Page 1 of Kade

The crowd below looked more like an ant farm than an actual New York street, teeming with busy people, Juan Ramirez noted as he watched from his thirty-second-floor hotel room. It always fascinated him how very animalistic humans were, even when they clung desperately to the trappings of society. At heart, people were all animals, himself included. Sometimes he even pretended to be civilized, but today was not one of those days.

He checked his watch again. Mona was late. The bitch had been late for their last three meetings. She seemed to be under the impression she was safe just because she happened to be the daughter of a councilman. Theseputas, they were all the same. Maybe this time he’d teach her a lesson she wouldn’t forget.

After another thirty minutes and no Mona, he pulled on his jacket and checked his gun, making sure it was fully loaded. Habit, really. He had other business to attend to this morning.

“Mateo!”

The six-year-old ducked his head through the door. “Sí, señor?”

“Grab your shoes, little one. We have business to attend to.”

The little boy nodded and disappeared back into the bedroom. Juan heard the television turn off, and then the child came shuffling out of the room, rubbing his eyes. He hadn’t slept well the night before. Nightmares plagued him. He’d get over them soon enough. Juan was training the boy to be a weapon. He needed to be exposed to everything from a young age to let go of his conscience and become the killer the cartel wanted.

The boy could almost pass for a Hispanic if it weren’t for his green eyes. He played outside enough to be as brown as the other children, and his coal black hair blended in well. It was just his eyes, inherited from his mother.

From what Juan knew of the boy’s real father, the child took after him. It was hard for him to understand that killing was necessary. He had the nasty tendency to want to protect others. He’d seen it in the way the child stood up to bullies in the neighborhood, even at such a young age. It was Juan’s job to direct that protectiveness toward the cartel.

Those were the instructions he’d been given when they’d delivered the child into his custody six years ago. He kept himself detached, never letting himself care for the boy. That wasn’t his job. He was to keep him fed, clothed, and to train him. Much as he himself had been trained.

“Listo.”

Juan nodded and collected the child’s hand, leading him out of the room and to the elevator. The boy liked elevators. His eyes lit up every time they got on one. It was one of the small pleasures he allowed the child. Juan himself had been fascinated by escalators at that age. Having a little fun wouldn’t cause any harm to the grand scheme of things.

As they stepped out of the hotel, he noticed a black town car pull up behind his own black SUV. Mona tumbled out of the back door before her driver could so much as get out. She spotted Juan right away and smiled, her overly white teeth flashing in the sunlight. Golden bracelets clinked together on her right arm, distracting Juan from the woman’s tight red dress. She stumbled again as she started forward, her six-inch stilettos getting in her way.

“Juan.” She leaned in to kiss him, and Juan dodged her. She stank of cigarettes and stale beer.

“You are late.”

She gave him another sugary grin. “I’m not late, I’m just…”

“Drunk.” He couldn’t hide the disgust in his voice. “It is no matter. We can discuss our business on the way to my next appointment.” He took her arm and steered her toward the SUV, pushing her inside when his driver opened the door. There wasn’t room for all of them in the back, so he ordered the boy into the front seat. Mateo obeyed without question, his expression blank. Juan knew he suspected something bad was coming.

And it was.

“You have my money?” He let his eyes rove over Mona. She had a nice figure.

“Yes.” She dug around in her purse and pulled out a fat envelope. He took it from her and counted, ignoring her gasp of outrage. He no more trusted her not to cheat him than he did anyone else. All there. At least she was honest with her money. He tucked it into his breast pocket then turned his attention back to the simpering socialite.

“We must have the discussion of punctuality again, Mona. I am growing weary of this.”

“Juan, baby, I have responsibilities too…”

“No, you were getting hammered.” He cut her off before she started her usual spiel of bullshit.

She sent him what she probably thought was a sultry look, when in fact it looked like she’d just tasted something sour. He couldn’t abide drunkards, especially those who worked for him.

“Today will be the last day you are ever late to a meetingandthe last day you will ever show up drunk.”

Her smile turned sly, and he knew she thought he was bluffing. He wasn’t.

“You’re going to learn what happens when you disobey me, Mona.”

The chill in his voice made Mateo gasp in the front seat. He’d used that tone on the boy enough during punishments for him to recognize it. He understood what it meant. Mona soon would.

“You think I can’t hurt you,puta?” He leaned over, his hand cupping her neck, his thumb stroking her jawline. “Because of your papa.”

She smiled, the triumph of that statement in her glassy, drunken eyes.

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