Page 6 of Malverde 5
Misha and Felix leaned forward as they wore curious expressions.
“Si...but unfortunately for this man, instead of a wallet, I had a sawed off shotgun in my lap.I already knew where I would be parked was a dangerous area.So, I blew the man’s knees out.The culprit was screaming in pain and he dropped his gun.I opened the car door and stepped on his throat.Taking his gun, I tossed it into the backseat.I got back into the car and reversed it to the end of that street.Then the funny thing was someone came over to help the injured would-be robber up and they moved away.I remember chuckling as I pulled the car back up almost to that same spot.When the two men showed up and said the word my boss had given to me, I let them into the car.Then one of them askedme, ‘What the fuck is all the blood on the street?’I put the sedan into drive and said, ‘What blood?’Then I drove them to the location where they needed to be.”
Misha and Felix laughed.Sergi was grinning while shaking his head.
Nodding at them, Hondo added, “Si, I’ll admit that this lifestyle was rough at first.But I always made sure I had a backup plan.I never realized it but that had been my motto even back in poor town while working the produce fields.And it did me well even back then.So I always thought ahead.My boss liked the fact that I did exactly what I'd been told, and I never asked questions nor gave them any trouble.”Hondo shook his head and went on, “Si, I admit that I had met many cut throats over the years but I either avoided them or met them with a weapon.I had shot at least twenty men and had beaten down perhaps that many or more.But I never took a life.Not if I could deal with it by force and not by killing.”
“How you managed that must have taken work, Hondo,” Sergi stated.“I’ve had to kill a few men.Did I want to?Not really but when you have no choice?”He shrugged.
“Senor Constantine, there were more than a few that deserved it and I wanted to end them.I did.But I had a far bigger reason not to take a human life.It had been mi padre.One night we were sitting outside under the stars and he spoke about his hard life.He’d said his uncle had chosen the path of a criminal and said it had made the man’s soul black after he killed a few men in cold blood.It made his heart hard and he ceased to be a human being really, he was just a devil, only a devil.Mi padre then told me...Never take a life unless it is because you are saving yours or your family’s.This is an act that will eat at your soul.You will never embrace love or have true happiness as part of you dies when you snuff a life out for selfish reasons.Please promise me boy, that you will never do it unless you must to save yours or another’s life.So I had promised, but at fifteen, I had never understood my father’s meaning.Until I came to New York.I had been around killers associated with some of the groups I worked for and I finally realized what my father had been talking about.These men had lifeless eyes.They also had no wives or anyone who remained close to them.They were hard men who lived by the gun and ended up dying by the same.Even those who didn’t perish, lived as if they had already died.It was just as my farmer father had told me.Each life they took...took the light from their souls.”
At this narrative, the Russian men all had knowing looks in their eyes as they slowly nodded their heads.
“So after several years,” Honda went on.“I was then referred to another group and by accident I was given accounting duty.I found that I was good with numbers.I had never had proper schooling for it, coming from the farmlands, but it seemed that I had an extreme gift for it.So I handled business as sort of a treasurer for the new group.In fact, I never lost a cent and there were times when men did try to hold me up.They never succeeded.‘Hondo is always a step ahead of those clowns,’my boss would say as he laughed.For the next five years, I worked long hours and moved up in the ranks until I was given my own section of the city.I sent money home to mi madre and still had money saved.Those five years taught me what I needed to know as far as working the streets were concerned.I never took advantage of people and I expected the same in return.If they crossed me I made sure they learned a lesson, but I always left them alive.”
Sergi stared at him.“I do not mean any disrespect but many have come after me when they were left alive.Seeking revenge.”
Hondo nodded.“Si, that has happened several times.They ended up dead.In self defense, that is.I still pray that I have kept my promise to my padre.I have tried very hard to do so.”
“That is some story, Hondo.”Sergi smiled.“Maybe someday, I will tell mine.”
“I’m not sure it would make you look so innocent, dad,” Misha teased him.
Felix chuckled as he agreed, “You would kill any man who stole your morning tea, boss.Let alone if they stole any money.”
Hondo gasped as he stared at Sergi, worried that his son, Misha and his loyal guard had insulted the leader of all the Bratva.
Suddenly, all three Russian men laughed.
Hondo felt surprised by this reaction then he chuckled with them.
Chapter Five
Sergi got a ping onhis phone that broke into the laughter.He read the message and his smile faded away.Then he looked up at Hondo and asked, “Do you know anything about the Montoya Cartel?”
Hondo glared at him and nodded.“Si, I do.My son’s wife, Isobel, was working under them, selling drugs and conning men out of their money.I never got to them as I wanted to.They attacked the Rogues of Hell MC though and that ended them.”
