"Make another one then!"
"I can't."
"Why?"
"I don't have the blueprints of it. Everything was destroyed in a fire."
"So what were you planning on presenting during your talk next week bat one Lance?" He asked. "My two guys; Cousin Rio and his friend Nicholas have been keeping a keen eye on you ever since you came back to this country. Right from the moment you made your way into Torre Arcos Bosques building. I gotta say, that was so stupid you know? Coming back to the enemy's turf yet you knew there was a debt to be paid. So, so stupid. You have been ignoring the doctor for a month! A fucking month! You made a mistake. Now, do as I say."
"Ferrero, if it's money you want I will give it to you. Please."
Ferrero looked at Emilio who was still on the ground, groaning and turning in pain. He walked over to him, his classy shoes brushing against the green grass. "He thinks we want his money. Tsk, tsk, tsk." Ferrero clucked his tongue as he looked at Lance. He raised his armed hand and pointed the firearm at Emilio. "Where's the chip, Lance! Tell me now and he lives!" His eyes were still drawn on Lance, pistol aimed at his driver.
"I don't have it."
"WHERE IS IT?" Ferrero hissed louder. His chest heaved up and down as veins popped on his temples. Lance opened his mouth to speak, as his eyes were fixed on the gun aimed at Emilio. His teeth clattered against themselves though. And no, the cold wasn't the reason why.
"I- I- I... don't…"
SHOT!
The sound of the firing gun cracked its way through the cold skies, and birds flew from the trees of the deep and dense forest they were under. It was as loud as it was as fast. Lance opened his cringed eyes and saw the lifeless body of Emilio that lay on the ground close to him, with his eyes that stared into the vast nothingness. He lay motionless, and blood flowed from his forehead. Lance's heart throbbed inside his chest as it dared to escape from its holdfast. His head was as hot as the summer sun, and fear and suspense circulated in his boiling veins. Sweat trickled down his blood-red bruised face.
Ferrero turned back to him, as he held the gun firmly. "We don't want your money boy. Do you think we don't know how many millions that invention is going to make you earn? You can give us all the money you have right now, but it won't be as much as what you're going to make with that invention." Ferrero shook his head. "We want the chip, Lance. Before the other week's Monday… I'll be coming for it. Okay?"
Lance managed to sit straight finally after a while of struggling. His mouth was soaked in blood and his shirt was decorated in red. Ferrero grabbed Lance's chin and got down on one knee so that he was staring straight into Lance's scared blue eyes. His blue eyes spread one gospel today; fear.
"You heard me, right boy? That invention is not yours to sell. Bring the chip or the blueprints of the chip. If you don't… your girlfriend Elena will face the same fate." He said as he squeezed Lance's cheeks together while his armed hand pointed at Emilio's body. Lance's eyes widened in utter shock at the last statement. His chest went up and down, in and out as he gasped for air. "08103 Valle de Bravo, yeah I know where she lives. You will not want her to experience the same fate would you?" Lance shook his head in fear, his body trembling tremendously. Tears slipped through the corner of his eyes and rolled down his face. With a powerful shove, Ferrero sent the lad back to the ground and Lance bumped his head on the surface once again.
He saw the three men climb up the steep hill, up the bank of the road, and got into their black SUV. When it had disappeared from his sight he felt his eyes drawing themselves closer together. He looked at the dead body beside him for a moment before he took out his phone from his pocket in much agony, and dialed the Mexican emergency helpline number.
Bleep… bleep… bleep. Click. The woman on the other end talked in Spanish but he understood her either way.
"911, how may I help you?"