Chapter Six

Xavier

Y ears ago

Scorpions only know how to do one thing: sting.

They cannot help themselves. It goes against their nature.

As I examine my nephew's face, I know he'll never fit into the Scorpion cartel. Heath is too soft. Too forgiving. Too kind. Too weak.

I've tried my best to help him, but the only thing I've succeeded in is turning him against me.

"How could you do that?" Heath demands. "You killed him, didn't you?"

The nurse covers my adoptive brother's body with a white sheet, her face solemn. I escort Heath back to the waiting car before he has a chance to make a scene.

"Yes," I admit. "I killed him."

"But why?" Heath asks, his eyes red and puffy.

"It had to be done. You know what the Scorpions are like."

Heath looks down, ashamed.

"You should have let him live. He was suffering."

"I know. But that was not the right decision," I try to explain, but Heath won't listen.

"You're a murderer, Uncle," he states coldly. "And you killed my father."

"A necessary sacrifice," I say. "I know it's hard to understand. But I'm doing this for you."

Heath's mouth twists.

"I'll never forgive you for this," he says.

"I know," I respond, watching his eyes fill with hatred and regret. "I know."

Over the next few days, I have my hands full with work. With Heath's father gone, I am now the sole heir of the Scorpion cartel. One day, if I don't have kids of my own, my adoptive nephew will inherit the Scorpion cartel.

I know that's not the path for him. Heath is soft, and the Scorpion cartel is brutal. There is no way he will ever be able to handle this. Not unless I train him, prepare him to be a cold-blooded killer.

The next week, I decide Heath is ready to be a sicario. His childhood friend, Phoenix, who is a couple years older, is coming with us for their initiation. I can feel Phoenix's eyes on me as we drive to the snake's nest. He's made it no secret he doesn't agree with my nephew's initiation. A lot of people think he's too young, but he's fourteen now. I did much worse things at a much younger age myself.

We reach our destination, a small abandoned shed located in a woody area. Soon enough, the place will be teeming with teenagers, here for a secret party. One of them is our victim.

The boys follow me as I go inside and pull out a bag of cocaine.

"Your first task is to sell this," I instruct, handing Heath a backpack.

The two boys stare at the drugs, and then at me.

"But, Uncle," Heath stutters. "Isn't this against the law?"

I laugh. "What did you expect? This is the Scorpion cartel, not Girl Scouts."

Phoenix's face is grim, and he's shaking his head.

"No, sir. I'm sorry, but no," he says, his voice firm.

Heath is looking at his friend with a mixture of fear and admiration.

"What's the problem, Phoenix?" I ask.

"This is wrong," he answers.

"You want to be a part of the cartel?" I ask, arching an eyebrow.

"Of course. I've dreamed about it all my life," he replies.

"Then you must do whatever the cartel needs," I tell him.

"What if we refuse?" he challenges.

I pull out my gun and point it at him.

"Then you die."

Both boys gulp, and Phoenix slowly raises his hands.

"Okay, sir. If you insist," he mutters.

"Good boy," I reply, and turn to Heath.

"Your friend here is a good influence on you, nephew. Perhaps you should spend more time with him and less with the bad influences in the cartel."

Heath doesn't reply.

As the two boys disappear into the distance, I can't help but feel a twinge of worry. Phoenix is not the kind of person I would trust to take care of Heath. In fact, the boy's a wild card. And with Heath's current attitude, it could end up being very bad. I'm choosing to believe Phoenix will protect his friend, and he doesn't disappoint.

A couple hours later, the party is in full swing. I watch Heath and Phoenix dealing in the backseat with Saul. I point out my target, a senator's son, on the video feed of the party.

"There," I say, pointing at the kid.

"That's our target?" Heath asks.

I nod.

"What do you want us to do?" Phoenix asks, his voice tense.

"I want you to kill him," I order.

The two boys look at me, and then at each other.

"Are you serious?" Phoenix asks.

I nod again.

"But he's a kid, sir," Heath protests.

"So are you," I retort.

"But he's innocent," Phoenix argues.

"They're all guilty of something," I answer, my tone firm.

"You can't make us do this," Phoenix says, and Heath looks at his friend in surprise.

"Watch me," I challenge.

"If we do this, will you promise to honor my father's memory and wishes?" Heath asks.

"Sure, why not," I lie.

Phoenix is shaking his head. "He's lying, Heath. We shouldn't trust him."

"You don't have a choice," I say.

"But what if we refuse?" Phoenix asks.

"Then I'll kill the both of you," I threaten, raising my gun and pointing it at Phoenix's head.

The boy swallows hard and lowers his head.

"Fine, sir," he mumbles.

"Now go and do as you're told," I instruct, lowering my gun.

As the two boys walk off, I can't help but wonder what my adoptive brother would think if he could see me now. He'd be horrified, and rightly so. But I need to be sure that Heath will be able to take over the cartel one day, and I can't let his father's death go unavenged.

I'm doing this for the family. For the Scorpions. For the future.

Heath will thank me one day.

As the minutes pass by, I watch the monitor carefully. Everything is going smoothly until Phoenix comes up to the target, and a few minutes later, the feed goes blank.

I can't believe it. He fucked up.

I grit my teeth while Saul leans forward, surveying the screen.

"What happened?" I growl.

"Looks like the cameras have been disabled," he responds, his eyes fixed on the screen.

"How could Phoenix have done this?" I hiss, my blood boiling.

"I'm not sure," Saul responds.

"Damn it!" I swear, pounding the table in frustration.

"Sir, maybe it was a mistake. Maybe the boys thought it would be too risky," Saul offers.

"They should have known better than that," I snarl, my anger growing by the second.

"Padron, we should go. The boys will be back any minute," Saul says.

"No. We're staying. We're not leaving until they return."

"Padron, I really don't think that's a good idea," Saul argues.

"Don't tell me what to do," I hiss, glaring at him.

Saul lowers his head, and I turn my attention back to the monitor, scanning the feed for signs of the boys. After a few minutes, the camera comes back online, and I can see the boys making their way back to the van.

"There they are," Saul says, his relief obvious.

I watch as the boys approach, their expressions solemn.

"Well?" I ask, as the two boys climb into the van.

"Mission accomplished," Phoenix answers.

"Good. And you left no trace behind?" I question.

"None," he replies, and I can tell from his demeanor that the boy is lying.

"We did everything as instructed," Heath says, backing up his friend.

"Is that so?" I ask, my tone skeptical.

"Yes, sir," Heath responds.

"Fine. But if you're lying, there will be consequences," I warn.

"We're not lying," Phoenix insists.

"If that's true, then why was the camera feed offline for several minutes?" I demand.

"That wasn't us," Heath insists.

"I'm not buying it," I growl, pulling out my gun and aiming it at Phoenix.

"Whoa, hold on. There's no need for that," Phoenix says, putting his hands up.

"Tell me the truth. Now," I bark, the muzzle of the gun inches from his face.

"Uncle, please. Just let us explain," Heath begs.

"No more talking. More action," I hiss, cocking the gun. "Now go back in there. Bring me the kid's right hand, and I'll let it go."

"You're joking," Phoenix mutters.

"Do it," I order.

"Xavier, please," Heath begs, his eyes pleading.

"No. You do it, or I'll shoot," I state, my voice leaving no room for argument.

"Fuck," Phoenix swears, and I can tell he knows the jig is up.

"Come on, Phoenix. We have no choice," Heath says, and the two boys reluctantly get out of the van and head back to the party.

After a few minutes, they return, their faces grim.

"Where is it?" I ask, gesturing to the hand.

Heath holds up a bloody bag.

"Show me," I order, and he opens it, revealing a severed hand.

"Good. Now you can go home," I tell them.

The two boys get back into the van, and we drive off. Saul and Phoenix are sitting in the front, with me and Heath by ourselves in the back.

"Are you satisfied now?" Heath demands.

"I will be when you've learned to obey," I answer, my voice calm.

"I can't believe you made us do this," Phoenix spits, turning his head to glare at me.

"You shouldn't have lied to me," I tell him.

"You're a monster," Phoenix accuses.

"And you're a liability," I retort. "A weakness."

"What are you talking about?" Phoenix asks, his tone incredulous.

"I know you disabled the cameras, Phoenix," I reply, my voice cold.

"How dare you," Phoenix growls, his eyes blazing.

"Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you," I assure him.

"You better not," Phoenix threatens.

"It's not your fault. You're just not strong enough to survive in this world," I explain.

"What does that mean?" Heath demands.

"It means that Phoenix has to go," I answer, and before anyone can react, I pull out my gun and point it at the back of Phoenix's head. "Unless he offers me something worth having..."

"What the fuck, Xavier?" Heath shouts, his voice trembling with rage.

"Don't worry, nephew. He'll be fine," I assure him.

"You fucking bastard," Phoenix curses.

"Language," I admonish. "So, Phoenix? What can you offer me?"

"I can't offer you shit," Phoenix spits.

"Wrong answer," I reply. "Everyone has something. A mother, a girlfriend?"

His lips tighten and he shakes his head, but I know I've got him now.

"A sister," I finish.

"Don't you dare touch her," Phoenix hisses.

"Then prove your loyalty. Tell me her name," I order.

"No," Phoenix refuses, his jaw set.

"Then you leave me no choice," I say.

"No!" Heath cries. "Uncle, please!"

"Don't worry, Heath. You'll have a new friend soon," I assure him, clicking the safety off. "What's your sister's name, Phoenix?"

"Fuck you," Phoenix mutters.

"I knew it," I gloat.

"No, wait, Uncle!" Heath cries. "You don't have to do this! Please, I'll do anything!"

"I'm sorry, nephew. But some lessons have to be learned the hard way," I say.

"Please, Uncle," Heath begs, tears streaming down his face.

"I'm sorry, but I can't show you any mercy," I state.

"Mercy!" Heath yells, making me laugh.

"No," I hiss. "No mercy for liars."

"No," Heath manages. "His sister's name is Mercy."

"You have a sister named Mercy, Phoenix?" I ask.

"She doesn't deserve this," he says. "I'm doing this to keep her safe."

"Her life or yours," I respond, my voice hard.

"No, Uncle," Heath protests.

"You have three seconds," I warn, ignoring my nephew's pleas.

"What the fuck do you want?"

I smirk into Phoenix's face. "Everything."