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Thirteen years ago…
The informant is dead.
My hand.
My gun.
My blood.
“The informant is dead, Gemma.”
My father pushes my hand down, leaving me still clutching my gun, as he brushes my hair away from my face. The left side of his mouth quicks into a dark smirk. But his cheeks are rounded, eyes shimmering with mirth.
At his touch, the fog of my rage dissipates, clearing my vision and making me aware of the living people who witnessed me in action.
I glance at the man at my feet without sympathy. Cold washes over me, filling my body until I’m brimming with it, and I shake out my stiff limbs.
This newfound adrenaline needs an outlet.
I cock my head to the left, studying the motionless traitor and… I feel nothing.
No regret.
No fear.
No guilt or anxiety or unease or any of the emotions one should feel after murdering a man.
“Gem,” my father whispers, peering at my face. “How do you feel?”
I smother a giggle because it’s such a ridiculous question, but my hushed answer pops out without my permission. “My mouth hurts.”
He chuckles quietly, tilting my chin up to inspect me. “I imagine it does, my precious gemstone. He hit you, but you handled yourself quite well in that fight. We knew he wouldn’t go down easily. A single shot to the head is impressive for any of us under the circumstances.”
“He hit me in the mouth,” I mumble to myself, running my tongue across the tops of my bottom teeth.
Braces. That’s why my mouth hurts so badly. He’d hit me in his attempt to flee, and my braces pushed into the skin under my lip.
Using my left hand, I put my index finger into my mouth and pull the tender flesh away from the metal glued to my teeth. It hurts worse than the actual punch he landed. I wince slightly, flexing my back as I hide the pain. There are too many people around to show weakness.
“Better?” he inquires.
I nod in response as I spit a mouthful of blood onto the floor.
“I can call a doctor in,” he quietly suggests, trying to walk the line of doting parent and ruthless cartel heir. “You may need a few stitches.”
“I don’t need a doctor,” I reply, half joking when I ask, “Can I just take these off and get the clear retainer now? I think it’ll be a job hazard to keep metal glued to my teeth for two more months.”
His smirk falls away as he watches me. Then he nods once and wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“Of course, Gemstone. First thing Monday morning.”
As his eyes travel down to the man I murdered, I know I won’t see disgust pointed in my direction. He glares at the dead scum who’s been snitching to the Estradas before kneeling beside his body.
My father motions me closer, his bright white teeth on full display as he flashes me a megawatt grin.
I’ve known an abundance of love from him in my brief life, but now my true training shows. While they’ve groomed Lory to take over the business aspects of the cartel, they’ve shown me how to accomplish the things our key members can’t achieve.
Eventually, they’ll expect me to marry Lorenzo Navarra. The thought is disturbing, even if we do make a fierce pair. Especially when we see eye-to-eye.
