Page 140 of Misery

Miguel laughs, but there's no humor in it. "Those deaths were not sanctioned. One man's obsession, not cartel business."

"Results are the same. Blood spilled on both sides."

"Vargas won't see it that way. He's... traditional. Old school. An eye for an eye, a shipment for a shipment."

"Then what do you propose?" Runes asks. "We're not paying for it."

Miguel takes a long drag, considering. "The product you hit—it was worth a quarter million wholesale. Street value, maybe half a million, or more."

"So?"

"So Vargas has been pushing to expand into your territory. The industrial district specifically. Says it's payment for losses."

"That's not happening," Runes says flatly.

"I know. Which is why I made the ruling." Miguel straightens, and suddenly he looks less like a negotiator and more like the judge he's named for. "The shipment was lost due to bad intelligence. Multiple parties share blame. The deaths that followed were unsanctioned, personal, not cartel business. Therefore, the ledger is balanced. No territory changes. No further retaliation."

"And Vargas will accept that?"

"He'll challenge it. He always does. But I've been El Juez for fifteen years. My rulings stand because they're fair, and because the alternative is chaos that's bad for everyone's business."

"What if he doesn't listen?" Fenrir asks.

Miguel's smile is cold. "Then he'll learn why they call me The Judge. I don't just make rulings, I enforce them. Vargas is valuable, but not irreplaceable. He knows this."

"So it's over?" Runes presses.

"The girl situation is over. The product situation is over. What's in the past is in the past." Miguel flicks his cigarette away. "But understand—this is a one-time ruling. You hit us again, accidentally or not, I will not be kind."

"Understood."

"Good. As long as I'm alive, this truce stands. No retaliation for past grievances. No moves against each other's territory. Los Coyotes will fuck with you no more."

"Your word?" Fenrir asks.

"My word." Miguel extends his hand to Fenrir, then Runes. Both shake. "But remember—peace is maintained through strength. Show weakness, and even my ruling won't protect you. There are always young ones looking to make their names, thinking the old rules don't apply."

"We can handle young ones," Runes says.

"I'm sure you can. But it's easier when they know not to try." Miguel finally mounts his bike. "The girl asks questions," he tells me. "That's smart. Stupid women don't survive this life. Keep her asking. Keep her thinking. It's the ones who stop questioning who end up obsessed with fantasies instead of dealing with reality."

They leave in formation, disciplined even in retreat.

We wait until the dust settles, until the engine sounds fade completely.

"It's over?" Elfe asks.

"This part," Runes says. "There's always another threat."

"But not today."

"No. Not today."

The ride back is different.

Elfe's arms around me feel less like necessity, more like she’s calmed down, and she’s making that choice.

When we arrive at the clubhouse, she doesn't immediately let go.