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Chuy was dead, and no one was safe. It was set, the war had begun and there would be nothing but casualties. There was no telling when the next strike would surface and who would be hit, but as Wednesday rolled around and not one peep had occurred within the Soh Dragons, I feared for what Los Soldados were planning.
Getting out of Hacienda was a top priority, so much so I no longer felt a nervous ache at the thought of telling Alec about my intentions to go.
I felt the bravery of twelve men as I walked throughout our house until I found my older brother in the family office behind his mahogany desk. At my arrival he sat up and gave me his full attention.
"Nash," he said in a welcoming tone.
I went closer and set my red binder down before him. "We need to talk."
Alec eyed the binder. "You've finished the essay?"
"Yes," I said. "I'm finished with the Dragons, too."
Alec lifted a brow and leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together. "Oh?"
"I retract my bid to be in."
Alec stood from the desk, going and coming around and leaning in front of it as he gathered my binder and leafed through it. "What brought this on?"
I shrugged, as if this were a random decision and I hadn't thought about this for days. "I don't know, to tell you the truth. Maybe Soh's on to something in Rowland, playing it straight and being normal. Life there is so simple and peaceful than the chaos that is Hacienda. Besides, no one believes in me and I guess I'm tired of fighting a losing battle. I bled for this and still I was mocked. I'm throwing in the towel, Alec."
Alec regarded me with a look I couldn't read as his fingers continued to flip through my binder as he stared at me. "Perhaps you're right."
His reaction, or lack thereof, took me by surprise. "Yeah?"
"You would've made an exceptional Dragon, should you have allowed yourself to go there. You always had a heart, little brother, and as much as I'm disappointed you chose this other route, I can't fault you for it." Alec set my binder aside and furnished a small smile. "You'll be safer in Rowland, out of the crossfire."
This was not what I expected. I was sure he'd be pissed. And yet he was so calm and supportive.
"You mean it?" I just had to be sure this was Alec I was talking to.
He rolled his eyes. "Of course I'm upset, Nash. This was my dream of running this empire with you, and yet you'd rather go and be like Soh. The only relief is that I won't have to worry about you all the time. Like I said, you're my Achilles' heel, and now, you'll be off in Rowland being Mr. Collegiate."
"I wanted this my whole life, and then one day I woke up and I didn't. I was writing that essay and it started to matter, Alec. I realized I wanted the empire, not the streets. It may not be as gritty and notorious as the Soh Dragons, but I'm going to build my own legacy. My own wealth and name."
Alec did his best to hide his smile, as if he were proud of me. "So this is it, huh?"
I gestured to our wealth and myself. "Sometimes you just gotta let pigeons fly. My destiny's calling and it's not this. It's my own path and my own empire."
I could tell it was a lot for my brother to accept, but slowly he understood my plans for more.
"Make me proud," Alec demanded. "I only want to see you be successful, and if you'd rather build something from the ground up, I salute you."
"You think Father will approve?"
Alec stuffed his hands into his pockets and whistled. "Now that's a good one. What exactly are your business intentions?"
To this I went bashful. "I'd...rather show you my product when it's ready. No need in getting an automatic no."
Alec snorted. "You're not trying to be some sappy musician or a clown, are you?"
I thought of Kenny's dream record label and smiled. "Nah, this is a different venture. Something completely inspired of who I am as a person and what I like."
Alec slit his eyes, probably trying to read between the lines. Finally, giving up, he wagged his finger at me. "Whatever it is, little brother, be brilliant. The world is watching." He took my red binder and held it up. "I'll look over it and give you notes."
"Thank you." I felt humbled to have his support, despite letting him down. Having this conversation with Bridger and Yumi would fare differently, but I knew in the end they'd both back me, and taunt me if I ever got the courage to confess where my mind was via my future.
I was almost out the door when I decided to really try my luck. I faced my brother once more. "Hey Alec? I was watching the news and they reported the murder of this guy, and he looks like a Soldier, was that us?"
Confusion washed across Alec's face and he soon shrugged ignorantly. "No one's reported back to me about taking out a street rat. Why do you ask?"
"A Soldier is dead and that can only mean one thing. We've gone back and forth for months doing small things, now we got a body and sooner or later they're going to come for one of us."
Alec set my binder aside and appeared serious. "Where and how'd he die?"
I shrugged. "They found him in a field, his tongue was cut out and he was stabbed to death. My guess is that he was dropped there and killed on location."
Alec took my words and ruminated on them as he bobbed his head. "That sounds like an inside job, but I'll ask around."
"Keep me updated."
Alec looked at me quizzically. "Why are you concerned?"
"I may not want to be a Dragon anymore, but I've got friends in this. Bridger, Yumi, Steven and Jin, they're targets, just as much as you. I'm walking away, but if something happens—"
Alec held up his hand to stop me. "I admire your undying loyalty, but this will be Dragon business and we will contain it amongst ourselves. I don't think one of us is involved, but whether we are or aren't, we will be prepared should one of the Soldiers chooses to attack." He came and braced my shoulders. "You should take the weekend and go and visit Mother in Korea, leave Los Soldados to us, by the time you get back the rat problem in Hacienda may be taken care of."
As I held my brother's determined and ruthless gaze, inside I gulped, because his threat was exactly what I was afraid of.
