his continued fight. The other part of me wants to hear him break.

The sound of retching draws my eyes back to him. Vomit covers him and the floor beneath him. With a sigh, I grab the bucket and douse him and the floor with water.

I grip his chin and pull his head up. “Are you ready for the finale?”

White teeth flash in an attempt to smile, but the pain is slowly taking over his entire body.

“According to the coroner’s report, you took her kidneys, liver, and heart. I hear the heart can go for over a million dollars on the black market. All total, you probably cleared about two million?” I speculate, keeping the rage stuffed down deep.

His laugh is hoarse. “Over two million. Her age and health were a prime factor. If I’d had more time, I could have harvested all her organs.”

“What did you tell me you wanted last night? That’s right. Legacy. Congratulations. It might not be the legacy you wanted, but little pieces of you will live on in this world. I’m donating your organs to the hospital on my way out of town,” I inform him, walking back to the table to get the scalpel. “We’ll leave the heart for last, okay?”

“I’m a member of the cartel. An important one. They’ll avenge my death, you know. There’s nowhere you can hide where they won’t find you,” he snarls.

“Not anymore,” I interject. “You promised them millions from your trafficking operation, but unfortunately, you won’t be able to deliver.”

“What are you talking about?”

“How many women were in that room? One hundred and seventeen. That’s right. Now, there are zero. Do you really think the cartel will avenge your death? You’re a failure,” I state matter-of-factly.

Physically, he’s taken hit after hit today and has come back swinging. But these words break him. He howls in rage, madness stealing across his face.

“In one night, we destroyed your entire world. Your operations, the ranch, your home, and all your men. There is nothing left, and soon, you’ll be gone, too. Ashes and dirt. Food for the vultures. Just like Julio.”

He jerks against the manacles, straining his body toward me, but I’m out of his reach. The insults and threats start again.

Growling in frustration, I yank my arm out of my shirt, cut the sleeve off, and stuff it in his mouth.

The next few hours are tedious but quiet. He passes out for most of it. Once most of the organs are in special canisters and coolers, I take the cloth out and inject him with enough drugs to wake him up. They also dull the pain, but it can’t be helped.

I use my arm to wipe the sweat from my forehead and pick up the bone saw. Sometimes, late at night, when the world is still and dark, I wonder about the person who received my sister’s heart. She always had so much love and joy to give to others. Will they be able to feel her inside them?

With his strength gone, his body sags against the manacles.

I tap his cheek. “We’ve come to the end of our journey together. The only thing left for me to do is take your heart and leave you in the desert. Is there anything you’d like to say before you die?”

His voice is barely a whisper. “You and I are two sides of the same coin. In taking your vengeance, you’ve made yourself into my twin.” A hoarse laugh escapes. “Hell, you made yourself into me. Julio was always the better man. Looks like Sophia might of have been the best of you both. We’re the reason they’re no longer here. They were innocent, caught up in love and the machinations you and I orchestrated. This is a fitting punishment for me. How will you punish yourself?”

I say nothing.

“Tell Gabriel, his tío loves him. I still think our child would have been magnificent,” he rasps. “See you in hell, Quinn.” With one last shallow breath, he passes.

My mind tries to latch onto his words, but I refocus my attention on the task in front of me—extracting his heart.

38

RAIDER

Cruz slides into the house like a shadow. “There must be hiding spots all around this house. Every time I get close, he disappears.” He cocks his head to the side. “It’s quiet.”

“All noise ceased about thirty minutes ago,” I inform him. Cruz and I had been periodically checking on Quinn to make sure she was okay. “Do you want to check on her?”