"You don't have to do this, you know."

"I know. I want to."

"I'm afraid it's too late, T. I'm afraid things are too messed up. I never should have let him go work for Ramón. But he's so restless, and he wants so much more than I can give him."

"You didn't let him do anything, Mari. He's a grown man, able to make his own decisions. Looks like he just needs to know where those decisions will get him."

"Things were so different back home. We all worked together, on the farm. Alberto was in school, and Rey could've taken over when Papa got too old. But he wanted more than that. And Mama and Papa wanted more for us. I sometimes wish we'd stayed…"

He had no response for that so he settled for taking her hand gently, his thumb rubbing soft circles in her palm. She wrapped her fingers around his and squeezed back, giving him a small sad smile.

"I appreciate this more than you know. It's just that since we've been here, Rey hasn't had a man in his life, to give him any direction. Its different for guys…"

He smiled. "Yeah, I know. I grew up with five sisters. My older brother is like twelve years older than me. He was already moved out by the time I was eight. And my father was just this kinda strong but distant man. Good with doling out the lectures but not so good with the other stuff."

"So you know what I'm talking about. The only men in his life are Ramón and that group of thugs at the warehouse. I want him to know that it can be different. That he can be a good man…like you," she said, lifting her head to gaze into his eyes, then ducking her head back down.

He placed a finger under her chin and pulled her face back up to meet his eyes once more.

"I'm a good man, huh? Thought I was a criminal?"

She smiled at the memory of how she had misunderstood him on their first meeting. "You still like making fun of the chica with the broken English, huh?"

"Always. So, we gonna do this, or what? I still plan on enjoying the rest of our night together. My nights off are rare enough, and I had to practically wrassle my supervisor to get it."

"Yeah. Let's vamos, T."

… … … … … … …

They pulled up in his truck outside a darkened building, a security floodlight on the outside the only light visible.

"You sure he's in there? Place looks closed."

"He told me he was working tonight. Said something about overtime."

He killed the engine and went around to the passenger side of the truck to help her out. He took her hand and gave it a final reassuring squeeze and, tucking his keys in his pocket, gestured towards the front door of the warehouse.

He gave the door a hard rap several times. A large man dressed in a blue coverall opened the door and poked his head out.

"Qué usted desea?" he asked roughly.

"Estoy aquí ver Rey."

"Rey no está aquí."

She shook her head at his answer that Rey wasn't there. She knew he was supposed to be there, and told the man so. "Lo suponen estar aquí. Déjeme adentro." And with her demand to let her in she pushed past the man with a firm hand on his chest, heedless of the half a foot in height the man had on her.

He followed her in, and glanced back at the man left standing at the open door following them with a dark look.

She stalked to the back of the warehouse, her low-heeled shoes tapping out a staccato that echoed in the cavernous storage area. She stopped outside a plain wooden door and banged on it with her open palm.

"Ramón! It's Mari. Open up."

After a while when there was no answer she raised her hand to pound on the door again when it swung inward, revealing her cousin Ramón, dressed in a black silk shirt and black dress pants. Silver hung from one ear and glinted on his wrists and hand.

"Mari. My favorite cousin," he said, false sincerity oozing out of every word. He leaned against the door, a cigarette burning in the hand that held it open.

"Where is Rey?"

"He's not here, Prima. He's out on business."

"He told me he was working late here. Said they had a big delivery and he was working overtime. Where is he, Ramón?"

He held the door further open, inviting them in. "He's not here, Mari. Come see for yourself." He made a sweeping gesture with the hand that held the cigarette leaving a gray cloud of smoke trailing through the stale air of the office.

They stepped further into the office and, satisfying herself that the office contained nothing but a chair, a desk, and some boxes piled on the floor, she turned around to face her cousin.

"Ramón," she said, planting her hands on her hips, "I want you to tell Rey he can't work for you anymore."

"Now why would I want to do that, Prima? He's a grown man. He can make his own decisions. Besides a job in a warehouse is respectable work," he said with a dark smile and feigned sincerity.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about. What you do is not respectable. It's despicable! You spread poison amongst your own people. They barely make it out the door before they start shooting up. Half of them wind up in that alley. You ruin lives, Ramón, and I won't have Rey's life be another that you destroy."

The cousin's smile became darker, vicious even, baring yellow tinted teeth. He recognized violence brewing behind those smoldering eyes and took hold of Mari's arm, trying to pull her back towards him.

She shook off his hand and stood glaring up at her cousin.

"I don't destroy lives, Prima," Ramón began, his voice smooth as the silk of his expensive shirt. "And I offer more opportunity for you and Rey and little Berto. You can wait another ten years, trying the system, hoping the government will issue one of their precious green cards to another set of illegal Mexicans."

He stepped closer, pulling on his cigarette and exhaling the smoke in her direction.

"America has all the maids and nannies and dishwashers it needs, Mari. Now why would they offer the three of you an okay to stay?"

He saw her back tighten, and she deliberately took another step closer to her cousin.

"What would you know, Ramón? The only reason you got a Green Card was because of your father. And he got his influence by selling out on my father with the Estrella people. Your father broke my mother's heart when he did that. It's been harder now than ever for them."

"My father is an honorable man." Ramón's lowered his voice, like a dog lowering it's ears. His left hand reached over to play with the silver and turquoise ring on his right ring finger.

Sensing the fury and danger behind the man's voice and demeanor he tried again to cautiously rein her in. "Mari…" he said quietly.

But it was too late. Her fiery temper had seized control and there was no turning her back now.

"Your father's actions in Mexico were regrettable, but to some extent I can understand them. Yes, Ramón. Your father is an honorable man. But he turns his head because he cannot bear to see the man you have become. You flaunt that ring he gave you as if you think you deserve it! You work does not honor him. It mocks him! And he is an old fool not to see it!"

Her cousin's hand shot out and slapped her across the face, splitting the corner of her lip and leaving a white hand print that quickly refilled and turned livid on her cheek.

He quickly stepped forward between the two of them but she put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. With a hand that shook almost imperceptibly she wiped away the blood that pooled at the corner of her mouth.

"No. What my dear cousin fails to realize is that I know exactly what it is that he does here and what kind of merchandise he really deals in. So, Ramón, you will tell my brother that he can no longer work for you and you will send him back home to me, or I will call the police and let them know what you are doing here." With that she reached over and ripped open the top box on the pile marked Estrella D'Oro Tequila and pulled out a plastic baggie of what looked like brown sugar. She hurled it at her cousin and he caught it easily as it struck his chest.

His eyes widened at the sight of what had to be uncut heroin. Hundreds of dollars worth alone in the bag she had thrown at her cousin.

The feral look was back in Ramon's eyes. His lips pulled away from his teeth in a parody of a smile.

"Ayi, Mari. Tsk tsk tsk. You shouldn't have done that. Rey told me your new guero boyfriend was a cop. Un cerdo." He spat on the ground.

"I'm not a cop. And we haven't seen anything. Mari…" he said, backing slowly, hoping she realized that she was messing with a hornet's nest. "C'mon. Rey's a grown man and we'll have to let make up his own mind what he's gonna do. Let's just go."

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Guero."

He heard the ominous click of a handgun being cocked behind him. The large man who had opened the door for them earlier had been joined by a slightly smaller man. The smaller man was currently the more dangerous of the two as he had the gun.

"Pedro. Jaime. Glad you could join us. We have a problem."

Adrenaline ramped up his heart rate at the sight of the two men. He took a step closer to Mari, trying to hide her smaller figure behind his. The larger of the two men stepped in to the room and crossed momentarily in front of his friend with the gun.

Seizing the temporary opportunity he whipped around to scan the room for a weapon and reached for a letter opener that was sitting out on top of the desk.

Ramón noticed his movement and snatched up the letter opener in a lightning quick reaction, pulling it out of his range and smiling like a Cheshire cat, taunted him with it by waving it in front of his face.

"Ah, ah, ah, Guero. Mustn't play with this. This is my toy." And with that he gestured with his head at the man with the gun. "Jaime, venido aquí. El cerdo tiene gusto de jugar con los cuchillos."

His heart dropped as he translated what he was hearing. 'The pig likes to play with knives.' He stepped back to Mari's side, taking her arm and wrapping his other arm around her waist.

Jaime, the larger of the two workers, stepped forward and wrenched Mari from his grip, spinning her away from him and shoving him hard, his hip striking the desk. Pedro, the smaller man with the gun, maintained his stance, the point of the gun never wavering from its aim on him.

"So, Pig," Ramón hissed as he stepped closer. "You want this?" He took the point of the letter opener and traced its point on his chest. "Well, here. Have it." And with that Ramón raised his hand to plunge the point of it like a dagger into his upper arm. Pain seared at its entry and his other hand reached over to clamp over his wound as Ramón pulled the opener free.

"We can play with my toy all night if you want, Guero."

Jaime reached over and grabbed his wounded arm causing a flare of new raw pain. He was forced several steps backwards until his ass hit something hard. His feet went out from under him and he braced for impact on the floor but instead he fell back into the chair that had been sitting in front of the desk.

"Pedro. Please see to my dear cousin," Ramón sneered. The gunman reached over and roughly grabbed her arm, pulling her towards him and shoving the gun in her side. He saw her wince as the gun muzzle bit into her stomach.

Jaime, meanwhile, had grabbed hold of his weakened left arm and was pinning it in a vise-like grip to the arm of the chair. He struggled against his captor, kicking savagely and, swinging his right hand over, he caught the larger man's mouth with his fist. He felt the man's teeth bite into the flesh of his knuckles but it was too difficult to follow through with the punch seated in the chair. Jaime pulled back his head and gave him a bloody smile. Planted his meaty hand on his chest and shoved him back into the chair.

"Looks like we need to teach you how to play nice, Pig," Ramón hissed in his ear. The point of the opener was shoved back in his wound and he wrenched back in the seat, planting his feet on the ground trying to pull away from the pain. The big man's hand kept him pinned while Ramón began to slowly twist the weapon in his arm.

Blood had begun to ooze from the wound, a trickle to begin, but thickening as the wound was opened further with each twist. A small pool began to form on the floor and his feet, still fumbling for traction on the ground, began to slip.

The pain was excruciating and he grunted, grinding his teeth in anger and frustration. He looked over at Mari. She was sobbing; trying to struggle against the hold that Pedro had on her but the gunman just tightened his grip on her and shoved the gun deeper into her side.

"Mari…" he ground out. "Don't." He was trying to tell her to stop struggling, his eyes meeting hers, begging her. His eyes went down to the weapon in her side then back up to meet her gaze. He shook his head at her. "Mari…" his next words cut off as Ramón made another circuit with the knife.

The throb in his arm had actually begun to recede, the overtaxed flesh beginning to numb with the extent of the trauma. He had already lost almost a pint of blood he guessed, by the rapidly expanding puddle on the floor.

He felt his eyes begin to close when his head was slammed back by something hard. He opened his eyes to see Ramón's hand returning for another backhand slap, this one ratcheting his head the other way. The ring on his attacker's hand hit his jawbone jarring against a molar. Blood now trickled down onto his chin.

"I'm not done playing yet, Guero," Ramón jeered with a bone-chilling smile. Jaime had released his grip on his arm but it was as if something still held it there, the torn muscle refusing to obey his commands, it hung limp where it lay on the chair arm. Ramón stepped back and reared a fist back, connecting with his stomach. He fell forward, grabbing at his gut when he felt a second hand grab his hair and pull him back upright to fall back against the back of the chair. Jaime had released his arm only to take his place behind him. He was wrenched up cruelly by Jaime's hand in his hair. He flailed his feet on the ground attempting to gain purchase, finally making it to his feet where he stood wavering unsteadily.

The next few minutes were a blur of fists as Ramón and Jaime struck him, each alternating blows to his stomach and back. The ring on Ramón's hand caught him just above the ear and the edges of his vision grayed. He swayed and fell heavily to his knees, panting and gasping for breath.

Ramón made a big show of playing the boxer, dancing on his feet, maneuvering his head around on his neck to work out the kinks from his 'fight'. "C'mon, Pig. Don't you wanna play anymore? No? Well then…maybe Mari would like to play."

From his crouch on the floor he looked up and saw Ramón walk over to Pedro and Mari. Her struggles increased and she shrunk away from Ramón as he approached. He grabbed her roughly and pulled her over to his side. He ran a hand down her arm, pinching her flesh painfully. He licked his lips as his hand moved to her back, his palm grabbing her ass and squeezing it brutally.

"You been fucking her, Pig? You like fucking the help, Guero? Huh? You get off doing the Mexican girls with their big asses and soft round tits?"

He began to crawl towards them, pain consuming his body. He tried to stand but his knees slid in the blood and his hand couldn't gain purchase. He watched as Ramón's hand left Mari's rear to slide around her front to clutch a hand over her breast. Mari was openly weeping, trying vainly to pull out of her cousin's grasp.

"I watched this little one grow up. She was small. Like a little stick figure. My how little girls grow up, huh, Prima?" He squeezed her breast hard, enjoying feeling her squirm as she tried ripping his arm away, her nails and fingers slipping off the silk fabric.

"Stop. Don't touch her."

"What's that? Didn't understand that. No entiende, Guero. Besides, I think I found myself a new toy to play with."

"Don't. Touch. Her."

"Or you'll what?" he said with a jeering laugh. "What ya gonna do, Cop? Arrest me? You can't touch me. But I can touch her…" and his hand left her breast to move down her side. He wrenched up her skirt and put his hand on her. She clamped her legs shut but his grip was too strong and he moved his hand mercilessly on her, in her.

"Did you think she was your toy? Huh? Cuz she's mine now. And I can play with her as much as I like."

He saw her stiffen as her cousin's assault continued, tears streaming down her face.

A harsh buzzing noise rang in from somewhere above and Ramón's hand froze and dropped from under her skirt. She pushed away as his attention was averted and stumbled back several feet only to bump into his form still curled up on the floor. She dropped to her knees and grabbed a hold of his face, smoothing away the blood from his mouth and chin.

Ramón paid her no mind. "Jaime. We've got a delivery. Let's go. Pedro. You watch them." He and Jaime each picked up a box containing the heroin and left the room, Pedro staying behind, his gun trained on them.

She grabbed a hold of him, crying into his shoulder, then sitting back on her heels she swiped the tears from her face and looked resolutely into his eyes. She took the edge of her skirt and held it to his arm, trying to staunch the flow of blood that had never ceased. As a section would soak through she moved on to another section, applying pressure with a firm hand. He hissed at the pain and her tears sprung back, but he held her tightly, the two of them rocking back and forth together on the floor. He ran a hand through her beautiful curls, smelling the spicy citrus smell of her perfume.

"I'm so sorry, Nick. So very very sorry. I never should have…"

He shushed her, rubbing her back in slow circles with his hand. He felt so helpless, the pain in his body and the loss of blood crippling him, leaving him unable to defend her from the assault he knew would be renewed once her cousin returned.

He watched curiously as she pulled back from his embrace and fumbled at the end of her skirt. She ripped a long strip of fabric from the bottom hem and wrapped it around the wound in his arm, looking into his eyes as she pulled it tight. His gaze never wavered but she saw the agony in his eyes. She quickly knotted the fabric and fell back into his arms.

"I love you, Nick," she whispered, her breath hot on his ear. "And I'm so sorry…" she began, her words dissolving into sobs.

"Te quiero, Mari," he murmured back. "Just hold on, okay? We can still get through this. Just …"

He felt her stiffen in his arms as they heard the door open and Ramón and Jaime returned to the office.

"Well isn't that sweet. You made a bandage for the poor wounded pig. You know what they do with wounded animals, Mari. They put them down. Its more merciful that way."

Ramón grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. She screamed and struggled to pull away but her cousin just laughed as his overwhelming size and bulk easily overpowered her.

"I think I'll take this little puta out to the alleyway. It's where all the whores do their business. C'mon." He pulled her towards a door on the back wall of the office. Her cousin struck the push bar and forced her outside following behind her and letting the door shut behind him with a resounding clack.

He groaned on the floor, fighting to stay conscious, still trying weakly to sit up. His arms wrapped around himself as the pain consumed him and he felt his world tip upside down as he fell onto his back to stare at the ceiling. His vision and his consciousness finally and mercifully faded to black.

… … … …

He came to with a cry and a moan. He had no idea how long he'd been out, but he knew what had awakened him. It was a boot in his side.

Ramón was standing over him, leering at him laying on the floor. He rubbed at his right hand and tugged the silver ring off of a swollen finger, placing it on the desk.

"Where's Mari?" he croaked.

"I left her where she belongs. With the garbage. Now you, my little cop friend. You may not be so easy to dispose of. No one is gonna think twice about finding a dead whore in an alleyway. But you may actually rate an investigation."

Ramón leaned closer and whispered in his ear, his fetid breath filling his nostrils. "I think I will let my two friends deal with you, while I head home. That's why we have help, isn't it? To get their hands dirty. And I've dirtied mine enough tonight."

Ramón's words echoed in his head. 'A dead whore…' Mari. She can't be…

He shook his head, groaning at the pain, at the words, at the image. Ramón's smile grew wider.

"Jaime. Pedro. You take care of the pig. Make sure to get his keys, his phone, and his wallet. I'll take his pretty little truck home with me."

Knowing now that the end was near he curled up tighter and tried to let the darkness reclaim him. But Jaime and Pedro weren't through with him. They dealt him another few savage kicks to his sides and legs, the last one catching his wounded arm, granting him the darkness he was seeking as the pain overwhelmed his senses and his system shut down.

… … … …

He came around to the sound of voices yelling. He opened an eye to see Rey in the room, his gun trained on Pedro. Jaime was standing nearby, his hands in the air.

Rey looked down at him. "T. Get up. Where's Mari?"

He tried to answer but his words came out slurry and mumbled. "Rey...she's…"

"Where, T? Where is Mari?"

He shook his head and painfully clambered to his knees. He sat that way for a while, allowing the room to stop spinning. He grabbed a hold of the edge of the desk and pulled himself up, slowly and painfully. His eye caught Ramón's ring still on the desk and he picked it up and shoved it in his pocket.

"She's dead, Rey," he managed to sob out. "He said she's dead." He turned to head towards the back door when he heard Rey cry out as he struck Pedro with the butt of the gun. Rey hit the man a second time and Jaime seized the opportunity to launch himself at Rey.

"Rey! Look out!" he managed to grind out as he took the last of his strength and flung himself in the large man's path, knocking him back against the desk, eliciting a satisfying grunt of pain as Jaime's side hit the corner. Fury seized a hold of him as he struck the large man in the face, his punches lacking full strength but the man temporarily winded from hitting the desk.

The rest was a blur of punching and kicking, the larger man gaining strength as the effects of his wind being knocked from him waned. Rey had taken down the smaller man and came over to lend a hand with the larger man. They managed to wrestle Jaime to the ground, a large booted foot sneaking out to strike him in the head near his temple. The world went sideways and his vision blurred. Halos formed around all the bright points of light in the office.

He felt arms pulling at him, dragging him to his feet. Moments later he felt fresh air on his face and he was thrust into the back of a car, surrounded by the smell of new leather.

… … … … … … …

He awoke to a new smell. Rubbing alcohol and bleach. The room was dark and quiet and he lay there, staring at the ceiling but not seeing the ceiling. He was seeing Ramón's leering face. And the fear in Mari's eyes. No tears this time. Only an anger that burned from his core, joining the fire that already consumed his flesh.

He rolled over and picked up the phone on his bedside table. Dialed a number and waited through several rings. When his party answered he gripped the phone tightly.

"It's me. I need you to come pick me up."