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The answer was easy. On New Year’s Day when I’d met the two angels who had saved me.
I crept inside undetected. Rosca was a tactical genius. Given the things I’d done for him, a child should be of no consequence. He had gambled I couldn't destroy a boy’s life for my own gain, and he’d been correct. If he was any relation to Rosca, he was destined for a life of blood and crime. He wouldn't have a choice. I determined to give him one.
“Grandpa, can we get ice cream after this?” He was around Gabriel’s age with the halo of innocence surrounding him.
“We'll get two scoops of chocolate.” Rosca smiled, a sight I’d never seen.
He cared about the boy, and I was temporarily derailed.
Rosca checked his watch. I did the same. Eduardo was late. Somehow, I doubted he’d show at all, considering Nicanor Rosca hadn’t been invited to the party in the first place.
I couldn't shoot Rosca now, but if I came out of the shadows, I'd sign my own death certificate. My fury grew. He might be a grandpa, but no loving man would ever bring his grandson into this situation. Ever. If Rosca gave more than one shit about the child, he wouldn't be here.
It was the classic move of my father, and I realized why I'd been so intent on taking out Rosca. He was my father personified. I wanted to rid this earth of anyone like him for the sake of kids like the one only steps away, who just wanted ice cream with his grandfather.
Save him.
It was my mother's voice, as clear as if she were beside me. Vadim, Rosca's son, emerged from the shadows. This was his boy. He'd allowed his son to be used. Without revealing myself, I said, “Send the boy away.”
The child's head snapped in the direction of my voice, and his grandfather's lips curled into a victorious sneer. “You don't call the shots, Calderón. You should know that by now.”
“Send. The boy. Away.”
I moved along the back wall so the next time they heard my voice, it was from another place. “He doesn't belong here.”
“That's up to me,” Rosca responded. I seethed on behalf of that child. I'd been him. At least my own father had kept me oblivious to the business going on around me at a young age. Rosca was a psycho.
“Actually, it's not.” I walked confidently forward, stepping into the light, deciding to take the risk. “Is this your son?” I asked Vadim. We'd known one another for as long as I'd been associated with his father, but I'd never met his children. Vadim wasn't as ruthless as his father. That much I'd picked up on when he'd had to leave the room when I'd brutally killed the man who had betrayed them. Vadim didn't have a taste for violence, like his father. I regretted not having forged a bond over that with him.
Vadim picked up his son.
“What's happening, Daddy?” Gabriel had taught me how intuitive kids were, and this one was no different. It was impossible not to pick up on the tension.
“Just a little business.” Vadim turned to his father. “He doesn't belong here.” And with that, he took his son out the front door. My respect for Vadim grew exponentially, though he wasn't to be trusted. I had no way of knowing how he would retaliate when I ended his father's life.
“Only a coward would use a child as a shield,” I said as soon as the metal door slammed shut.
Rosca laughed long and hard. “Only a fool would make himself known with a bounty so high on his head.”
I put a hand in my pocket and clutched the rosary. “I didn’t realize you were hard up for money. Killing for sport is much less desperate than killing for cash.”
His nostrils flared. “Who said that’s why we’re here?”
“You did. This is a meeting you weren’t invited to.” It seemed as if he might not be here to kill me. He certainly wouldn’t do it himself. I’d never seen him do anything other than spectate when it came to extinguishing a life.
“Sandoval thinks he’s smarter than he is.” Rosca flicked an imaginary piece of lint off his sleeve. “His quest for whatever he holds against you”—he waved his hand in the air with indifference—”is meaningless. You are worth more to me alive than dead.”
I forced a neutral expression on my face. This wasn’t news. I made this man loads of money, but I hadn’t expected him to admit that.
“Where is he?”
A sinister smile formed. “He won’t be joining us. He’s otherwise engaged.” I narrowed my gaze. “What is your interest in him? Other than he double-crossed you?”
“We have unfinished business.”
“I’m afraid it will remain so,” he said regretfully. His gold tooth gleamed in the light.
It seemed too good to be true that Rosca had taken care of my problem. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted the chance to confront Eduardo, though now that I knew who he really was, I understood his motivation. His family had murdered my mother. Mine had slaughtered his. There was enough hate between us to last a thousand lifetimes.
