_ Home Sweet Hell

I turned back to the sorry bunch of market-sweeping delinquents sprawled against the tree.

I crouched down, letting my shadow stand above them. "You all remember what I said about María José, right?" 

Luis Miguel swallowed. "Sí, sí. We'll do it." 

I arched a brow. "And if you don't?" 

I glanced at them one after the other, letting the silence hold the weight of the meaning behind my worries 

Gonzalo cleared his throat. "You'll… you'll make our lives miserable." 

I smiled and patted his shoulders. "Good. I'm glad we understand each other." 

Luis Miguel heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing that I was already leaving, wiping his filthy face with an equally filthy sleeve. "Damn you, Beta." 

I grinned. "Already did, amigo." 

With that, I straightened, dusted off my hands, and turned to leave, relishing the sound of their defeated groans as I walked away.