Chapter Eight
They both slept for about four hours and woke up when someone knocked on their door.
Storm rolled out of bed and marched to the door, his weapon in his hand but pointed down to the floor.
He opened it.
Leon stood on the other side.
Storm tucked his weapon back and stepped aside.
Leon moved into the room. His gaze found Lucinda and he grinned at her. “You were right, mi cara.”
Lucinda stared at him and asked, “About what?”
“Your cousins are beginning to make serious mistakes. They split up and are on the run.” Leon clasped his hands together and looked pleased at the way things were going.
Lucinda looked up at Storm.
Storm nodded and told her, “You need to tell him.”
Lucinda nodded. “When he’s rattled and has no choice, Silva will run for the church.
He may not believe in God but he knows he can get sanctuary inside those walls.
He thinks no one can get to him and drag him out if he begs the priests to give him their protection.
” She cleared her throat and went on, “Jose will take up space with the homeless and try to act like them but his act won’t last, he’s too arrogant to play homeless.
He’s going to cause problems right off the bat. So look for that.”
“And Ortega?” Leon snarled. “What will that stronzo do?”
Lucinda sighed and shook her head. “Ay dios. If you corner him, he’ll start chaos by killing people who get in his way and try to slip away in the mayhem that he started.”
Leon closed his eyes and shook his head.
Before he said anything Storm spoke up, “I’ve already got someone checking the churches and I’ve warned the bigger camps of the homeless. Plus, Bane and his group are following them.”
Leon opened his eyes and nodded. “Bane is following Ortega and he won’t allow that damn man to hurt anyone.
But thank you for letting me know what you think they will do.
We are going to close off every escape avenue that they might have reason to think they have.
If we can stay ahead of them, we have a chance to steer them right where we want them. ”
Lucinda nodded, then asked, “Is your family back yet?”
Leon shook his head. “We thought it might be safer to bring them back after dark. Right now, I don’t want them exposed while the Gondo brats are running the streets.”
Lucinda nodded. “That might be a smart idea. If Ortega saw them he just might start shooting for the hell of it. He wouldn’t even worry about exposing himself, he will just see red.
He’s the one who will allow his rage to make him reckless.
He also wouldn’t expect anyone to dare shoot back.
His rage is almost legendary back home.”
Leon snorted. “He’s just been lucky not to get a bullet to his brain. When in reality, he is the biggest fool your family has.”
Lucinda nodded. “Si, he is and I’m surprised he hasn’t been stopped yet but until now he’s always had family behind him. Now he is out there alone and he’s never been alone before.”
Leon cleared his throat and informed them, “I heard from the fire marshal earlier today. He told me the explosion this morning was a natural gas incident and that it was an accident but they didn’t find anyone still alive inside that warehouse.
He assumed they were all homeless people just looking to escape the weather.
I didn’t bother to tell him the people they pulled out of the warehouse were all here to take a place they didn’t earn.
Bring in a huge cartel presence to sell drugs and people.
I figured the less people who know the truth the better. ”
Lucinda nodded. Then she began to pray that this nightmare would be over soon.
The Gondo family was almost gone now and she didn’t feel any sorrow for that.
.. only relief. She knew God’s commandments and she knew she should feel something morality wise but she just couldn’t.
That family wasn’t real family, they were just a bunch of bullies and bad people.
They never accepted her and she was glad she didn’t carry the family name.
Paulo told her once that she would never have his last name and she surprised him when she told him that she was very happy about that.
He’d hit her then, telling her that his last name meant something in Mexico and he was proud of that.
She should have told him that his last name only brought her sorrow and misery but she hadn’t told him anything.
She just stared at him until he turned and walked away.
But he wasn’t happy with her and he’d let her know about that too as later, he had her boss from the eatery killed.
She had cried for days. After that, she never spoke to her father at all, even when he would confront her. Not. One. Word. Yes, he had won then. But finally, the time was at hand for his progeny and the name of Gondo to be wiped out, forever.
He was a thug, a criminal, and a bad human being.
Her mother wasn’t much better. Paulo, his brothers and most of her cousins were just as bad, so it wasn’t for lack of money.
It was living in the darkness. No light.
..just all selfish greed. At least they couldn’t hurt her anymore and for that she was happy she’d gotten here first. For once, she was happy.
Glad that she had most of her life packed up in that little car and she hadn’t hesitated to drive away.
Now she looked over at Storm and was also happy he’d been the one who opened her door and slid into the car.
She felt so many things and all of them were good. When had that ever happened? Her life would be full of light now. And she would make sure Poppy lived happily as well.
Later that Evening...
Silva ran through the streets of Boston, ducking in and out of sight. He was sweating and constantly looking over his shoulder. In his panic he kept hearing footsteps behind him that might not be real but he couldn’t take the chance that they might be.
After Ortega handed Orlando the money, Orlando sneered at them and told them thank you.
He didn’t even try to hide the fact that the money would not be used in their mission but to help him get set up somewhere else.
When Ortega realized they were being scammed, Orlando pulled a gun on them and he shot Jose just because he could.
That’s when they all scattered. He didn’t know if Jose or Ortega were still alive as bullets started flying.
They also didn’t know who was shooting at them.
The last thing he’d seen was Orlando trying to avoid the bullets too.
Silva thought he might have taken a bullet of his own but Silva didn’t wait to see if he had, he just ran. Before they even got to Orlando they all made a plan to meet back at the warehouse after they dropped the payment off.
Silva knew his brother would double-check on Orlando and try to get the money back.
To kill Orlando for his playing a part to scam them.
But he wasn’t going to worry about that right now, he needed to get somewhere safe.
But where was safe right now? Silva looked toward the tops of the trees.
When he saw a cross a few blocks away, he turned in the direction he needed and headed for the cross hanging above the church.
He had to get there. Once he was inside it would give him time to think.
He burst out of the trees and saw the big double doors. He headed toward them.
A man stepped out and blocked his way inside.
Silva screamed for the other man to get out of his way.
The man didn’t move.
Silva tried to push him out of his way but then he heard footsteps behind him. He couldn’t make himself turn and face whoever was coming. He felt a shiver run along his spine. Whoever was there was darker than even he was.
He tried to shove the man in front of him aside again but he didn’t move.
He was a huge man and his arms were steady while folded over his large chest as he stood in front of the church.
Then Silva felt a small piece of metal pushed into the back of his neck and he froze.
The man in front of him smiled and nodded at him.
That’s when Silva felt the man behind him lean closer.
“This chase is over, fool,” he whispered in a cold voice into Silva’s ear. “And you lose.”
His hands were wrenched behind his back and tied tightly. “You can’t stop me.” Silva growled.
The man chuckled but there was no humor in his voice. “I just did.” He tapped Silva’s head with his weapon.
Everything went dim then dark as Silva dropped to the ground.