Chapter 36

Silence filled the room...the only sound that could be heard was Lynn's hurried breath as she tried to stay conscience. She looked between Jeff and Mariachi glad that they had showed up when they did. She met Mariachi's eyes and pleaded with him to help her. The only way she could communicate with Jeff was to talk and she didn't want to bait Lucas by giving him ammo against Jeff.

"How nice of you to join us," Lucas greeted as he walked around the table putting Lynn between himself and Jeff.

Jeff took a few steps closer wanting badly to run to Lynn and help her, but he forced himself to get a grip. "How long have you been working for DeMarco?"

Lucas snorted, "DeMarco! I've never worked for that ass. No...I only allied myself with Maria to get to you."

Jeff was confused but didn't let it show on his face. It was vital he didn't show any emotion, it would be considered a weakness and could possibly get them killed.

"Then why the charade?" Mariachi asked.

Lucas hit the table making Lynn cringe, "Thought you'd never ask! See, Sands here caught the attention of the Cartel and just about every bounty hunter in Mexico after his little cope five years ago. And like you he went into hiding...but this is where it gets interesting. You wanna here a sad and tragic story?" Lucas propped his foot up on the table and rested his forearms on his propped knee. "Once upon a time in Mexico, there was a man that had his eyes ripped out. A little boy named Jose found him wondering outside a church. A the good hearted little boy couldn't bare to see the man in such pain and turmoil, so he brought him home to his family." Lucas looked directly at Jeff. "Jose's family cared for the man, but what the stranger didn't realize was he was bringing his trouble with him. Not too long after his arrival the little boy and his sister...were gun downed...because of his own greed and self-centered attitude."

Jeff clenched his jaw as the pain of the memory came back full force. That was one day he was thankful he couldn't see. But he did remember Jose and his sisters screams as they died. It was enough to make his stomach churn and the bile rise to the back of his throat. He had grown fond of the little boy and loved his sister. "I never meant for any of it to happen Lucas...I loved her," Jeff tried to express quietly.

Lucas slammed his fist into the table making Lynn close her eyes out of fear. "If you had cared so much you wouldn't have stayed. You knew they would come after you. You knew they would want revenge for killing Burillo's daughter, but you stayed anyway." He pulled a knife from his boot and put it to Lynn's throat making her gasp.

Lynn tensed the muscles in her neck and stared at the ceiling. Oh my God...he's gonna kill me...this is it... she cried in her mind as she felt the sharp blade against her skin. She didn't dare turn her neck in fear of slicing her own throat.

"I see you moved on quickly," Lucas commented looking down at Lynn's battered body. "She is a beautiful woman. She has my sisters eyes...is that why you supposedly love her so much?"

"I swear to God Lucas you touch her and I'll kill you where you stand," Jeff threatened unable to contain himself anymore.

Lucas shrugged, "She's not gonna make it anyway. She's lost too much blood already. You'll never make it to a hospital in time amigo."

"Enough games, what is it you want?" Mariachi demanded.

Lucas laughed, "Don't you get it? This..." he pointed around the room and down at Lynn. "...is what I want. To see each and every one of you suffer oh, and before I forget, the old woman wasn't much of hassle. I figured she'd put up more of a fight."

Lynn and Jeff both froze.

"Mija?" Lynn cried roughly closing her eyes. "No...no..."

"You son of a bitch," Jeff growled.

Lucas began to laugh hysterically and reared back to impale Lynn with the knife.

"No!" Mariachi yelled jumping for them.

A shot rang through the air and Lucas dropped the knife and stood surprised for a moment. Everyone in the room froze as Lucas fell to his knees holding his chest. "Bitch..." he muttered as he fell over dead.

Lynn and Mariachi looked from where the shot came from to see Maria with a gun in hand. She laid the gun down and rolled over to her back, and died.

"Lynn," Jeff hurried to her and immediately went to checking her body for injury.

"He shot me from behind," she informed smally. "It went all the way through...I've lost a lot of blood Jeff..."

"Shh, you're gonna be okay we're gonna get you to a hospital," Jeff kissed her hand, crushing it to his face and holding on for dear life. "Just hold on okay."

Lynn looked up at him, "Remember our agreement..."

Jeff shook his head, "...no..." He quickly scooped her up. "You just keep talking to me and you'll be fine..."