South Border 2:02 am.
23 Miles. Vinniger Lane.
Antonio sat motionless behind the wheel, eyelids half-shut, vision smeared and unfocused. Blood trickled from a gash on his forehead, warm as it slid down his temple. His ears rang—high and hollow—like the world had been dropped underwater. Katherine lay unconscious beside him, then he heard it. Mila's cries filled the car from the backseat. Before he could turn, his eyes caught movement in the rearview mirror.
Mbali.
She walked toward the car from behind—slow, deliberate and confident. Antonio made a decision. He leaned back, let his head fall to the side, and Played dead. Mbali drew closer, heels crunched softly against the gravel. She strolled alongside the vehicle, peered in through the windows. Her eyes landed on Mila in the backseat— she screamed and kicked, terror flooding her tiny body.
Mbali did not stop, did not flinch, she continued forward and reached the driver's door. Inside, Antonio and Katherine looked lifeless.
Mbali forced the door open and raised her gun, pressing 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 first. In one sharp motion, he disarmed her, 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 raised her hands as he released his seat belt and stepped out of the car. Antonio wiped the blood from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Who sent you?" he asked. "Was it Max?"
Mbali burst into laughter, wild and unhinged.
"And what makes you think." she said, tilting her head, "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, Mr. Lucky Hands."
Antonio struck her across the head with the Glock. She stumbled-- her heels slipped in the gravel. "Is this because I beat you?" he asked flatly.
She laughed again and spat at his feet. "Like I give a shit."
Antonio stared at her, as if he realized she was not just dangerous.
"Looks like you won't cooperate." he said, Antonio raised the gun and aimed it 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, Antonio saw the gun had no magazine in it.
Mbali threw her head back and laughed—victorious.
"You really think I work with guns?" she mocked. "Oh no, no, no." She leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "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 glinting under the moonlight.
Antonio settled into an orthodox stance, shoulders squared, the useless Glock gripped like a blunt weapon. Mbali stood loose and poised like a night assassin measuring 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. The dagger kissed his ankle.
Antonio hissed and stumbled. 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, rolled, and came up fast, snatching a rock and whipped it at his head. Antonio dodged and rushed in, driving a brutal gut punch into her midsection. Her spine arched visibly... but she adapted instantly.
She trapped his arm, twisted around his body, and buried the dagger into his thigh. Antonio groaned and staggered back—then roared forward with a Spartan kick, sending 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 a cartwheel, landing cleanly 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, forcing 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, headshots exchanged, knuckles thudding into ribs and flesh. Mbali drove the blade into his abdomen. Antonio grunted, pulled her close, and smashed his forehead into her face. She staggered back, clutching 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 moved low, her kick slammed into his groin. Antonio dropped to his knees. Mbali followed with a vicious roundhouse—his face planting hard against the road.
"They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." she laughed, "Don't you think?"
Antonio curled instinctively, hands between his legs.
"But your kids?" she added, manic laughter spilled out of her. "They won't be coming out strong anymore."
Antonio surged up without warning, he tackled her, driving her into the ground, 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 his fists.
Left. Right. Over and over hammered through her guard. She blocked most of it—until one punch slipped through, slammed into her ear. Her vision rang. Antonio followed with three sharp jabs—but Mbali snapped back, wrapping her long legs around his neck and kicking the back of his skull with her heel. Antonio stumbled. She tightened the choke—and Antonio roared, lifted her with one arm, and power-slammed her into the road. The air burst from her lungs.
He stomped down... but she rolled away just in time and flipped back to her feet. They froze, bloodied, bruised, breathing hard. Antonio ripped his shirt off--his muscles tense.
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, tracing her slim waist and slapping her ass.
"This?" she said. "This is to die for, Papi."
Katherine's eyes fluttered open. The world came back in fragments—blurred light, silence ringed pressure in her skull. The headlight cut through the dark like knives, bleached the road ahead. Two figures stood framed in that glare, circling each other. Her hearing snapped back all at once— Mila's cries tore through her.
"Mi—" Katherine gasped, panic flooded her chest. She twisted weakly, her neck strained toward the backseat. Mila was there... red-faced, screaming, but strapped in. Safe. Alive. Relief hit her so hard she nearly blacked out again. Katherine fumbled with the seatbelt. Finally, 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, as if this were foreplay instead of war.
"It'd be such a waste." Mbali purred, as she licked her lips, "to kill a hot man like you."
Antonio sneered through 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, rebounded, and spun into a tornado kick that cracked against his neck.
Antonio staggered. Something snapped within him... Rage swallowed him whole. He came back like a storm—leaped in, smashed both fists down in a double hammer strike that sent Mbali crashing to the ground. Antonio mounted her, his fists rained down—lefts, rights, elbows—raw, savage and unrelenting. Mbali's guard weakened. Her eyes glazed. Blood slicked the asphalt.
He didn't stop. Didn't see anything else.
"Toni!" Katherine cried. Antonio froze mid-strike.
He turned. Katherine stood there, shaking, bruised, barely upright—but awake. 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—thin, cracked with terror. "Thank God. I thought I lost you."
He cupped her face and kissed her—slow, desperate, grounding himself in her warmth.
"Come on." he said, pulling back. "We need to get out of—"
Bang!
Antonio dropped to one knee, Katherine screamed. Behind them, Mbali stood—bloody, smiling—her Glock raised.
"Move away from him, bitch." Mbali said sweetly. "He's mine."
Antonio stared, 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.
"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, powerless.
"No—please!" Katherine dropped over him, shielded his body.
"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. "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 round 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'—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. I'll submit."
Mbali laughed—an amused sound. "Submit?" She tilted her head. "Who told you that you ever had a choice?" 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. "And what's this?"
"Please—no." Katherine stepped forward instinctively. "I'll do anything. Anything. Just—leave my daughter alone. Please."
She pleaded until her voice cracked, tears streaking down her face.
Mbali lowered the gun. "Fine." she said. "I'll make an exception."
Her gaze locked onto Antonio. "They can go. But Toni 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, legs barely obeyed him, every nerve screamed as he forced himself upright.
"Let." he gasped, breath ragged, "them... go."
Bang! Bang!
Both shots dropped him instantly. Katherine screamed and threw herself over him again-- shielded his body with her own.
Mbali stepped closer, gun raised again. "I don't have time for this." she said coldly. "Move. Or I'll end you right here."
Katherine froze—then slowly backed away, sobbing. Antonio met her eyes, blood pooled beneath him.
"It's okay, Kathy." he whispered. "Go. Just... know I'll always love you."
"I—I love you too." she cried.
She staggered to the car, then 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 didn't look back. She turned and walked—twenty-three miles of darkness between her and San El Zorro, a wounded arm, a crying child, and no idea if she'd ever see Antonio again.
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 came shallow and uneven, each one rattling like it might be his last. Mbali crouched on top of him, the muzzle of her gun hovering inches from his face. With her free hand, she reached into her bra and pulled out another burner, she flipped it open like this was just another errand on her list.
She 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, but he kept his eyes on her silhouette above him—refusing to close them. Finally, the line clicked. Mbali lifted the phone to her ear, her expression unreadable in the glow of the wreck's dying lights.
"Max." she said, her eyes never left Antonio's.
"I've got him."