TRUCE: Memoirs Of The 9th & Broken Life of Mateo

After an unbroken chain of humiliation by his in-law and wife, Mateo resolved to participate in a robbery to earn himself the much needed income and respect. But the operation proved to be too big a bite for him to chew. Thus, after a successful bank robbery Mateo dangled a rare carrot to his friends. He offered to forfeit his share of the proceeds in exchange for the life and safety of Crystal - the bank manager, now hostage that they had used as a shield. Much as he needed the more than any one in the group, he esteemed the loss of one more life a greater loss than that of a fortune. His friends, however, deemed him as dead- weight, thus sought to make him watch as they kill Crystal and then kill him. When the shot was aimed and fired at Crystal, Mateo jumped in front of the gun and he was shot on his back. Was the trouble worth it? Did Mateo fall in love with the hostage? Will Crystal keep a place in her heart for the brave and heroic Mateo? And, with a system to avenge his foes and make a fortune, would he settle the scores?