A Parting Gift

Two of his men moved forward and grabbed her arms, hauling her to her feet. She struggled but they were too strong.

"Turn her around," Nacho ordered.

"No... Nacho, I'll get you the money! I swear! Please don't..."

They spun her roughly, forcing her to face the concrete wall.

"I'm going to enjoy this," Nacho said.

The first lash came without warning.

Pain exploded across her back. It stole the breath from her lungs. She wanted to scream but bit down hard on her lip, tasting blood. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction to see her break.

"Still got that fire," Nacho observed. "Good."

The second lash came harder, and the leather cut into her skin like a knife. Tears streamed down her face but she still didn't make a sound.

"You know, I'm actually impressed," Nacho said casually. "Most people would be crying by now, but you?" He whistled. "You're a fighter. That's what I've always liked about you."

Through the haze of pain, Inés's eyes focused on the man holding her left arm. His jacket had shifted, and tucked into his waistband was a gun.

And it was within her reach. Nacho raised the whip for the third strike, Inés moved.

She threw her weight forward with every ounce of strength she had left, breaking the grip of the man on her right. Her hand shot out and grabbed the gun from the left man's waistband. She spun, stumbled, but somehow stayed on her feet.

She raised the gun with both hands and aimed it at Nacho.

The room went dead silent.

Nacho's whip hung in mid-air. His men froze. Nobody moved.

"Well," Nacho said slowly, lowering the whip. "This is interesting."

"Stay back," Inés said. Her voice shook but her hands didn't. "All of you."

One of the men moved toward her, Inés shifted her aim and fired. The bullet missed his head by inches, piercing through the concrete wall behind him. The sound was deafening in the small space, and dust exploded from the wall.

Everyone froze again.

"The next one doesn't miss," Inés said. Her ears were ringing but her aim was steady. Her father had taught her to shoot when she was twelve before things became bad. Before Nacho murdered him.

"You don't know what you're doing, mija." Nacho said calmly. "Put down the gun and we'll forget this ever happened. You can walk out of here. No more punishment. We'll be even."

"Even?" Inés laughed a broken sound. "You think we'll ever be even? You killed my father, and you've terrorized my mother and me for years. You just whipped me like an animal. We will never be even."

"Fair point." Nacho's eyes glittered. "But you're still not walking out of here with that gun."

"Yes, I am." She backed toward the door slowly, keeping the gun trained on him. "And if anyone tries to stop me, someone dies. Try me if you think I'm bluffing."

Nacho studied her face for a long moment. Then he laughed, genuinely amused. "You know what? I believe you. You've got your father's crazy in you after all."

He turned to his men. "Let her go."

They looked at him like he'd lost his mind.

"I said let her go!" Nacho barked.

The men stepped aside, clearing a path to the door.

Inés didn't lower the gun. She grabbed her sweater from where it had fallen on the floor and backed toward the exit, her eyes never leaving Nacho.

"You're making a mistake," he said conversationally. "That gun won't save you. And now?" He smiled. "Now there will be no small payments. For the disrespect. For the bullet hole in my wall. For wasting my afternoon, you will pay what I ask for."

"That's impossible. You are a crazy bastard." The words came out before she could stop them.

His smile widened. "Fifty thousand dollars. You have two weeks."

"That's impossible... just two weeks?"

"Then you better figure it out fast, mija. Because next time I come for you?" He picked up his whip, coiling it slowly. "I won't be so gentle. And I won't let you walk out. Next time, you stay as my woman, whether you like it or not."

Inés reached the door. Found the handle behind her and pulled it open.

Cold air hit her face.

"Consider the gun a gift," Nacho called after her. "You're going to need it."

She turned and ran.