Chapter 7 TICKET OUT

"In forty-eight hours, if you do not have my money, one bullet goes into your sister's head, and the second bullet will be for you. And trust me, there is no part of this world where you can hide, because I will find you."

Serena staggered backward. They were going to die, she and her sister. Even if she sold everything she owned, it wouldn't be anywhere close to enough.

And even if she somehow found two million, it didn't guarantee that he wouldn't still kill them.

His phone rang, snapping Serena out of her thoughts.

"You'll still kill us. Even if I give you the money, you'll still kill us," she said, a single tear rolling down her face.

"Bring my money back, and you have my word. I'll let your sister go. You know your way out," he said before taking the call.

Serena walked out of the building feeling worse than the day she decided to walk in there. She stood for several minutes, wondering what to do next. But there was nothing she could do to raise two million dollars, let alone in two days.

She was in big trouble.

---

Adriano smashed his phone against the wall and swept all the contents of his desk to the floor with one sweep of his hands.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" he cursed.

"What is it, boss?" Godfrey asked.

"The border patrol raided my shipment of weapons!" he barked. "Fuck!" he cursed again.

Nothing had been going his way. First, his brother was killed, and his money was stolen by that treacherous woman. Now his shipment, worth almost thirty million, was confiscated by the border patrol. Adriano was certain Trejo's cartel had something to do with it. He was sure of it.

They had been attacking Adriano's cartel ever since El Padrino made it clear he would be withdrawing his support and backing a different cartel. Now, more than ever, Adriano knew he had to secure Padrino's support, or this might be the first of many attacks on his business. Soon, other small cartels would start attacking his warehouses too.

"What about our men in the patrol?" Godfrey asked.

"They're fucking useless," Adriano grunted.

"This has Trejo written all over it. Spineless bastards," Godfrey cursed.

Adriano knew they were trying to force his hand-to provoke him into attacking, giving Padrino even more reasons to officially withdraw his support. Even though Padrino hadn't made it clear who he would back, Adriano knew Trejo was high on the list of candidates.

"Do you want me to get the boys? We can raid the patrol's warehouse before they move our shipment."

Adriano thought for a while. "Call our contact and find out the best time for the raid," he finally replied.

Straightening, Adriano turned to face the curtain wall. This view always reminded him of why he joined the Mafia-the dream of having the world at his feet after so many years of the world bringing him to his knees. He was close to achieving his dreams, and he wasn't about to let Trejo or anyone else get in his way.

"Godfrey."

Godfrey paused at the door, hand on the knob. "Yes, boss?"

"Call the pilot and tell him to ready the jet. I'm going to Mexico tonight."

---

Serena stood outside Anna's door for the longest time, wondering whether or not to ring the doorbell. She could tell Anna was home-there was the familiar tinkering sound coming from inside-but Serena didn't want to drag Anna into her mess. It was bad enough that she'd already involved her sister.

But then again, she needed someone to talk to, someone who could advise her on what to do next, especially with her life and her sister's hanging in the balance. Finally, she rang the doorbell, and moments later, the door flew open. Anna stood at the entrance, a combination of concern and relief on her face. She immediately pulled Serena into a tight hug.

"Where have you been? You had me worried. Your phone was out of reach, your house was trashed, and you weren't there. I even had to talk to your landlord," she said quickly, then paused to catch her breath. Breaking the hug, she examined Serena closely. "Are you okay?"

Serena just walked past her and plopped down on the couch. Anna followed immediately.

"Talk to me. Did you find Rita?"

Serena had no idea where to begin or what to even say. She was overwhelmed, terrified, and starving. She broke into tears.

Anna immediately threw her arms around Serena as she cried even harder. "Hey, it's alright. You're alright," Anna repeated, rubbing soothing circles on Serena's back.

Serena cried for what seemed like forever, and when she finally settled down, her face was both puffy and covered in tears and snot.

"Go take a bath," Anna said. "I'll prepare something for you to eat."

Serena didn't argue; she went straight to the bathroom. She sighed in relief as soon as the warm water hit her skin. She needed this bath more than she realized.

Anna waited until Serena had finished eating before asking, "What's wrong?" She gave Serena's hand a light squeeze.

Serena told her everything-the events that had led her to this point, and worse, how she needed to raise two million dollars in two days.

"How are you supposed to raise that kind of money?" Anna asked, alarmed.

"I have no idea. He thinks I'm working for another cartel-Trejo's, I think," Serena replied.

If only there were a way to reach out to Trejo's cartel and beg them to return the money to Adriano, then she and her sister would be free.

And then it clicked. Maybe that was her ticket out of this mess. She was going to contact Trejo's cartel.

But how?