Page 92 of Jagger's Remorse
War.
Death.
The end of everything.
"We'll need to vote," Jagger says.
"You have twenty-four hours," Eduardo allows. "Scarlett will serve as liaison. My voice in your club."
"Mine," Jagger states firmly.
"Yours," Eduardo agrees. "But also mine. Never forget that."
He stands, meeting over.
"Mija," he says to me. "Walk me out."
I follow him, leaving Jagger to compose himself.
Outside, Eduardo turns to me.
"You love him," he observes.
"Yes," I admit.
"He'll destroy you," Eduardo warns. "Love always does."
"Maybe," I acknowledge.
"I'm disappointed," he says again. "You could have been so much more."
"I am more," I insist. "Just not what you wanted."
He cups my face, almost gentle.
"You're your father's daughter after all," he says sadly. "Weak for the wrong people."
"Is that why you had him killed?" I ask. "Because he was weak?"
Eduardo's eyes go cold.
"I had him killed because he stole from me," he states. "The weakness was just... disappointing."
The admission hits like a punch.
"You actually ordered it," I breathe.
"Of course I did," Eduardo confirms. "Did you think it was random? That Los Lobos moved without permission? Your father betrayed us. The price was death."
"And me?" I ask. "Was I supposed to die too?"
"You were supposed to live," he says. "To learn. To become what Miguel never could be—truly loyal."
"Instead I became this," I gesture at myself.
"Yes," Eduardo agrees. "My greatest failure."
He kisses my forehead. "Twenty-four hours,mija. Make sure they vote correctly."
