Page 111 of Savage Saint

She does, taking my tri-blade when I offer it, and Janelle’s face drains. “No.”

“Club law,” I begin, turning to face my family. “When a woman knowingly betrays our laws or harms a family, the women decide whether they want to take justice themselves. Today, the women have decided to claim their pound of flesh.”

Maria drives the blade into Janelle’s side, and her scream echoes through El Hueco. Then she passes it on.

One woman.

Then another.

An older ol’ lady.

By the sixth, Janelle’s begging for the kind of mercy she never gave. By the eighth, she can barely stand.

“Please stop. I know where she is,” she yells out as the knife changes hands again. “I’ll tell you.”

I lift a hand, and the room stops. “Talk.”

“There’s a studio Kirill rented to produce snuff films. He has a black-market buyer, and when a woman is introduced on their purchase page, they pass the auction block for one of his special films. If someone bids, they stay to star in a one-time role. Everyone but Lucas knew where she was.”

“Why did Lucinda lie?”

“Probably hoping you’d let her go? She had some money invested.” At that, I look at her cousin’s empty eyes and add a second shot, this one to her heart. “Where in Puerto Plata, Janelle? Last fucking chance.”

“The industrial area in Villa Progreso. Building number is 1110.” She coughs, a little blood dribbling from the corner of her mouth. “They have her phone and used her friends. Emilio stole it two days ago; he took her to dinner, then ghosted her. Literally left her at the restaurant with the bill.”

“Flow?”

“He did, but the bill was paid when she walked out. So was the cab waiting for her.”

“You?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“Is this in your report?” Because I don’t remember reading about him leaving her stranded. Don’t think Genesis knew, either. She would’ve wanted to kick his ass.

Flow nods. “It’s on your desk. Emilio came and left. He didn’t ask any questions; the only thing missing after was her phone, and she bought a new one, then changed her number the next day.”

“Genesis didn’t know?”

“Tatiana went into hibernation. That’s what I heard her tell her neighbor.”

“Trojan?”

“Going to run my tracking software now. If the phone is on, the closest cell tower will pick it up.” He runs the scan, his lips thinned. Looks pissed. “I should’ve checked this earlier, Saint. I thought her phone was with her keys.”

“Just focus on finding a signal.” Turning back to Janelle, I smile at her. Not a friendly one, and her eyes widen, her weakened limbs trembling harder. “That’s the kindest thing you could’ve done, but it’ll never be enough. Maria.”

Gallo’s ol’ lady understands, and she begins the rotation. For the next fifteen minutes, Janelle is stabbed, spit on, and taught a lesson I hope no other woman in this room has to face one day.

Her screams don’t last long.

Lucas is barely breathing when the club walks out.

Three bodies will stay in El Hueco, burned on the third day as is tradition. Let every brother who walks through these doors smell what betrayal earns and share the stories with those they love. We don’t forgive. We don’t forget.

By the time we return to the compound, nobody needs instructions.

Weapons are checked, and men split into two teams.