F O R T Y - E I G H T | crimes and punishment—

I N D I A N  A

The airport was packed that even if I had my own plane, I still had to navigate through this thick crowd. I only took Perez with me, leaving the rest of my men in Oakland. I didn't want to attract attention to visiting a state prison.

We drove through I-580 and reached San Quentin State Prison within thirty minutes. I already made the necessary arrangements before I came that entering the building was fast and efficient.

Perez remained behind me as I took a seat in front of a plastic white table. A minute later, the man I wanted to speak to came in with two officers escorting him.

Long, unruly dreadlocks and one blind eye. I often thought that José Luis Villaruz was destined to become someone of great influence with his looks alone.

And I was right because the man my father had trained had become one of the most dangerous drug kingpins of the West.

He pulled out a chair, his handcuffs jiggling as he sat in front of him with a wide grin. "You are here again, mijo."

"Stop calling me that," I muttered.

"Why not? You used to call me uncle anyway."

I crossed my arms. "You know what I'm here for."

These monthly visits I did for five years had taken a toll on my time. Caprice had voiced her displeasure over my desire for revenge but I didn't stop. I couldn't.

Not until I get the answers I want.

And sitting in front of me was a man that knew those answers.

Three years ago, I had set a trap and gave him to the government in exchange for information and exclusive access. But the man was stubborn. No amount of leverage could move him. Even the prison's execution rule didn't make him blink.

Sometimes, I felt like he was a dead end. Maybe he didn't know who ordered the hit on Aeon. But after doing my research on Krueger, I knew that there were only a handful of people who could move that killing machine.

"Alright. I'll tell you."

"Well, then—"

I blinked a few times to made sure I heard it right. I clenched my fists, sitting straight to hear him out.

"I don't want an international transfer."

"I never even thought to offer that."

"This world works on how much influence one has, Mr. Zobel. You know that."

"What is it you want, uncle?"

He smirked and tilted his head to the guards. I sighed and ordered all of them to leave. "What is it?"

"My client list. Destroy it."

I frowned at him. "It's your list. Why do I need to destroy it?"

Villaruz leaned forward. "One of my men plans on trading it with Paloma. The puta wants to work for him. Bad news, eh? But that is not all. The red general is about to take over the business I left!"

He slammed his cuffed fists against the table. "This is all your fault!"

I smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Why is that... when you're the one who trusted me?"

Villaruz eyed me with rage and annoyance. He breathed hard through his nose as he spoke. "I will tell you what I know about Aeon Imperial's assassination as long as you stop the deal between Roberto and Paloma."

I saw nothing wrong with what he was offering. Villaruz cared for his business but something was off. "What's the use of protecting your business if you're gonna die here?"

He let out a wicked smile, sending shivers down my spine. "You think that I am gonna die here?"

Fuck.

Villaruz laughed. The booming sound bounced on the white walls that I clenched my jaw in disgust.

"Hijo, after all these years you still don't know how the world works? Sure. I am stuck here but I am not powerless."

"Is that so?" I stood up, hiding my hands on the pockets of my coat. "Why do you need me then?"

"Because you are a man of your word and..." The kingpin chuckled with a knowing sparkle on his one brown eye. "For some reason... I want to see how your revenge will end."

I kept thinking about Villaruz's words as we flew to L.A. I liked to think that I knew him enough from his evals and the time he had worked with my father. His statement... he sounded excited that tendrils of fear swirled inside me.

The persons involved in Aeon's death... Yes. That knowledge would certainly test my beliefs.

Perez rented a car and drove to Sawtelle where Caprice had promised to wait for me. It didn't take long before we passed through a busy neighborhood.

"Sir, where is Miss Caprice?"

I sighed. "Just drive. She said she's in this street. And Perez...?"

"Sir?"

"Don't tell her about San Quentin."

"Yes, sir."

I gazed towards the window. Caprice was too secretive that I didn't even know what her living space looked like. Was she eating well?

"I think that's the señorita!" Peres exclaimed.

He stopped the car in front of an apartment building as I got out. I rolled my eyes at the weather and put on my sunglasses.

Caprice stood in front of me with some girl. My best friend had her arms crossed, a hard expression on her pretty face. "You're late."

"Traffic," I replied and moved to grab her hand. I scanned her from head to toe, noticing the dark circles under her eyes. She was thinner than the last time I saw her. "You're stressed."

Her amber eyes gazed at me with scrutiny and my heart hammered at her inevitable interrogation. But before it could happen, the other girl squealed and elbowed Caprice. "Priz! Won't you even introduce me to the hot guy?"

I winced. I didn't like loud girls and Caprice shared my sentiments but my best friend only shrugged. "Indiana, this is Aiscelle. She's my roommate and she'll cover me for a while. Say hello."

I scoffed and dragged Caprice towards the car. "Let's go."

"What? Priz! I thought I can get a picture!"

I heard Caprice sigh as she addressed the noisy girl. "Aiscelle, I'll leave things here to you. You better update me!"

"Fine, Priz!" she replied with a pout and waved a hand. "Take care!"

The car door shut and I let out a frustrated grunt. This was why I preferred underground fights than televised ones. Being popular was nothing but a hindrance to my job.

"You didn't have to be rude." Caprice jerked her hand away from me as she put one of her legs over the other. She put up her hair in a bun, sweeping off the chestnut curls from her face.

I rolled my eyes as Perez started the car. "Why did you even tell her your secret? She looks like a blabbermouth."

To my shock, she hit my arm and shot me a sharp glare. "Don't say that. She's actually a very considerate person once you get past the... gaudiness."

A laugh spilled from my mouth. Jack had told me that Caprice was in a much better temperament than the one she was known for. Guess that was true.

Caprice folded her arms against her striped dress. Her golden eyes flashed open, cold and detached. "Now, let's go back to my earlier question, Indiana."

Shit. She might have softened a little but at the end of the day, Caprice Del Fuego was still the untouchable queen.

"Where did you go before you came to get me?"