Chapter 33

Lynn rested her head against the palm of her hand as Maria drove to their rendezvous point. She was trying to keep the worst case scenario out of her mind. Words of power she kept repeating over and over in her head. Her mother used to tell her that if you thought about something hard enough or said powerfully enough, it would come true, happen.

"I wouldn't worry so much. If anyone can take on the Cartel it's Jeff and Mariachi," Maria tried to reassure Lynn. "They say El Mariachi is unstoppable and Jeff, well I'm sure you already know that story already."

"Barillo had his eyes taken out and he was shot three times," Lynn resisted the story with ease. "Let's just hope they can survive it again."

Mariachi pulled off the side of the road about a mile from DeMarco's mansion and turned off the engine. He and Sands sat in silence for a few minutes. They were not friends, they were not partners. They were repaying favors and that was the end of it.

"Are you sure you can do this?" Mariachi asked quietly as always as he looked over at Sands. He knew Sands could get around just fine even though he was blind, but getting into a gun fight was another.

"If you're inquiring as to whether or not I can handle myself in a gun fight blind..." Sands started putting a full clip into 9mm. "...don't worry about me."

"Still getting into trouble hmm?" Mariachi raised his eyebrows.

Sands looked his direction, "You're one to talk. As I recall this is the third time you've been sought out by the Cartel."

"Bucho doesn't count, I sought him out," Mariachi corrected.

Sands looked bored, "Oh, excuse me I stand corrected." He ran his hands over his body making sure he had all the weapons he needed but stopped and looked back at Mariachi. "Come to think of it Bucho was your brother...and you killed him...what assurance do I have you won't shoot me in the back in the middle of all this?"

Mariachi cracked a smile as he loaded his double barrel gun. "I have nothing against you Sands, why would I want to kill you?" he said more than asked.

Sands nodded, "At the time I may have been a cold-blooded murdering bastard but even I had limits...but then again I didn't have any brothers or sisters so I can't attest to that."

Mariachi chuckled and opened his door letting one foot hang out. He sighed as he looked up the road.

"You ready for this?" Sands asked opening his own door.

"Let's do it," he said nodding.

They stepped out of the truck and started for the mansion.

"We're here," Maria said as they pulled up to yet another abandoned warehouse out in the middle of nowhere.

As they approached the building Lynn looked around. She had a funny feeling that she couldn't shake. It was like she expecting something to go wrong. Her stomach felt like it was in knots, but she just chucked it up to anxiety about Jeff. They stepped out of the car and started for the building.

"Seems okay," Maria said as they approached the door.

"Yeah," Lynn agreed vaguely as they walked inside.

"What's the matter?" Maria asked over her shoulder putting her bag on a nearby table. "You look so nervous."

Lynn didn't respond as she sat on the table pulling her gun from the back of her pants. Maria seemed surprised but didn't say anything as she pulled out a brush and ran it through her hair.

Sands and Mariachi steadily made their way to DeMarco's mansion. They had to keep a slower pace than what they wanted but Sands didn't know the terrain.

"Are we close?" Sands asked sensing Mariachi slowing his pace.

Mariachi nodded, "About a hundred yards or so." He looked around to see how many guards there were. "I'll take out the guards then we'll make our way inside." He counted six total and patted Sands on the shoulder. "Let's go."

With stealth they made their way towards the mansion.

"Yep...time to get messy," Sands cocked his gun and took a deep breath.