Reed, Seamus and I meet up with Purgatory and the Jackals at an old garage on the east side of town. I wonder why we’re making our move today, especially since Reed gives me the impression he’s known about the cartel being here. If we had taken a few more of the guys we could’ve already taken them down, fast and dirty.

“I’d rather not waste any time. The boys and I have a long list of shit to get done today.” Darius speaks up, looking to Reed and Pharaoh.

“Good. We’ll cut right to it then. In a few minutes we’ll hit them from all sides. Darius, take the back alley in case anyone gets any ideas. Reed, your men will come with us through the front. There is only two ways out of their location, from the front and the back. The cartel won’t have anywhere to go.” She rubs her hands together and I can feel her smile grow from behind that her mask. I still don’t get it, why the mask is needed. It makes me think that she wants to hide her identity, and that intrigues me. Keeping me constantly guessing on who she might be.

Reed tilts his head, and I can tell he’s about to disagree with her. When we’re in church he sometimes has that same expression “We need to make the numbers even. Doesn’t make sense if only three men are out back. Seamus and one of your Jackals should stay with Darius and his men. Chaos is quick with a gun, so we can make the sacrifice on the additional person out front.”

Pharaoh nods, “Okay, then we will do that. Has everyone heard us?” She asks, looking around to the group. “Well then, let’s get going.”

Pharaoh and her Jackals get into an old van, something you’d think that a plumber or construction worker would own. It’s nothing out of the ordinary and will blend right in. Reed, Seamus and I get on our bikes while the guys from Purgatory pile into Darius’ car.

In just a few minutes we’re around the corner from where we need to be. We park around the block. It’ll be easier for us to infiltrate if they don’t see us coming. I watch as Darius pulls around the back alley, and Pharaoh’s van comes to stop. One of her Jackals hops out and heads in Darius’ direction, while the van is being parked we get off of our bikes and start to head around the corner. I check my glock, then make sure my knives are strapped tight under my cut. All is secure, and I’m ready for bloodshed.

I’m tired of the cartel threatening my woman. Maria and I may not be seeing eye to eye right now, but she’s my girl and these motherfuckers better learn to stay away. She doesn’t belong to Rafael. She only belongs to one person – me, even if she doesn’t see it that way right now.

Reed comes up beside me. “Shoot to kill,” he mutters lowly.

I scoff in response, “Wasn’t going to let these motherfuckers breathe anyway. No offense, Prez.” Reed shakes his head and tries to hide his smirk but it’s no use. We may butt heads from time to time but I can see that he appreciates my blunt honesty.

Pharaoh’s heels click against the concrete behind us. No matter what I can’t seem to wrap my head around her. Her clothes are practically glued onto her body besides the jacket she wears and then that mask...The first time we met it was obvious that she wanted to make us believe that she was a man. Now she doesn’t seem to care,.

I pull my glock free, making sure that I’m ready to fire as soon as we approach the prospective location. My right hand is holding my glock, and in my left I have a knife free. Reed has a gun in each hand and I turn back to see Pharaoh with some sort of bent sword sort of thing. Jesus.

There are two henchmen standing right outside the door and the second they lay their eyes on us they know something’s up. I watch as the smaller one taps the man standing next to him to look over in our direction, and the second he does, Pharaoh and I see her run up and jam her sword into the both of them. They both drop to the ground, blood oozing out around them. One of them makes gurgling noises and starts coughing up blood, but Pharaoh just leaves him there and swings the door wide open. Reed and I follow her quickly, but I drop down to slit those two fuckers throats. Don’t need them deciding to pick up a gun and shoot at us.

Gunshots fire off all around us. I can hear them coming from every direction, I smile knowing guys tried to go out the back and were sorely disappointed when they saw our friends.

Pharaoh is slicing apart man by man while Reed shoots off round after round. I make it a point to slit the throats of every man Reed has shot, ensuring that they’re truly dead. I have a quick glance around and see bodies piled around the garage, blood slowly spilling out from underneath their bodies. “Is this all of them?” I ask to no one in particular.

Reed waves his hand up, signaling me to follow him. “Let’s see if they need a hand out back.” I follow him out the back door and see a small parking lot riddled with five bodies. Doesn’t look like the cartel sent too much manpower up here.

“What’s the plan now, Prez?” Seamus asks Reed, taking the words right from my mouth. Reed looks back to Pharaoh, and then to Darius, a grim look drags across his face.

“We prepare for the worst.”