***
We stayed locked up for days, and it was hours since they’d last thrown water or food at us. Angel was whimpering and crying in the corner, and no matter what I said, I couldn’t get her to calm down.
“I miss Vida.” She cried in the corner.
“I know, baby, I know. I miss her too.” I tried to pull my hands up again, but nothing happened. The cuffs had long ago bitten into my wrist, the dried blood already caking and irritating the wounds.
The doors opened again, this time instead of Alejandro Vilanuevas or any of his cronies, an entire group of people entered the room. Two of them I recognized as the guards who’d been keeping us locked up, two of them looked remarkably like the Vilanuevas prick, and two others I didn’t recognize.
“Ah, Es Verdad, these must be the members those bastards were talking about. We have no use for affiliates of the Wings of Diablo club, kill them all.” The two men who seemed to be the leaders turned to walk out.
“Wait! Wait a minute.” Vale called out to them, “You’re related to Alejandro Vilanuevas, right?”
“We were, your president, that pendejo, killed my brother. Yes, it was deserved, but he was still our brother.”
Impossible, he couldn’t be dead. If he was dead, why hadn’t they come for us? A small kernel of doubt tried to push its way into my head, but I wouldn’t let it take hold. There was no way they’d leave us.
The one standing to the back came forward, “We told them we would reach out if we had any news of their missing members, but I think we may let this little meeting slip from our memory.” They turned again to leave the room.
“No, wait, I can give you information,” Vale yelled.
I turned to look at him, we were all scared, but there was no way I was going to snitch. “You fucking pussy, shut your fucking mouth!” I groaned as one of the men who was guarding us struck me with the back of his hand.
“What information can you give us? Nothing is going to bring our brother back.”
“No, I can’t bring him back, but I can tell you where the Wings operate from.” Vale tried to bargain, the sweat now pouring off his brow.
“What would we need that information for, we don’t want anything to do with this little gang of degenerates.”
“They may be little, but their reach is long. I can tell you what areas to avoid so you can stay out of their radar. I know who is buying what, and where we can reach all their loved ones if we need to.”
The brothers looked at each other for a second, before the older looking of the two turned back to us. “Fine, grab that one. The others I don’t need.”
Angel got up from where she’d been sitting and rushed over to me. “Ink.” She cried and gripped my bloodied and sweaty shirt.
“Juan, I know you want to be done with all this mess, but I have a favor to ask.”
“What?”
“This one, can I have him. This bastard club has also taken a member of my family, my wife's brother. I am sure she would love to deliver some vengeance herself. I’d be able to give you a nice discount on our next transport charge.”
“Of course.” The one he called Juan looked over his shoulder to both me and Angel. “They are yours.”
I watched as Vale was carted out of the small room. It was the last time I would see him as my brother. They picked up Angel and me, and I knew wherever they were taking us was away from my family, but even then, I knew they would come. Wire would come for us.
Chapter 2
“Get a fucking move on!” One of the guards yelled, pushing Angel down as she tried to walk up the unsteady plank leading to the cargo ship. Her hands were tied, and she was having a hard time keeping her balance.
“Hey man, she’s just a kid. Back off.” I bent down to pick Angel up, but a swift kick to my face had me reeling backward and almost off the narrow walkway into the water below. I could feel the blood from my lip, leaking down my chin.
“You don’t get it, do you, boy? You’re in no fucking place to tell me or anyone for that matter what to do. The only reason you’re alive is so we can get you to Ms. Ruby. She was real broken up when your club killed her brother; she’ll be happy to get some vengeance.”
I pushed myself up from the ground and grabbed Angel’s hand to keep her close to me. “I don’t know who the fuck Ms. Ruby is or what brother my club killed,” I mumbled through my busted lip.
“Oh, I’m sure she’ll tell you all about Monte; she was very fond of him. She is also very fond of prolonged satisfaction. I’ll tell you right now; your death will not be quick.” He laughed and pushed us both forward. Angel looked up in my face, the fear and uncertainty evident in her big blue eyes. I had nothing to say to console her. I felt the same way.
***
I’m not sure if we were on that boat for days or weeks; I lost track of time. We were only given scraps of food, and at one point, I was contemplating catching one of the rats that continuously scurried past us in the middle of the night, but I wouldn’t do that to Angel.
“Ink? Are we going to die?” The little girl's voice rang out in the dark, swaying night.
“No, baby,” I said. I had no idea know what was going to happen to us. All I knew for sure was I would die before they killed this little girl.
“What’s going to happen? Are they taking us back to Alejandro? I don’t want to go back to him.” Her voice
