Page 66 of Victorious: Part 3

But I don’t mind.

It just reminds me that I took a hit for a good-fucking-cause.

Keying the comms, I smirk. “I don’t know who you are on the other end of this line, but you’re good people. I’m gonna get off comms so the other chapters can check in, but thanks for keeping it light, lady. V5 out.”

She doesn’t reply. She doesn’t need to.

I finally close my eyes, resting my head back against the vibrating metal of the vehicle, and take a much-needed breath.

Now, I can finally rest.

Chapter Twelve

ALPHA

LOS ANGELES – 12:00 a.m. PDT

Craning my neck to the side, it feels like every bone in my body cracks with the tension rolling through me.

It all comes down to this.

For years, The Rojas Cartel has been a thorn in my side, taunting me, taking a part of my soul,literallykilling my family, over and over again.

And tonight, we take back control.

I always thought Rico was the worst of the worst.

Now I know he was merely a pawn in a much bigger game.

Javier has been positioning his pieces all over the country, trying to make sure his bases are covered. Well, I can tell you now, it only takes one move to defeat the king, and we’re about to checkmate you, you motherfucker.

Letting out a long breath, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. My sister chapters are putting themselves on the line for me, formycause. But this is bigger than me, than my hatred for The Rojas Cartel and the shit they’ve done to my family.

Javier is trying to pull off something unimaginable, and if he succeeds, it won’t just be my life he continues to ruin—the face of this country will be irrevocably changed forever. There’s no coming back from the kind of hostile takeover this maniac has been planning, has been building, has been buying.

It would be catastrophic, and the fact that governments, CEOs, and the justice system have all been bought by him is the scariest part of it all, because if the time came for his takeover, no one would be able to step in to stop him.

Instead, the powers that be would be by his side, helping him.

So, there is no choice.

Wehaveto do this.

No matter the cost.

Because I will not let Poppy grow up in a world where she was set free of the Cartel, just to be put back under their control again. I’d rather fucking die thaneverlet that happen. Poppy has already lost one parent, so there’s no way I’m letting her lose another.

So that only leaves one option…

We must succeed.

We have to!

Rip slaps my back, gaining my attention, and I turn to him as we duck behind the opening for the maintenance tunnels outside of the Women’s Correctional Facility. “You okay, Pres. You look, you know, highly strung, dude. You wanna puff or something? I got one in my pocket if you wanna take the edge off before we head in?”

Smirking, I shake my head. “Na, I wanna keep focused. It’s almost time.”

Rip smiles widely, nodding his head. “Righteous!”