Retribution #NYR2020 - Healing Hannah

Healing Hannah

#NYR2020

(749 words)

For three years Santiago stayed away. Three years he spent missing Hannah. Now that he had her back, he wasn’t going to let her go, which meant, eliminating the target.

He sat in the chair, elbows on his knees as his prey lay on the floor, hands tied behind his back. He never thought he’d see the asshole again, Ángel. The bastard sold him out. Put Hannah at risk. Put Santiago’s child at risk.

“Puto.”

Hannah hadn’t walked away without people looking out for her. He’d made sure to keep an eye on her until he could get free of his cases and make sure no one from La Rasa would come after her. They’d almost been in the clear when Ángel made his move. The mother fucker tried to kidnap Santiago’s boy, bringing Santiago back into the light.

La Rasa had been the first to come at him. Then what was left of the Nieto Cartel. Hannah had been forced to flee back to her brother. The house she’d bought had been burned the same night Ángel tried to take his son. He’d have to thank Noah for keeping the boy safe. Even if he didn’t like Santiago or didn’t trust him.

Truth is, he didn’t trust himself.

About the only thing he knew was that the man in front of him needed to die, consequences be damned.

The last time he saw Ángel, Santiago should have known. The guy had been twitchy. The nerves from the auction had gotten to Santiago too, but nothing like what he’d experienced with Ángel. The hairs on the back of Santiago’s neck stood on end the minute the man opened his mouth and spoke. The cartel had the guy by the balls.

Ángel groaned. “Where am I?”

“Where you’ll lose your life,” Santiago said.

“San-Santiago? How did you get here?” He tried to sit up, but with the way Santiago tied him up, Ángel couldn’t move. He licked his bottom lip. “Are you here to help me?”

Santiago sat there, content to allow the man to squirm. To feel an ounce of the fear his Hannah had experienced the night her home was destroyed, and her life violated once more.

“Well...”

Santiago smirked. “How much did they pay you?”

Ángel glanced up at him. “I don’t understand.”

Sure, he didn’t. “I’m going to tell you a little story and when I get to the end, you’ll be dead.”

“Jefe?”

“Cállate la boca, cabrón.” Santiago placed the 9mm between his feet. “There once was this beautiful butterfly. She’d been locked away in her cocoon for years, unable to leave the hell forced upon her. Then she met this fucked up angel who saw her beauty and wanted to set her free.”

“You’re not making any sense,” Ángel said. “Now, release me so we can get out of here before they get here.”

“Shh...” Santiago pressed his finger to his lips. “He fell in love with the butterfly, showering her with attention and love. She spread her wings in his presence, then, one day, he had to set her free. But not before they created the most precious gift of all. For years he watched over his butterfly until one day, her new home was destroyed, and her wings were singed.”

Ángel’s eyes grew round. His mouth fell open. “I-I...”

“Shhh...” Santiago grabbed the gun and looked at his watch. “You have family. I get it.” He stood then and began walking around Ángel. “They’re precious to you. The cartel can come up with some dastardly things to torture a rat.”

“Si. Mi familia.”

The scent of urine stung Santiago’s nose. He crouched down, the gun still in his hand as he tilted his head. “But what about my family? My butterfly? My bebé?” He shook his head. “See, here’s the thing. Usually, I would let you fight me for the gun in my hand. Now, not so much.”

“No wait—” He tried to shrink away but tied as he was, he couldn’t move.

Santiago pressed the barrel to Ángel’s temple. “Say hello to Raul for me.” He pulled the trigger and watched the light fade from Ángel’s eyes. Santiago crossed himself. “In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti, amen.”

The sound of boots scuffing across the ground, drew Santiago’s attention. “Really? Getting religious on us now?” Noah smirked.

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

Noah laughed. “Yeah, don’t believe it.” He smacked Santiago on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s go home.”