I looked at Black and Blue tryin’ to get their take on the boy’s words. The way that Black was eyeing him said that he did.
“Your mother helped us distract your father. She said that he only cared about what you could do for him. If that’s true, that means you won’t mind being another distraction for me. We good?”
“I’ll do it. Whatever you need.” He said quickly.
“Good, tell him what you need Blue.” I said. When Blue had what he needed I spoke again. “When I tell you to stand up, stand where your father can see you. I promise nothing willhappen to you as long as you listen to me.” I would keep my word if he kept his. I gave the order to cease fire then grabbed the bullhorn and spoke to the men on the other side.
“Valdez, I have what you want.” I said and waited for a response.
A desperate shriek cut through the rapid sounds of automatic weapons. Valdez growled and shouted for his men to stop firing. It took only a minute for the men to heed their boss's command and then silence. I turned to the boy and motioned for him to stand and do what we discussed.
“Father please. Do what he says. I don’t want to die.” He begged, voice cracking a little.
“Edmond, it will be alright. Stay calm.” Valdez cried.
“It's done, keep him talking.” Blue announced.
“All you have to do is leave and I’ll send him out. There’s no need for anyone else to die.” I lied, because that was the plan. It had always been, but he would find out soon enough.
“You took her from me. You won’t take him. Send him down now or I’m coming in to get him.” Valdez seethed.
It was almost funny that he really believed that I would let him get anywhere near my family. I stood from my position and stared down at him. This powerful man that thought the world revolved around him and he could take what he wanted. And maybe that was true, but that was before he met me. He didn’t know the depths I would go to to win. Blue turned his wrist towards me so that the screen showed the completed transaction he had been working on as a plan B. I smirked and motioned for the boy to speed this shit up. It was time for me to go see my wife.
“Father please. Just back up. He said he will let me go.”
Valdez said nothing but spoke quietly with the mercs around him and then he shook his head and shouted.
“Ok, we’re leaving. Keep your word.” He hissed as he rushed to one of the SUVs behind him.
The men that were able climbed into any nearby working SUV and pulled back down the road with their boss.
“Showtime.” I said getting into position.
“You sure this will work?” Black asked as one of the guards walked the boy down the stairs to the sally port.
“It has too.” I said.
Valdez’s son stepped out of the gate, looking up one last time before he started running down the mountain to his father. Two mercs grabbed the boy and escorted him to the back of the convoy. Before the rest of them pushed forward again like I knew they would. He would never keep his word once he had his son. Not after thinking I had killed the boy's mother.
Valdez was so caught up in his anger that he had remembered that you can never trust a man that was motivated by money. None of the men with him were there out of loyalty, a familial bond or friendship. Every relationship he had was out of fear and financial gain. He had no idea that the mercs behind him were the type of men to fight for money and not a cause. That’s why when the mercs at his back took his son down the mountain to meet his mother and drove them to safety he was none the wiser.
He didn’t know that he stood alone, a mouse in a room full of viper. I let him come closer smiling that yellowed oily smile, standing at my gate like he had any power over what was about to happen.
“Mr. Sanderson, it seems you have no more leverage, and I have no reason to spare your life or the lives of your family. I had hoped that we would eventually come to an understanding like I had with the Harris’s. But I see now that a bond between us will never be.”
“You mean like you had with our dearly departed Sabrina and the late Harris’s?” I said pointing at Sabrina’s body that was still laid at the foot of the gate.
“Like you they didn’t honor their word and like you they paid for it with their lives.”
“I thought you would have been smarter than this Edmond.” I said finally using his name.
“What?”
“I thought that you would have seen what happened to the Harris’s and left well enough alone. Sabrina had to tell you what type of man I am.” I laughed.
“Oh, she did. She told me that you had gotten weak. Lost your balls because of grief. You missed a woman so much you forgot how to be a warrior.” He sneered.
“Is that what you came for, Edmond? You wanted to see the real Crew Sanderson? Kill them all.” I growled and a symphony of gunshots rang out, taking down the mercs Valdez’s son, just paid to turn on their latest boss. Valdez ducked and dodged bullets and dying men like he could really outrun his fate. When the smoke cleared, he was the only man standing, more like cowering.
