s of cigar smoke. Jorge stepped inside, the weight of t

up, revealing a luxury watch that gleamed under the low lighting. He didn't acknowledge Jorge

s a blade, sha

ice cut through

g the necessa

sk. His hands were steady, but only because he forced

through the pages wi

ped from the folder and

pau

and Irena, smiling beneath the summer sun. The kind o

t up, eyes scan

ed, more curiosity th

a small nod

aid it aside with a faint smirk, continuing th

st are not paid in full, I reserve the right

apping his finger

ted, savoring the words. "It's a

s low. "That was

ho understands the cost

es this time. He stared

d

for his pen. His signature flowed smoothly across t

r tu

m, but the house. Her house. The

t, he told himself

trayed more weight than t

ifting once more to the fallen photo. He s

r life," he murmured. "Let

up, one f

id casually. "Simple. Quie

nd. Then nodded and wal

Castill

shadows on the cracked walls. The air smelled of stew and wa

n across from him. Their daughter, Irena, sat quie

ere was relief. The money was in motion. The farm-miles away-coul

lia did

id quietly, "isn't a loa

and dipped it into the stew. It burned on his tongue

about the la

ge said. "

gered. "And

. "Just t

lightly, watching him. "

d, just for a

silence of a woman who knew something didn't add u

the current running just beneath her mother's words.

she murmured, ri

ot long. Just enough to ask something si

e left

ed her. Her footsteps

e expected. Felt the space she lef

Her gaze was gentle-but it pressed, pe

sn't be

she said. "But good men ma

y. "I did wha

what he meant by '

ed against the bo

her eyes shimmered with a

if yo

't answer.

his coat, and walk

-

ts

ad to the farm was long-a winding gravel path that disappeared int

neath his boots. He looked out-not at the house, but

elt

lt fr

a deep

he sa

e property, near the spl

. Engine off

itting

adn't been there earlier. No

ng a few paces closer-but the s

chi

it

appeared behin

w of a cigare

arknes

ght behind h

h

ic

a lighter being close

w didn'

t held i

Jo

t breath