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Chapter 22 - ComeBack

Felix sat across from an exotic, beautiful Latin woman in a high-end restaurant in Tijuana. The ambient light reflected off her dark, lustrous hair, and her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she listened to him recount one of his many stories. The restaurant buzzed with the quiet hum of wealth and sophistication, but Felix's attention was momentarily diverted by the approach of his associate.

The associate, a man with a few buttons undone on his shirt, exposing his chest and a thin gold chain, held a satellite phone. Felix's brow furrowed in confusion as he took the phone. The associate leaned in, whispering, "It's important."

Felix, feeling the weight of the situation, excused himself from the table with a polite smile to his companion. He pressed the phone to his ear and listened intently. On the other end, his lieutenant's voice was laced with tension.

"Boss, we've got a serious problem," the lieutenant began. "The espionage team we sent to Sinaloa... they've been taken out. One by one. Assassinated."

Felix's grip tightened on the phone. "How the hell did this happen?"

"We're still piecing it together, but it looks like Los Blanca's men were one step ahead. They knew our every move. We need to rethink our strategy, boss. We need a better plan to locate and eliminate those bastards."

Felix's mind raced. This wasn't just a setback; it was a direct challenge to his authority and control. He couldn't afford to show weakness, not now. The Santiago Cartel's dominance was at stake.

"Alright," Felix said, his voice cold and calculating. "We regroup. Double our security and intelligence efforts. I want every rat sniffed out before they can make a move. We'll hit them harder and smarter. No more slip-ups."

"Understood, boss. We'll get on it immediately."

Felix ended the call and handed the phone back to his associate. His demeanor shifted from the suave dinner companion to the ruthless cartel leader. He returned to the table, his expression composed but his mind a whirlwind of strategy and vengeance.

The woman across from him noticed the change and asked, "Everything alright?"

Felix smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Just business, querida. Nothing to worry about."

But even as he tried to focus on the evening, his thoughts were consumed with the need to retaliate, to assert his dominance, and to ensure that the Santiago Cartel would not be seen as vulnerable. The battle against Los Blanca was far from over, and Felix was determined to come out on top, no matter the cost.

The Santiago Cartel's reach extended deep into law enforcement, allowing Felix to pull strings with ease whenever Los Blanca overstepped their bounds. Felix, a man of calculated patience, knew that it was time to send a message. His patience had run thin, and it was time to demonstrate the might of the Santiago Cartel.

As an ordinary man stopped at a red light, his eyes widened in fear and surprise as a convoy consisting of two jeeps and a truck with a 50-caliber mounted machine gun rumbled across the intersection. The convoy was a menacing sight, signaling to anyone watching that serious business was underway. They were on their way to Sinaloa, their mission clear and their resolve unshakable.

In his sprawling mega-mansion, Felix sat in a luxurious study, surrounded by opulence and power. His eyes were cold, his mind sharp as he awaited news from his men. They were tasked with capturing a Los Blanca lieutenant, a critical figure who had recently been located thanks to Felix's extensive network of DEA contacts. The information had come at a price, but Felix was willing to pay anything to ensure his enemies were put in their place.

Felix tapped his fingers on the armrest of his leather chair, the room's silence punctuated only by the occasional ticking of a grand clock. His men were professionals, and he had no doubt they would succeed. But Felix was not one to leave anything to chance. He needed to be certain that this operation would not only capture the lieutenant but also send a clear, unambiguous message to Los Blanca: The Santiago Cartel would not be trifled with.

His thoughts were interrupted by the buzz of his secure phone. Felix answered immediately, his voice calm but commanding. "Speak."

"Boss, we've got him," came the voice on the other end. "The lieutenant is secured. We're bringing him in now."

"Good," Felix replied, his tone icy. "Bring him to the warehouse. Make sure he understands the gravity of his situation. I want him alive and conscious when I arrive."

Felix ended the call and leaned back, a slow smile spreading across his face. This was just the beginning. He would break this lieutenant, extract every piece of valuable information, and then use him as an example. The Santiago Cartel's reputation would remain untarnished, and Los Blanca would learn the hard way that crossing Felix Javier was a fatal mistake.

The convoy continued its journey to Sinaloa, the men inside prepared for whatever resistance they might encounter. They knew their mission was critical, and failure was not an option. As they approached the outskirts of the city, the tension in the air was palpable. The capture had gone smoothly, but now came the most dangerous part: the extraction and transport back to Felix's stronghold.

At the warehouse, preparations were already underway. A makeshift interrogation room had been set up, equipped with everything needed to ensure the lieutenant's cooperation. Felix's men were efficient and ruthless, their loyalty to the cartel and their leader unwavering.

As the convoy neared its destination, Felix stood up from his chair, adjusted his suit, and made his way to his private garage. He would oversee this personally. It was crucial that every detail was handled with precision and brutality. Felix slid into the back seat of his armored vehicle, the driver immediately setting course for the warehouse.

The drive was short, but Felix's mind was already orchestrating the next steps. This lieutenant would lead him to other key figures in Los Blanca, unraveling the network that dared to challenge his supremacy. The cartel war was about to take a decisive turn, and Felix was determined to emerge victorious.

Upon arriving at the warehouse, Felix stepped out of the vehicle, his presence commanding and intimidating. The doors to the building opened, revealing the captured lieutenant, bound and beaten but still defiant. Felix walked up to him, his gaze unwavering.

"You will tell me everything," Felix said, his voice low and menacing. "And when I'm done with you, you will serve as a reminder to anyone who thinks they can cross the Santiago Cartel."

The lieutenant's resolve began to crack under Felix's steely gaze. The interrogation would be thorough, and the message clear: The Santiago Cartel was untouchable, and Felix Javier would stop at nothing to protect his empire.