Chapter 17 - Blood and Marble
Héctor wildly spun around, raising his pistol, completely shocked by the sudden attack.
Alejandro Ríos stepped out from the thick shadows of the trees, his expensive suit torn and covered in blood, his eyes burning with a terrifying, absolute vengeance. He pumped the heavy tactical shotgun, the loud metallic clack echoing like a death knell in the quiet night.
“Héctor!” Alejandro roared, a sound so full of primal rage it made the ground tremble.
The three remaining mercenaries immediately raised their rifles, but Alejandro was incredibly fast. He fired twice in rapid succession, dropping two men instantly before they could even pull their triggers.
Héctor, realizing his massive coup had just failed, didn't stay to fight his former boss. He abandoned his men, turned on his heel, and sprinted desperately toward the heavy treeline, hoping to disappear into the vast darkness of the dense forest.
“Get down!” Alejandro shouted to Valeria.
Valeria grabbed Mateo and pulled him deep into the safety of the dirt trench, covering his ears.
Alejandro dropped the empty shotgun, pulled his silver-plated pistol from his holster, and sprinted fiercely after the traitor. The cartel boss was relentless, driven by years of manipulated trust and the profound grief of losing his wife.
He caught up to Héctor near a rocky ravine. Héctor spun around in a panic, firing wildly in the dark. A bullet grazed Alejandro’s thigh, but the cartel boss didn't even flinch. He walked steadily forward, a force of pure, unstoppable nature, and fired a single, perfect shot.
The bullet struck Héctor squarely in the kneecap. The scarred enforcer screamed in agony, collapsing heavily into the dirt, dropping his weapon.
Alejandro walked up slowly, standing over the man he had once called a brother. He looked down at the jagged scar on Héctor's right hand—the hand that had murdered his wife and terrorized his only son.
“Alejandro, please,” Héctor begged, coughing up blood, holding his shattered knee. “We built this empire together.”
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“You destroyed my family,” Alejandro whispered coldly.
He raised the pistol and pulled the trigger.
