Carlos, you said those who betray will end up in hell. Let’s begin with you losing this bet.
——
I dropped the knife and leaned against the wall as I tried to calm my rough breathing. I took out my phone, sent a message to a strange number and stared at the photo it sent back. It was her.
More messages came.
“There’s no sound outside now. Looks like the result is…”
The mocking words were cut off by Carlos.
“It’s not over. Hannah fought through ten men for me. Your people are nothing to her. If it’s for me, she’ll fight until the end.”
A round of clapping followed.
“Compared to a kneel and apology, today’s bet was far more exciting. Thank you, Mr. Phillips, for feeding my urge to gamble. Nothing beats a game like this.”
Tears welled in my eyes as I remembered when I was eighteen and Carlos set fire to the nightclub where I was trapped, leaving a scar on his face that never healed.
He told me losing his face for my freedom was the best trade he had ever made and from that moment, he rose step by step, promising he would give me a better life.
As I watched his wounds grow deeper, I let go of my mother’s last wish and walked beside him on his path to becoming the feared Mr. Phillips.