Page 54 of Walking the Bird

Shaking his head, Miguel tried to shove the look on his mother’s face as she stood by his empty coffin to the back of his mind. How she’d clung to his little brother before spitting on his grave.

“She said I would never amount to anything after I was discharged. Once I killed Diablo, I needed to change my identity. So, I stole a body from the morgue, put it in my car and made sure it exploded when it crashed through the guardrails. I chose a place far enough away from the city to make sure the fire department couldn’t put it out until it was nothing but ash. Then I came back here to take over what Diablo started.

“That night, I heard from this bitch I was fucking, there was a poker tournament in the main resort. I’d managed to steal enough cash to afford the buy in and when I sat down at the table, this old man introduced himself as Mr. Ashwald. When the tournament was over, and I’d cheated my way to winning, Ashwald invited me to his room, which ironically turned out to be the owner’s suite, where he confessed he was Derek Silvers the owner of the resort. He spun some bullshit story of how he’d used an alias every time he went to one of his resorts so he could see how his employees really worked. Which got me to thinking, if no one knew this old fuck was the owner, then chances are they’d never been introduced.

“The next night, I waited until he’d gone into his office, slipped through the door, slit his throat and waited until dawn before carrying him out to the beach. My intention was to take him out to the middle of the ocean and dump him, but as I was putting his body in the boat, the cops drove by, shining their flashlights in my direction. I dove for the mangroves where I found this strange tunnel. When the cops refused to leave, I crept further into the tunnel, waiting until they left. The next day, I’d disposed of the body, crept back into his office and hacked into his computer, sending out an email announcing I, as Derek Silvers, would take a permanent residence at the resort.”

Needing as much time as he could get in order for his plan to work, Viper had to keep Miguel talking.

“And the drugs?”

Throwing his head back in laughter, “Fuck, Viper, that’s the best part. A few days after I arrived as Derek Silvers, these two guys dressed in cop uniforms approached me as I was running on the beach. They asked if I’ was willing to give them a larger cut of the profits for turning a blind eye to the drugs sold on my property. At first, I played ignorant, until they showed me this plastic bag full of powder, a bumble bee stamped on the front. I took the bag, stuck my pinky in the powder and tasted it. Now, I've had some blow in my days, but this shit was as weak as a day-old kitten. That night, I went to Diablo’s boat, pulled his recipe and found the guys who were cooking for this bumble bee fuck, convincing them to come work for me. We tweaked the shit a bit, adding vitamin powder to give it a kick. Long story short, I can’t make the shit fast enough.”

“And the cops?” Viper challenged, knowing the answer, but needing more time.

Miguel rolled his eyes, “Greedy motherfuckers. They had the audacity to demand fifty percent of what I was making, or they would shut me down. I stayed up all night trying to figure out a way to make them think I’d stopped production, while doubling it instead. I paced so much that night, until it hit me; if they can’t see it, they can't prove it. So, I went out to the mangroves, stepped into the tunnel and followed it all the way until I found this abandoned sub. I gutted the torpedoes, creating the positive water pressure to launch them by hooking up several dozen pump motors. I used the high tide as cover to get them to the boats, and, as you’ve seen firsthand, Viper, diving vests to keep them submerged until my boys could pick them up for distribution. I even paid tribute to the day I told you to fuck off.” Miguel held up his left hand, turning the broken trident tattoo toward him. “By stamping my name on every one of them.”

Trespass stepped into the room, his gun in one hand and a detonator in the other. “Too bad your greed was your downfall.”

Miguel looked at the man who’d worked as his limo driver through confused eyes. “Bash?”

“It’s Trespass, actually. A former SEAL like your boy here.” Tipping his head toward Viper. “I work for a company hired by the same government you tried to outsmart, to kill you.”

Havoc held his breath as he waited for the signal. He could see Eleni clearly and hoped she kept her attention on Viper and not his fingers as he gripped the metal bars.

Fear like she’d never felt gripped Eleni, a chill so strong in the air making her body shake. Where was Havoc? She questioned internally, trying desperately not to believe he’d forgotten her.

“I can give you double what they’re paying you,” Miguel lied.

“No, you can't,” Viper clipped. “Ghost seized all of your assets at the same time he put your security monitors on a loop.”

Without thought, Miguel dropped his gaze to the phone in his hand, unable to believe he’d been outsmarted.

Trespass pulled the trigger the instant he saw Miguel’s gaze leave his, not stopping until his magazine was empty.

Havoc jerked the bar with every muscle he had, catching Eleni as she fell through the floor and into the bilge where he waited.

Eleni didn't have time to scream as the floor dropped out from under her. One minute she was staring at Viper and the next, she was face down with a heavy weight pushing her to the ground, as the sound of bullets rained overhead.

“I’m so sorry, Kookla.” Havoc shouted into his wife’s ear. “I fucking failed you time and time again.” Wrapping his body around hers, he allowed the emotions he’d held back for so long to flow out. “I’m done with the team, no more missions. I’ll take a job at the diner or wherever you tell me. Just please, please, don't leave me.”

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