Chapter Three

DINO

I sit with Rico and Dominguez my right hand men and most trusted friends, going through the files Rico got from hacking into Gonzalez' server. Rico is my right hand. The eyes, ears and brain. Dominguez, my left. He is the muscle. We are thick as thieves, but I wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet in their heads if they try any stupid move. 

"Mr Roderigo, we will be landing in half an hour." The flight attendant said. I nodded and absent mindedly signalled him to refill the wine glasses. One file had piqued my interest. I look up to see him still standing there, and point my nine-millimeter at his head. 

"Why are you still here?"

"I'm so-" he tried to apologize, shaking like a fish.

"Don't apologize. Get out." Things spoken in here were more sensitive than the Watergate tapes. He zoomed off, almost tripping in his hurry. Dominguez snickered, enjoying the scene. I shot him a death glare. 

"What's stopping me from blowing your head off ?"

"The fact that you need me, you know you do." He said still laughing. Rico gave a small smile. Dominguez enjoys getting on my nerves, but I'm used to it. 

"So Gonzalez has no sons, but he has two daughters." I say, closing the file and stripping off my jacket.

"He just might ask you to marry one of them." Dominguez says, trying to gauge me for a reaction.

"The older one is married. However, he might ask you to marry the younger one. It's only logical." Rico said, turning to face me. All the while he had been typing away on his laptop, probably hacking into something again. The cyber rat. I didn't have a problem marrying Gonzalez' daughter. The problem was there was nothing significant about her in the file. The older daughter Camille is married to a US senator. I have no interest there. She's married. But Valentina Gonzalez, born February 14th 1998. Everything else about her was buried. No pictures of her, no social media accounts, no drivers license, not even a receipt in her name. It was like she didn't exist. It didn't make any sense. Camille had her life all over the internet. She's a fashion icon and philanthropist, even owns a charity organisation. If I didn't know better, I'd say Gonzalez is hiding his younger daughter, but why? Their mother died when they were young, and they were both homeschooled until college. Camille went to Harvard University where she met Noah Whitefield, her now husband. Valentina went to a small community college in Cuba. Other than that, there is no other information. I can't help but wonder what they're hiding. 

"Mr Roderigo we are now in Florida" the pilot announced. I rose from my seat and Rico opened the door stepping out first, followed by two body guards who carried our things and then myself and Dominguez. We have an issue to deal with here. Someone thought they were smart enough to steal from us. One million dollar worth of cocaine and meth. It's not a whole lot for me, but still, I need to teach him a lesson. The rat thought Florida a good place to hide. Big mistake. Rico had no stress fishing him out. We're going to pay him a big surprise. He should know we're on our way by now. I had my men kidnap him and take him to our camp. 

I got into the black limo already waiting for me. Rico and Dominguez got into another car, the body guards, another. We rode as a small convoy. If there's one thing I hate more than anything, it's thieves. They end up being liars and snitches. Anybody who steals from you will definitely lie to protect themselves. If they know you'll come for them, they'll snitch on you. I can't allow that. I get to the camp and my men are scattered around, having a good time. 

I have a camp in every city I dominate, and place my men there for easy access and running of business. As I step down from the limo, I hear cheers here and there from them. I just smile and wave. I make my way to the cellar with Dominguez, where the pathetic human is tied up. Rico goes to the bar instead. He doesn't like the sight of blood, and it's definitely going to be bloody down there. The cellar is extremely well camouflaged. It's where we hide our shipments and drugs. I get there and see him tied to an iron chair, blindfolded, his lips already busted, and his shirt bloodied. He clearly has been battered already. I shake my head and smile to myself. My boys sure know how to make themselves happy. 

"If it isn't my good ol' friend Victor." I say, making him aware of my presence. I could smell his fear, his body movements gave it up. The way his body went rigid at the sound of my voice and his lips quivered. 

"Boss, I swear, I-" he tried to speak

"Did I ask you to speak?" I cut him off irritated. One of my men come to whisper that they have his daughter. She was there when they found him, and they didn't know what to do with her. I asked them to bring her. 

"Where is my money Victor?" I ask in a tone that sends chills down his spine. 

"I don't have it now, but I swear, I'll pay it back." He pleaded. "Don't kill me please. I have a daughter, I beg you." 

We've actually recovered the money, thanks to Rico, but I can't let him off the hook, no. Once a thief, always a thief. 

"Tsk tsk tsk. Too sad Victor, your daughter is here." On cue, she is brought in. She looks about three years old. "Say hi to your daddy sweetie."

"Daddy?"

"My angel. Did they hurt you? Are you alright? Daddy's going to fine okay? This will all be over and we'll go home, okay?" He tells her in a frantic rush.

"Now I'm going to ask you one last time Victor. If I don't get a satisfactory answer, she dies."

"No, you can't do this, she's just a child!" He struggles in his chair and falls, planting his chin hard on the floor. Blood spurts from his mouth. I signal one of my men to restore his position. He spits out a tooth. 

"That's not the answer to my question." I say, cocking my gun. And I don't like to repeat myself. Sighing, I fired. Not once, twice. Her lifeless body fell to the ground. 

"Nooooo!" He screamed, shaking erratically in his chair. "Isabelle! Isabelle!!" He yelled between sobs. His voice echoed through the cellar. It's a good thing it was soundproof. Bored of the whole thing and not wanting to waste any more time, I put a bullet through his head. The sudden silence felt so peaceful. "Clean this mess up, and someone get me new shoes" I said, walking out. His daughters blood had splashed on my shoes when I shot her. Dominguez follows close behind me.

"I didn't think you were actually going to kill her." He whisper yelled. 

"She's a loose end. I don't like loose ends. She can grow up, and start seeking revenge for her father. Why not take care of it now, than have a bigger problem twenty years from now". I say, void of emotion. He grunts his reply and I turn to face him. 

"You have a problem with that? You want to join him?" The look in my eye let's him know I'm dead serious. He shakes his head, no. 

"Good." I say and keep walking. I won't kill him. Rico and Dominguez are like my siblings. Nonetheless, I never want them to get too comfortable. 

"Rico sent me a text. He's found Delgado and his family. They've been rounded up and taken back to Mexico. Ready the jet, we'll leave by sunset." I tell him and he nods, already placing a call. He leaves my side and I go to my private quarters to freshen up. I honestly need a break. I'm beginning to regret discarding Samantha, but I shake the thought off. Regulars are a risk. I walk to the wardrobe to see if I have any casual clothing, and see the new shoes I asked for on the ground. Perfect. I strip and head to the shower. 

Delgado was fast becoming one of my favorites. Very fast, smart and efficient, always gets his job done, but he had a chronic gambling problem and soon started started stealing from me. I hadn't noticed until hundreds of thousands started missing. He's one of my most trusted men and I decided he shouldn't die. I gave him time to pay up, but the fool thought he could outsmart me and fled the country. Sometimes I wonder why these people think like dimwits. You can never outrun me. You can never hide from me. I will find you.