Emiliano
CLOSE ENOUGH TO KILL
After I finished up a call with the Chief of Police, informing him of the messy evening he’s about to have, Ignacio left us standing in his office.
That pendejo didn’t even say goodbye.
Papo and I walk quietly down the hall, both armed, both unsure of what comes next.
“You find Fernando, and I’ll get with Berto. We need to secure the house,” I strategize, trying to figure out the best way to keep everyone here safe.
“Fuck, man,” he swears, tucking his gun in the back of his waistband. “This is the last thing Paloma needs.”
I nod, knowing Taina is probably worried about what’s going on. But I told her I’d keep her safe, and that’s exactly what I intend to do. When we head back into the dining room, no one’s there. But nothing appears out of place. “Check the kitchen, I’ll check the living room and foyer.”
We take off our suit jackets and toss them on the nearby chaise, Papo rolling up his sleeves.
He rushes off, and I hold up my gun, turning corners carefully, weapon steady. I enter the foyer and find Berto sprinting through the house .
“Taina?” he asks, out of breath.
“Where is she?” I demand, lowering my gun. “Where’d you last see her?”
“With Paloma,” he huffs out. “Can’t find her either.”
“Get Fernando, pull up the security footage. Lock this motherfucker down,” I yell just as Papo, Fernando, and Mami enter the room.
“What is it, mijo ?”
After a moment’s hesitation and a nod from Fernando, I start talking.
“The Russians are tearing apart one of our warehouses, Ignacio took the capos and solderos to return fire, and Taina and Paloma seem to be missing.”
“What?” Papo asks, his chest rising and falling rapidly and his brows drawn. “Where is she?”
“I took the women to the safe,” my mother says. “I didn’t see either of them. I thought they were with you.”
Fernando has his phone in his hand and starts swiping through, accessing the cameras.
“Whoever did this…” he starts before shaking his head. “They had access to the security system. Not only did they disable the cameras, they disarmed the alarm.”
“Fernando,” Mami says, her sharp tone cutting through the moment’s uncertainty. “Get Guillermo on the phone.”
El Jefe . Cono.
Papo yells, “Fuck!” His phone is clutched in his hand and he rests his head back against the wall. “She’s not answering.”
His phone rings, and he answers, pressing the speaker button.
“Nas, you’re on speaker with me, your mom, Berto, Fernando, and Emiliano,” Papo informs him.
“Fernando, stay with Mami . Berto, you go with Papo and find every known Kuznetsov associate. Make them bleed until they talk. And then put a bullet in their skulls.” He pauses, and I can hear the rev of an engine in the background.
“ Emiliano, put your expensive education to use and find out what the fuck is going on. If shit goes down, you’re next in line. ”
The call ends and everyone starts to organize. But everything moves in slow motion for me.
I have no idea where Taina is, nor where to begin looking. And if Nas doesn’t make it out alive, I’m next in line to take his place.
There are so many strings pulling me in too many different directions, and I feel like the pressure is going to tear me apart.
“Start with Taina and Paloma,” Fernando instructs, clapping his hand on my shoulder. “Whoever took them is either exactly who you’re looking for or they’re working for them.”
“Yeah…” I mumble, shaking my head as if to clear it from warring emotions. When I look up at Fernando, I notice Mami standing behind him.
“Oswaldo would be proud,” he tells me as my mother nods in agreement.
“We fucked up. They’ve got us cornered.” I let out a humorless chuckle. “What’s there to be proud of?”
It’s Mami who responds, a cold determination in her voice as she regards me.
“An enemy that’s close enough to corner you is close enough to kill.”