Lime green portière dangle over the windows. Bright yellow, red, orange flowers rest on the white podiums around the coffin. A white cushion coffin holds Abel Juarez, an associate of our family, for over a hundred years. His family handles the distribution of our narcotics, or they did. After my brother's death, more than half of our associates swerve the spotlight by shifting over to work with our enemies.

We didn't blame the families for leaving us in the dust. Everyone has the animal instincts to protect their family than their friends. Our ex-associates fates still lay open in the universe as my family and I keep disagreeing on the matter.

Abel Juarez has been butchered at the young age of thirty-two, barely stepping foot into the world. His wife weeps, gripping onto their baby girl too young to comprehend her father's death. The priest begins his exhausting monologue that could put any human being to sleep in seconds.

Mateo cranes his head, cocking it in the direction of the empty living room. I kiss my Ma on her cheek before following the group of vultures to the den. My second in command, Mateo waits, until everyone step foot into the room.

Dirty blonde ruffle coils bounce as Limon steps in through the doorway. Pancho rakes a hand through his bronze greased hair as he pokes his body into the room. Finally, Gato is the last to arrive with a tres leches cake in his hands.

"How did you get food already?" Mateo asks, his eyebrows pulling together in disgust.

"Un chico guapo siempre consigue lo que quiere," Gato replies, his mouth stuffed with cake.

(A good-looking guy always gets what he wants.)

Limon shakes his head and simpers. "Erens tan guapo como el dedo de mi padre."

(You're as handsome as my father's toe.)

Gato sneers with gritted teeth, squeezing a piece of cake in his fingertips before throwing it at Limon. "That's why my cock was so deep in your sister's pussy last night."

Limon's eyes darken with anger at the mention of his younger sister. With a deep scowl engrave on his face, he wipes the cake from his embroidered art silk tuxedo. Irritation is spewing from his body like a steamy, warm shower. If it isn't for being at a funeral, Limon would've ripped his head off for even thinking of his little sister.

Gato cracks a smile. "What? You are going to stay quiet now?"

Pacho uncuffs his sleeves, a tight-lip grin stretching across his face as he glares at Gato. To Gato's surprise, Pacho grabs him by the neck, limiting his circulation from the tight grip.

"Tener algunos modales," Pacho seethes, emphasizing his words enough to get spit on Gato's cheek. "We're at a funeral, so cut this shit out."

(Have some manners.)

Once released, Gato coughs, spitting a glob of cake from his throat onto the floor. My face scrunches up in disgust. Prison might've been the best place for him, but I needed an army. He's the ruthless motherfucker I've ever met, and on this journey, I wanted to take my family down. I would need someone like him.

Someone completely opposite of me.

Someone who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty.

Someone could live up to the family name.

"Fuck man," Gato snarls, gripping his neck. "Let's just finish this shit up so I could get more food."

Mateo clears his throat. "So, everything is lined up for tonight?"

Limon scratches the stubble on his chin. "Everything is solid on my part. I cracked their security system and placed mics all around the perimeter. They are not expecting anything. However, he brought a bitch for the night since his wife is away. She might be what we call collateral damage."

I bob my head. "Gato, try not to torture her. Just give her a quick, peaceful death if you have to. It's the least we can do."

"He's serious," Mateo repeats, pressing his pointer finger into Gato's chest.

Gato shoves his hand off. "If I want to torture the cunt, I'm going to torture her. It's not my fucking fault she's fucking the enemy. If Asiel is really bothered by my methods, then let him be. I'm tired of you speaking for him, Mateo. He's not going to do shit to me besides send Julian my way again."

Gato is a masochist. He earns a sense of gratification from being pushed to the brink. I've only seen him get his ass beaten once when my brother was Jefe when I came home for winter break. It's quite traumatizing to watch the blood ooze from my cousin's head, nose, mouth to the point where his eyes rolled back.

It didn't stop his ass from chuckling the entire time.

It didn't stop me from unloading my stomach.

Instead of spending time with my family on my winter break, I stayed locked up in my room, reliving the memory. Not a day passed by when I wasn't vomiting my insides out. It wasn't until I went back for my spring semester that I felt normal.

Five months later, my brother died.

Gato scares me.

My father scares me.

This whole fucked-up industry frightens me.

But I have to play the part, become the part, and outlast everyone.

My jaw twitches. "Shut the fuck up, Gato. It's an order from your Jefe, and if you have fucking brain cell in that head of yours, you will obey me. Ultimately, every decision this cartel makes relies on me. I won't be afraid to make the tough call by cutting you loose."

Gato stifles a laugh. "Okay, Mr. Tough guy. I'll be on my best behavior. However, Pacho is a dirty fuck too! Why isn't he getting a warning?"

Pacho's gaze deepens with rage. "Unlike you, I obey our Jefe's request. I know my place. So, stop trying to get me tied up in this, too."

"Why are you fixated on torturing the girl? Isn't Bolivar going to be enough for your crooked fantasies?" I ask, eyeing our family making their way to the coffin.

Gato drags his tongue across the seam of his lips. Even with a cake in his hand, he looks starved. A month of solitary confinement in prison worked wonders on his mental stability. Pacho is a great strategic killer. He follows my passive orders because of his high regard for my brother. However, he wore shards of humanity on his sleeves, something Gato didn't.

Some jobs are done better by an individual losing their human touch.

"One man isn't enough to satisfy me." Gato flicks his tongue. "I need someone I can cut, mutilated till the only sounds in my ears are their screams. Bolivar is supposed to stay alive, no? The whore will conquer my thirst."

My stomach flinches with disgust at private activities. "I'm not changing my mind. Just leave her alone, alright. Crystal?"

He rolls his eyes. "I'll see."

Jesus Christ, what am I going to do with this guy? If I don't grow some balls myself, he's never going to listen to me. Mateo can only do so much before everyone starts rebelling against their docile boss.

Mateo claps his hands. "Okay, let's go give our consoles."

I wait until Pancho, Limon, and Gato leave before grabbing onto Mateo's sleeve. His eyebrows furrow in confusion as he pivots on his heel.

"Did I miss something?"

I shake my head. "No, I just wanted to run something by you."

Mateo shrugs his shoulders. "Shoot."

"Did you hear about how Abel died?" I ask, darting around to make sure no one is listening in.

His face scrunches as he rests his chin on his knuckles. "Are we living on the same planet? He was murdered."

My eyes widen. "Technically, yes, but what if it was a cover-up?"

Displeasure washes over his face. "Don't start this shit up again. Why are you so bent on investigating murders? You went to college for art, not law."

Hope flourishes in my chest. "Because of this." I yank out a clean white feather from my pocket. "I had my connections at the station look into things. His body was found with this one lone feather on top of it, like Ander."

Mateo grabs the feather and chucks it into the garbage can. "What did I tell you? Stop theorizing about your brother. So, what if he was found with this feather? It doesn't mean anything. It doesn't change anything. He's still dead."

"Listen, Mateo, what if the murderer left this? Maybe it's their signature touch? Abel isn't the only one. Rodrigo, Borja, Jario, Diego! All of them were found with a feather. It has to mean something!" I grip his shoulders, shaking them, trying to make him understand how I'm onto something.

"It doesn't mean shit, Asiel. A little feather could've come from anything. It's not healthy for you to be holding out onto hope like this. Ander's death was a tragedy, but you need to accept this. These conspiracies are going to make you sick or, worse, insane."

His harsh tones startle me, my chest rising up and down from my determination about this subject. Why is it impossible to believe this? We're in the fucking cartel! Anything is possible. These feathers aren't coincidences. There are probably more bodies with them. My discovery is reaching a new point. I just need someone to believe in it, to believe in me, to believe in Ander.

Anxiety thrums in my veins. "Why can't you believe me? Can you entertain the idea for a second?"

Mateo's jaw tickles, disapproval flashing across his face. My eyes widen as his hands make contact with my collared shirt, clutching onto my fabric, dragging me closer to his spiteful face. Instantly, I duck my head, retreating into my shell, into my hideout, into my sanctuary away.

He rattles my body, his narrow eyes piercing through my tormented soul. "When are you going to grow up? Become a man? Let this useless shit go?"

"It's not useless," I say through gritted teeth.

"Listen, primero, I'm getting sick and tired of keeping everything in check because of your lack of growing a backbone. If you keep this shit up, I'm going to let you get chewed out by wolves, and I'll even join them," he snaps, eyes glowing with fire. "So fucking man up. Let it go."

I inwardly wince. "I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I talked to him an hour before he did it!" I admit my heart, soul, every single fiber clenching with sadness. "It was my week back from college, remember? I called him an hour before, and we planned to hang out. He knew I was coming, so why would he do it? Why would he want me to find him? It doesn't make any sense."

Mateo's grip loosens, the fire brewing in his eyes exterminated by my speech. "Asiel, I'm sorry you had to find him like that, but maybe that was his plan. Did you ever think about that? Haven't you read his letter? It explains his thoughts quite clearly."

I sigh. "It doesn't sound like him at all."

"No offense, Asiel, but you don't know your brother as well as I do. You only came around during your breaks for two weeks at most before going off with your friends. Ander changed when he became Jefe. Maybe the one you're imagining is the old version of him?"

I shake my head. "His morals change, sure, but he was still the same."

Mateo closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry for losing my cool and disrespecting you. Just accept the truth, Asiel. If you don't, then you will lose the only person in your corner."

Frustration ferments in my chest like a new batch of coffee.

Steamy, burnt coffee.

The evidence is on the tip of my fingertips. My brother's fate wasn't his own choice. It's only a matter of time before the truth slowly unravels itself, but I'll be here. I'll be the one who discovers the mystery of the hours leading up to his death. Mateo always calls me a naïve, immature, nino, but maybe I'm the only one not turning a blind eye.

Hey guys!! No Mika and Asiel moments this chapter, but it has a lot of information for the plot 😜! Hope you guys place close attention because everything will make sense as the chapters come out! Also what do you think about our supporting characters so far? What do you guys think about it? Do you think Asiel is onto something? Do you think he needs to grow a backbone to be a good leader? Let me know!

Love you guys and thank you for every comment, vote and just reading! Truly makes my day and I'm so grateful to be nearing 5K already!!!