"It's necessary," I corrected. "Diaz hates me already. Let him rot knowing I saved his worthless life. Let him testify and watch his whole world burn while he sits in a cell, wondering how the devil he once called brother ended up owning his freedom."
Another pause.
"Ten minutes," she said finally. "We'll come loud. No subtlety. You want Gabriela to remember every second."
"Good. And Jayden?"
"Yeah?"
"Make sure Sarah's not in the room when you list the murder. She doesn't need to hear it again. Not like this."
"Understood."
The line went dead.
I slipped the phone back into my pocket and exhaled slowly. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. Somewhere down the hall, a nurse's cart rattled. Ordinary hospital sounds. Ordinary day.
Nothing ordinary about what was coming.
I waited exactly nine minutes and forty seconds before I heard the heavy footsteps—boots on linoleum, multiple sets.
