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"Oh, shit," I cry as I feel his hot, wet blood soak my hands.
Pacos eyes are glazed, but he moves his hand slowly and grabs onto my arm. "I fucked up. "
I rest Pacos head on my thighs. "I told you to stop interferin with my life. Dont die on me, you better not die on me," I choke out. "Holy shit, youre bleedin all over. "
Bright red blood streams out of his mouth.
"Im scared," he whispers, then winces in pain.
"Dont leave me. Hold on and itll be fine. " I hold Paco tightly, knowing I just lied to him. My best friend is dying. Theres no going back. I feel his pain as if its my own.
"Lookie here, its pretend Alex and his sidekick, the real Alex. Some Halloween night, aint it?"
I turn to the sound of Hectors voice.
"Its too bad I couldnt tell it was Paco I was shooting at," he continues. "Man, you two look so different in daylight. I guess I should get my eyes checked. " He pulls a gun on me.
Im not scared. Im angry. And I need answers. "Why did you do this?"
"If you must know, its your fathers fault. He wanted out of the Blood. But there is no out, Alex. He was the best we had, your padre. Right before he died, he tried to quit. That last drug deal was his challenge, Alex. Father-son drug deal. You both make it out alive, he wins. " He laughs, a cackling sound reverberating in my ears. "The stupid motherfucker never had a chance. Youre too much like your old man. I thought I could train you to take his place as a great drug and gun dealer. But no, you really are like your old man. A quitter . . . un rajado. "
I look down at Paco. Hes hardly breathing, the air barely making
it out of his lungs. Looking down at his blood-stained chest, the growing red bulls-eye reminds me of my papa. This time, though, Im not six years old. Everything is crystal clear.
My eyes meet Pacos for an intense second.
"The Latino Blood betrayed us both, man," are the last words Paco says before his eyes glaze over and he falls limp in my arms.
"Put him down, already! Hes dead, Alex. Just like your old man. Get up and face me!" Hector yells, waving his gun in the air like a lunatic.
I gently lay Pacos lifeless body on the ground and stand, ready to fight.
"Put your hands on your head so I can see em. You know, when I killed el viejo you cried like an escuincle, a baby, Alex. You cried in my arms, the guy who killed him. Ironic, huh?"
I was only six. If Id known it was Hector, I wouldnt have joined the Blood. "Whyd you do it, Hector?"
"Boy, youll never learn, will you? You see, tu papa thought he was better than me. I showed him, didnt I? He bragged that the south side of Fairfield was a cut above since the high school was in a rich hood. Said in Fairfield there were no gangs. I changed that, Alex. Got my guys to go in and make every household belong to me. It was either come to me, or lose everything. That, my boy, is what makes me el jefe. "
"It makes you a madman. "
"Madman. Genius. Same thing. " Hector pushes me with the gun. "Now get on your knees. I think this is a good place for you to die. Right here in the woods, like an animal. You want to die like an animal, Alex?"
"Youre the animal, asshole. You could at least look me in the eye when you murder me, like you did to my father. "
When Hector walks around me, I finally have a chance. Grabbing Hectors wrist, I force him to the ground.
Hector swears and is fast to his feet, the gun still in his hand. I use his disorientation to my advantage and kick him in the side. Whirling around, Hector knocks the side of my head with the butt of his gun. I fall on my knees, cursing the fact that Im not invincible.
Thoughts of mi papa and Paco give me the strength to fight back through the blur. Im all too aware Hector is trying to get a good shot at me.
When I kick Hector back, I scramble to my feet. Hectors Clock is pointed directly at my chest.
"This is the Arlington Heights police! Drop your weapons and put your hands in the air where we can see them!"
Through the woods and the haze, I can barely see red and blue lights flashing in the distance.
I raise my hands. "Drop it, Hector. The game is over. "
Hector holds the gun steady, aimed at my chest.
"Put the gun down," the police call out. "Now!"
Hectors eyes are wild. I feel his rage from the five feet separating us.
_I know hes going to do it. Es un cabron.
Hes going to pull the trigger.
"Youre wrong, Alex," he says. "The game has just begun. "
The whole thing happens fast. I move to the right as the shots ring out.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
Stumbling backward, I know Im hit. The bullet burns through my skin as if someone is pouring Tabasco on it.
Then my world goes black.
