Bonded by Blood

nd you'll nev

like a blade. She gripped Jorge's arm, her nails digging into his s

fingers off. His hands trembled,

there won't be anyt

ng with desperation. "You don't understand what he is, Jorge. He

linked

bleed," she whispered. "

ment. The wind stirred between

s no oth

lt like a de

ain that never came. But tonight, he wasn't ga

inst the fear clawing at his chest, he s

rived, filled with the murmur of merchants and t

ed on one thing:

r. Men like Lucero weren't asked for favors. They were offere

rough the city with nothing b

íame," he

over the city like a watchful beast. Its gates were taller than any

e to a stop and force

es sweeping over him with barely conc

Jorge said, keeping his voice s

orted. "And who do

met their gaze. "A man w

first guard scoffed

he can strike deals w

ow. "Wait by the shed. Maybe he'

fists but nodded. H

ore him-manicured hedges, pristine fountains, roses in full bl

her. Minutes passed. Then an hour. The silence

th

tst

Deli

look

ago L

just enough to reveal a silver watch and the veins running along his forear

the garden h

h

been w

t there was something beneath it-som

feet. "Yes, sir. I-I ca

ough already calculating his worth. Then,

low

de-dark marble floors, high ceilings, an

to a set of heavy double doors. He

ogany desk at its center, a glass of amber liquid

ed for Jo

d himself into the chair. Hi

ingers tapping lazily

ively casual. "What exactly

farm outside the city, but the drought-" He hesitated. How did

percent interest. I jus

as silen

kle. Low, sm

quid catch the light. His dark eyes glinted with something da

pay yo

resting on the desk. The room

nk I am a m

t a whisper. But the weigh

, s

o me with a peas

itated-th

fail to repay y

rs paused agai

and retrieved a file. He opened it. Read a few

stillo land, nor

es

ink it's written on. No irrigation. Poor soi

words settl

o Jorge, smile w

ite out back-the one where your old tractor rusts bes

nked. "Si

id smoothly, beginning to gather the papers. "

od-but di

ooked at

he dropped t

ike a thunderclap

ro p

mbling. "Take the house. If I fail, take ever

ned, gaze

ger a farmer-but a father with dirt ben

s eyes-not pity. Not mercy.

pped c

tanding over him like a shadow, "the roof

lose it, I don't d

ilent for a

, fi

t u

e ob

d a drawer, and removed a thin folder

said. "You'll have a contract ready. Thirty perce

Jorge dead

ouse. The lan

ge had entered, something fl

like an eternity, he l

," he said. "I'll h

turned toward the door, ready to esca

uddenly at his side-a blur of motion so fast

cero said, his voice

ose to Jorge's ear, his b

e fr

unreadable glint in his eyes, a

omorrow will be