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“That’s what my mama says, too.” Lino begins to walk toward a small building not far from where we stand, but before he steps inside, he motions for us to follow.
No one else in town says anything. They watch us. Untrusting.
“Keep your eyes open, and any member of the family is to be taken in.”
“Yes, sir,” all four answer, voice low. If Lino’s father heard my instructions, he pretends otherwise, and we walk inside the establishment to find quite a scene.
Jorge Rubens is here and drunk off his arse.
He’s stumbling, trying to find rhythm in a flamenco beat playing in the background and doing a piss poor job. There are bottles occupying three of the eight tables inside, all empty and some broken from being slammed down too hard. Then, there’s what looks to be vomit on the floor in various spots.
It’s a disgusting sight.
“Hello, Jorge.” At the sound of my voice, he freezes and his face whips around toward me. It’s almost funny how quickly he sobers up a bit, face paling when he takes in the others behind me. “You’ve created quite the problem for yourself? Yes?”
“Jameson, what are—”
“Silence.” The two other patrons leave the bar while I turn my head to Lino and his father. “Please take your family and go. I will pay you for the damages incurred, but this won’t be gentle.”
The father swallows hard, his eyes flicking between me and the nuisance. “Understood.”
Lino, though, has other plans and tries to resist when his dad ushers him out. “But, Papa!”
“Listen to your dad, kid. Help him take care of your mum.” At the mention of his mum, his chest puffs out and he nods. Takes off in the direction of the back, while I move my attention back to the scum pissing on himself. “Get him a change of clothes and on the boat. We have somewhere to be before sundown.”
“Hijo de puta!” Jorge screams. The boiling hot water dripping from his naked torso has taken most of his skin off, the top layer anyway. He’s in pain. Bleeding in some parts. “Please. No mas…I can’t take…fuck! I’ll talk.”
“Mate, you really suck at this whole torture thing.” Those standing against the wall inside the pub back in London all chuckle. We’ve been at this for ten minutes now; we allowed him a nice nap since returning, but the man makes this too easy for his position on floor. “You’re supposed to let me ask the question first.”
“I know where Aliana and her brothers are.”
“I’m sure you do.”
“Isn’t that what you want?”
“It is.” I hold a hand out, and Archie places my whip at the center of my palm. Its weight feels good. This weapon is an extension of me, and I let the leather unfurl and crack it once against the cold concrete. I press the button to release the blades, and the audible click sends a shiver through Jorge. “But I need to know the full story before I pass judgment.”
“She’s in Nicaragua. So is the woman, Lindsey, and the boys.” Jorge licks his cracked lips. “They’re not hurt, but that’s because Aliana will be stealing something very valuable in three days.” Three days. Day after Valentine’s Day. Instead of celebrating with me, they’ll be putting her life at risk for their personal gain. I won’t allow that. “That’s what kept them safe, for now. They need her compliant, and my mother—”
“Your mother is dead,” Giannis interrupts, his lips curled up in disgust. Normally, I’d shoot someone for doing what he just did, but he has permission to do so if the wanker is lying. “You forget I went to the funeral.”
“That woman wasn’t my mother.”
“Then who the fuck is…” Giannis trails off and his eyes widen. The look on his face is almost comical. Almost, because I’m clueing into what he’s hinting at and it’s sickening. “You mean to tell me Ada Rubens is your mother?”
“She is. She also killed Aliana’s father, and he’s not her first victim.”
“Governor Rubens?” He nods at my question. “What else has she done? Why is she holding Aliana and her siblings?” You have to be one mentally fucked individual to hurt your own kid. Then a thought occurs. “Is she even their mother?”
Because at this point, nothing would surprise me.
“She is.”
“But?”
“But she loves money and her freedom more. That’s why she killed my father all those years ago, the governor’s ambitions were similar to hers. However,” he coughs, then rubs at the skin of his chest which is a mistake. His hiss is loud. “Fucking shit.”
“However, what?”
