South Border 2:02 am.
23 Miles. Vinniger Lane.
Antonio sat behind the steering wheel—motionless, eyelids half-shut and his vision smeared and unfocused. Blood trickled from a gash on his forehead. His ears rang—like the world had been dropped underwater. Katherine laid unconscious beside him, then he heard it. Mila's cries filled the car from the backseat. Before he could turn, his eyes caught movement from the rearview mirror. Mbali walked toward the car from slowly—deliberate. Antonio made a decision. He leaned back and let his head fall to the side, he played dead. Mbali drew closer, her heels crunched softly against the gravel. She strolled alongside the vehicle, she peered in through the windows. Her eyes landed on Mila in the backseat—terror flooded her tiny body. Mbali did not stop, she continued forward and reached the driver's door. Inside, Antonio and Katherine looked helpless. Mbali forced the door open and raised her gun, she pressed the barrel to Antonio's head. "I'm not dumb, jackass." she said as she bit her lip, but Silence was the answer. Her finger tightened on the trigger… but Antonio moved quickly. In one sharp motion, he twisted her wrist and ripped the Glock from her grip. The gun was suddenly in his hand—aimed straight at her face. "Step back." Antonio said coldly. Mbali froze, then slowly she raised her hands as he released his seat belt, then he stepped out of the car. Antonio wiped the blood from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Who sent you, huh?" he asked. "Was it Max?" Mbali tilted her head as she burst into laughter, wild and unhinged. "And what makes you think." she said, "that I'd tell you anything?"
"I'm not playing fucking games." Antonio growled. "Tell me who sent you—or I'll put a bullet through your skull." Mbali blew him a kiss. "Don't threaten me with a good time, Playboy." Antonio struck her across the head with the Glock. She stumbled back, her heels slipped in the gravel. "Is this your way of sending a message? because I beat you?" he asked flatly. She laughed again, she spat at his feet. "Like I give a shit." Mbali replied.Antonio stared at her "Looks like you won't cooperate." he raised the gun and aimed at her head. "So, I'll put you out of your misery." He pulled the trigger— Click, but Nothing. Then he pulled it again. Click. Click. The gun stayed silent, then Antonio saw the gun had no magazine in it. Mbali threw her head back and laughed—victoriously. "You really think I work with guns?" she mocked. "Oh no, no, no." She leaned forward, her eyes gleamed. "The Glock is just for show, baby." Antonio's jaw tightened. "Aww." she cooed. "How I love that look of disappointment on your face."
"Get ready." She straightened, her smile sharpened into something lethal. "Because I am the show." With a flick of her foot, a blade slid free from her heel—a vengeance dagger glinted under the moonlight.
Antonio settled into an orthodox stance, his shoulders squared, the useless Glock gripped like a blunt weapon. Mbali stood loose and poised like a night assassin who measured her kill. Then she exploded forward, her arm slashed across the air, barely missed his face. Antonio stepped back and countered with a side kick—but Mbali intercepted, her blade flashed and the dagger kissed his ankle. Antonio hissed and stumbled back. The gun slipped from his hand and clattered onto the road. Mbali smiled. "Antonio, Antonio… my little Romeo." she purred. She sprinted, leapt off the hood of the car, and launched herself at him—but Antonio caught her arms mid-air and hurled her sideways. She hit the gravel hard, she rolled and came up fast, Mbali snatched a rock and whipped it at his head. Antonio dodged and rushed in, he drove a brutal gut punch into her midsection. Her spine arched visibly… but she adapted instantly. She trapped his arm and twisted around his body, she buried the dagger into his thigh. Antonio groaned and staggered—then roared forward with a Spartan kick that sent her flying into the side of the car. Inside, Katherine stirred faintly.
Antonio didn't hesitate He charged with a flying knee aimed at Mbali's head—but she slipped away with a front roll then cartwheel, she cleanly landed on her feet. Antonio rushed again—slower now. Mbali spun and cracked him with a full three-sixty hook kick. His face smashed against the tar. Antonio kicked up, and forced himself back to his feet. "Aww." Mbali mocked as she circled him. "You're so persistent."
"You're one to talk." Antonio spat blood. They collided—their fists traded, head shots exchanged, knuckles thudded into ribs and flesh. Mbali drove the blade into his abdomen. Antonio grunted then he pulled her close, and smashed his forehead into her face. She staggered back as she clutched her nose. Antonio ripped the dagger from his own stomach and slashed at her arms—quickly. She dodged most of them, but not all. Then she ducked and her kick slammed into his groin. Antonio dropped to his knees. Mbali followed with a vicious roundhouse—his face planted hard against the asphalt. "They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." she laughed. Antonio curled instinctively, his hands between his legs. "But your kids?" she added. "They won't be coming out strong anymore." she laughed menacingly.
Antonio surged up without warning, he tackled her into the ground, he straddled her as the dagger skidded away inches from their reach. "Hey." Mbali grinned breathlessly. "At least take me out on a date first." Antonio answered with fists. Left. Right. Over and over he hammered through her guard. She blocked most of it—until one punch slipped through and slammed into her ear. Her vision rang. Antonio followed with three sharp jabs—but Mbali snapped back, she wrapped her long legs around his neck and gouged her finger into his eye. Antonio stumbled. She tightened the choke—and Antonio roared, he lifted her with one arm, then power-slammed her onto the road. The air burst from her lungs. He stomped down… but she rolled away just in time, she back flipped to her feet. They froze, both of them bloodied, bruised and breathing heavy. Antonio ripped his shirt off, his muscles tensed. Mbali fanned herself exaggeratedly. "Woo… is it getting hot in here, or is it just me?"
She rolled her hips slowly. "Papi, why don't we resolve this—maybe I'll even let you fuck me."
"In your dreams." Antonio growled. Mbali smirked as she traced her slim waist and slapped her ass. "This?" she said. "This is to die for, Papi." Katherine's eyes slowly fluttered open. The world came back in fragments. The headlight cut through the dark like knives, it bleached the road ahead. Two figures stood framed in that glare, they circled each other. Her hearing snapped back all at once and Mila's cries tore through her. "Mi—" Katherine gasped, panic flooded her chest. She twisted weakly, her neck strained to the backseat. Mila was there… red-faced, but strapped in safe. Alive. Relief hit her so hard she nearly blacked out again. Katherine fumbled with the seatbelt. It released. She slid sideways and groaned as pain locked her limbs. Her arms wouldn't answer. Her legs felt like they belonged to someone else.
Outside, Mbali rolled her shoulders and adjusted her breasts lazily, she licked her lips. "It'd be such a waste." Mbali purred, "to kill a hot man like you." Antonio sneered through his bloodied teeth. "I'm flattered. But you're insane." Mbali laughed and launched herself forward, airborne—Antonio intercepted with a brutal front kick and knocked her back. He surged after her, but she flipped away in a clean back handspring, she rebounded of the hood of the car and spun into a tornado kick that cracked against his neck. Antonio staggered once more. Something switched inside him. Rage swallowed him whole. He came back like a storm—he leapt in, as he smashed both fists down in a double hammer strike that sent Mbali to the ground. Antonio mounted her, his fists rained down on her—lefts, rights, elbows—raw and unrelenting. Mbali's guard weakened and her eyes glazed. He didn't stop, nor did he see anything else. Abruptly… "Toni!" Katherine cried. Antonio froze mid-strike. He turned around. Katherine stood there, Antonio scrambled off Mbali and rushed to her. "Kathy… baby… are you okay?" He spat blood. "Mila… where's Mila?"
"We're fine." Katherine whispered. His breath broke. A laugh escaped him. "Thank God. I thought I lost you." he wept. Antonio cupped her face then they kissed—slow and desperate, he grounded himself in her warmth. "Come on." he said. "We need to get out of…"
BANG!
Antonio got shot in the leg—he dropped to one knee, Katherine screamed. Behind them, Mbali stood— her blood trickled down her face, she smiled with her Glock raised. "Move away from him, bitch." Mbali said hastily. "He's mine." Antonio stared at her, he was stunned. "How? I knocked you out." Mbali spat a tooth onto the road. "You did. Hell of a punch." Her smile twisted. "But you didn't mean to finish me. All because of this stupid bitch." She pointed the gun at Katherine. "But… There was no magazine." Antonio rasped. Mbali laughed and reached under her bra and peeled it back just enough. "You forgot to check a lady's personal cupboard." Two magazines were taped beneath her breast. Katherine whispered, "That's impossible." Mbali sneered. "You wouldn't know—your tits are as ugly as your face." Antonio tried to rise… BANG!
The second shot tore into his other leg. He collapsed backward. "No—please!" Katherine dropped over him, she shielded his body. "Aww, Cute." Mbali said. "But if you don't move, I'll end your little girl next." Katherine's face crumpled. Grief hollowed her eyes. "Aww." Mbali mocked. "You gonna' cry?"
"Kathy." Antonio strained, "it's okay. Take Mila. Go back into town—"
"No." Katherine sobbed. "Please." he begged. "For our daughter. Keep her safe." Mbali yawned and fired a bullet into the sky. "Jesus. Enough." She smirked. "Either fuck already or get to dying." She leveled the gun at Katherine's head. "Listen here, 'Kathy' how about you fuck off. You're starting to piss me off."
"Wait—" Antonio rasped, he forced his body upright despite the pain. "You're here for me, right?" He spread his arms weakly. "Let them go. And I'll submit." Mbali laughed—an amused sound. "Submit?" She tilted her head. "Who told you that you ever had a choice to begin with?" Her smile twisted. "You're still breathing because I allow it." Mila's cries pierced the night again. Mbali's eyes flicked to the car. Slowly she raised the gun. "Oh?" she said softly. "Little Ms Romeo over there, might be worth the interrogation."
"Please—no." Katherine stepped forward instinctively. "I'll do anything. Anything. Just—leave my daughter alone. Please." She pleaded until her voice cracked, tears streaked down her cheek. Mbali lowered the gun. "Fine." she said. "I'll make an exception." Her gaze locked onto Antonio. "They can go. But Romeo over here, stays."
"But—" Katherine started.
BANG!
The shot tore through Katherine's arm. She screamed and collapsed back as pain exploded through her triceps. "I said you can leave." Mbali said flatly. "No buts." Antonio dragged himself forward, his legs barely obeyed him and every nerve screamed as he forced himself upright. "Let." his breath ragged, "them… go."
BANG! BANG!
Both shots ripped through his knees, it dropped him instantly. Katherine screamed and threw herself over him again. Mbali stepped closer, her gun raised again. "I don't have time for this bullshit." she said coldly. "Move. Or I'll end you right here." Katherine froze—then slowly backed away, she sobbed. Antonio's gaze lingered on her, blood pooled beneath his legs. "It's okay, Kathy." he whispered. "Go. Just… know I'll always love you."
"I—I love you too." she cried. She limped to the car and wrenched Mila from the baby seat with her uninjured arm. Mila's cries softened as Katherine pressed her close, shielded her with her body despite the pain that tore through her arm. "Leave, bitch." Mbali snapped. Katherine did not look back. She turned away and marched off. Behind her, Mbali stood over Antonio's injured body, her shadow swallowed him whole. "You like the view from down there?" she murmured, as she sat on his groin. Antonio's breaths were shallow and uneven. Mbali crouched on top of him, the muzzle of her gun hovered inches from his face. Then, she reached into her bra and pulled out another burner, she flipped it open and dialed. The ring tone buzzed in the quiet desert air, it mixed with the faint hiss of leaking engines and the distant cry of wind over sand. It rang… and rang. Antonio's vision blurred a little, but he kept his eyes on her silhouette above him—he refused to close them. Finally, the line clicked. Mbali pressed the phone near her ear.
"Max." she said, her eyes never left Antonio's.
"I've got him."