Page 134 of Jagger's Remorse
Blood spreads across the ground. Her breathing goes shallow, stutters.
Pablo starts laughing. "I knew it! I knew you'd choose them over her. Just like your father chose duty over family."
Myfather. The words register through the performance. "You knew my old man?"
"Knew him? I killed him." Pablo's grin is feral. "He was getting too close to our operations. Had to go. Made it look like a rival club hit. Two bullets to the head, left in a ditch outside Bakersfield."
Red floods my vision. But I stay still. Wait.
"He was righteous, your father. Couldn't be bought. Kept detailed notes about our routes, our connections. Would have brought down the whole operation if I hadn't handled it."
"When?"
"Fifteen years ago. Right before Miguel started skimming. Almost like losing his DEA contact made him desperate." Pablo's enjoying this. "Your old man died trying to be a hero. Just like you're going to die being smart."
Pablo steps closer to examine Scarlett's body. "Perfect. Eduardo will be devastated. His precious goddaughter murdered by her lover?—"
Scarlett moves.
Fast as a snake, she springs up, Pablo's moment of inattention costing him everything.
The knife—the one I put in her—finds his throat.
"Surprise,Tío," she hisses.
Pablo staggers back, hands clutching his neck. Blood sprays between his fingers, arterial and final.
"How—"
"Practice," she says coldly. "And a man who trusts me enough to follow my lead."
Pablo drops to his knees. Tries to speak. Only gurgles come out.
"Oh, and Pablo?" Scarlett crouches beside him. "My mother wasn't a whore. She was an artist. She painted sunsets and sang to me every night. She was worth a hundred of you."
Pablo's eyes go wide. Then empty. He falls forward, twitches once, and goes still.
Rico and his men raise their weapons, but we're already moving.
The firefight is brutal and quick. Scarlett might be wounded—reallywounded this time—but she fights like a demon.
We're outnumbered but not outclassed.
Poncho takes down three before a bullet finds his shoulder, but keeps shooting with his off hand.
Hammer goes hand-to-hand with a Sombra enforcer, comes out victorious but bloody.
I put two in Rico's chest, watch him fall next to Pablo.
Kid dies with surprise on his face.
When the dust settles, we're the only ones standing.
Except for Mouse.
He's on his knees in the dirt, cradling a gut wound. Must have caught a stray in the crossfire.
"My family," he gasps. "Please."
