Smart girl.
I shifted my weight and crossed my arms tighter, staying stone-cold.
“Iya, you were an exceptional mule—hell, one of the best in the business, if I’m being completely honest—but you were also a verystupidone. And now, because of the reckless decisions you made, you’re not just about to lose your kids, you’re about to lose your life.”
I watched the realization wash over Iya, breaking her down piece by piece. Her sobs turned into heaves, each breath a struggle as she fought against the words caught in her throat. But words don’t work when a man like Alejandro has already made up his mind.
“Boss, please!”
Alejandro held up a finger, silencing her.
Iya shut the fuck up immediately.
That’s the thing about power…when you really got it, you don’t gotta shout. One look, one gesture, and the room listens.
Alejandro pivoted toward me. “Handle her, clean yourself up, then come see me.”
That’s how orders were delivered in our world. I allowed him to speak, and he trusted me to finish what he started.
“Yes, sir,” I replied smoothly.
The door closed behind him, and the lock clicked.
Iya looked at me like I was her last chance for salvation, fully aware that the devil was about to collect his due.
“Domino, please!” she practically begged, her voice crackling like a broken record. “Please don’t do this!”
I said nothing, as I methodically loaded my Glock.
Click. Clack.
That sound alone had her breaking.
“Say something, dammit!” she yelled, panic rising in her throat.
I exhaled slowly and walked closer. “What you want me to say?”
“At least try to hear me out and get a better understanding ofwhyI did what I did!”
“You already explained. And if your reason wasn’t good enough forhim, what the hell makes you think it’s gon’ fly withme?"
"Because… I thought we had something. I thought you’d understand."
"Nah. You thought wrong. We fucked… that’s it. That don’t mean we soul-bound.”
Her eyes welled up instantly. “W-What? You told me you weren’t like the rest of them.”
“I’m not… I’mworse.”I shrugged, insensitive to her feelings.
Iya shook her head violently. “You lied! You told me—”
“Iya, I told you what was needed to keep you quiet, and it worked… until Boss squeezed every drop of work he could get outta you.”
Her face crumpled, a mixture of confusion and pain washing over her. “What? He… he used me?”
I crouched beside Iya. My face was mere inches from her; close enough for her to feel the danger radiating from me.
“Wedid. I was the first one to find out you was working with the FEDs. The streets talk, Iya. And when I heard that shit, I wanted to kill you that same night… but Boss had a better idea. He ordered me to keep you close…dangerouslyclose. What hedidn’tknow was that I was fucking you. That wasmylittle add-on. You thought what we had was real? Nah. It was surveillance with a nut attached.”