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At this point, you’re in charge of all my assets and income. That means you have unlimited resources at your disposal.

Don’t feel guilty about spending anything. Quit the job you hate and focus on your writing. Get your books published. The world needs to read them.

I believe in you. You’re talented and amazing, and don’t ever forget it.

XOXO,

Jamison

PS - Have Vivian find you a place to buy that has security. I want to know you are safe. Don’t think twice about what it costs.

I re-readthe letter so many times, the sun sets and the room becomes dark. When I can’t see the writing any longer, I grab my phone.

I text my boss. “I quit.”

I text Vivian. “I need you to find an apartment for me to buy with two bedrooms so I have a room for the baby. And it needs security.”

30

Jamison

Six monthsof living in the criminal world and two months of plotting with Santiago, and Valeria and I are ready for this to be over.

We’ve made a deal with the devil. Santiago wants to reign over Alejandro’s empire. If we help to overthrow Alejandro, he has assured us we will earn our freedom.

We just have to get through tonight, and we will be free. I will never have to think about this horrible place again.

It’s in my nature to save lives, being a former paramedic, but the destruction I’ve witnessed over the last six months has me wondering if I’ll ever be that person again.

I no longer help people. I watch them suffer. I carry a gun in the back of my pants like a gangster.

Have I become one?

Alejandro has admitted he wants me to take over the empire because Santiago is trying to overthrow him. One of his men who Santiago had confided in told Alejandro and has been acting as a spy.

It’s this knowledge we supply that allows Santiago to feed the wrong information to Alejandro.

Alejandro thinks Santiago is going to try and overpower him tonight. He’s right. He is. However, what Alejandro doesn’t know is that his men are on Santiago’s payroll and no longer loyal to him.

At least that is what we believe. Both V and I hope we aren’t on the wrong side.

Over the years, Alejandro has not treated his men very well. While Santiago may be darker than Alejandro, he treats his men with respect. It is this aspect that has made the men want to follow Santiago and not Alejandro.

If things go as planned tonight, Valeria and I will walk with our freedom. If one thing goes wrong, we will be in the middle of the crossfire.

“Take this.” We are out walking, and I hand Valeria a handgun I stole from Alejandro’s supply. “Do you want me to review the safety and other features?”

“I learned to shoot at nine. I’ve got it.”

“Make sure you have this on you tonight. We can’t be unprepared.”

She stops walking and turns into me. Putting her hand on my shoulder, she says, “You don’t have to do this. I can go myself. This is more than you ever signed up for.”

“I think we are past that point, don’t you?”

“No. You can stay away and not put yourself in any more danger. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

“We need to stick to the plan. Deviation creates problems.”

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