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Chapter 5: An Offer He Can't Refuse
The streets of Colima had their own language—a silent code of who belonged and who didn't. At thirteen, Lex Navarro walked those streets with purpose, his sharp mind constantly analyzing the world around him. He wasn't a child anymore. The pain of his father's death and the lessons of the gym had hardened him into something colder, more calculating.
But no matter how clever or strong he became, Colima had a way of catching up with everyone.
It was a quiet afternoon when they came for him. Lex was sitting on a crate outside a run-down corner store, tossing pebbles into a puddle. He had finished running errands for Rosa and was enjoying the brief reprieve from her questions about the extra money he had been bringing home.
Three men approached, their presence immediately shifting the atmosphere. They weren't locals; their confident strides and crisp clothes marked them as something more dangerous.
Lex didn't flinch as they stopped in front of him. The leader, a wiry man with sunken cheeks and a cigarette dangling from his lips, sized Lex up with sharp eyes.
"You're Navarro, right?" the man asked, his voice smooth but carrying an edge.
Lex straightened but didn't answer right away. "Who's asking?"
The other two men chuckled, but the leader didn't smile. He stepped closer, his cigarette smoke curling between them. "Name's Marco. I work for Los Soles."
Lex's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm. Everyone in Colima knew about Los Soles. They weren't just a gang; they were a cartel, controlling everything from smuggling routes to street-level deals.
"What do you want?" Lex asked, keeping his voice steady.
Marco smirked, flicking the ash from his cigarette. "I've been hearing about you, kid. You're smart, got guts. And you're making money without stepping on anyone's toes. That's rare around here."
Lex didn't respond, but his mind raced. Marco wouldn't be here unless he wanted something.
Marco reached into his pocket and pulled out a small plastic bag, tossing it at Lex's feet. Inside were neatly wrapped packets of white powder. "We want you to start selling this for us. Small-time stuff for now. But if you're as good as people say, there's more where this came from."
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The Weight of the Offer
Lex crouched down, picking up the bag and turning it over in his hands. He knew what it was—cocaine, or something like it. He'd seen kids dealing before, their pockets heavy with cash one day and empty the next when they disappeared.
"What's in it for me?" Lex asked, standing and meeting Marco's gaze.
Marco grinned, revealing a gold tooth. "Money. Respect. Power. You think those pesos you're making now mean anything? This is the real deal."
"And if I say no?"
Marco's smile disappeared. He stepped closer, the scent of smoke and sweat filling the air. "You don't want to say no, Navarro. But hey, you've got until tomorrow to decide. We'll come find you."
With that, Marco and his men walked away, leaving Lex alone with the bag in his hand and a storm in his mind.
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A Night of Decisions
That night, Lex sat at the kitchen table long after Rosa and Sofia had gone to bed. The bag of powder lay in front of him, its presence impossible to ignore.
He thought about his father, who had refused to bow to men like Marco, and where that had gotten him. He thought about Rosa, working herself to the bone just to put food on the table. And he thought about himself—how hard he had fought to become someone who wasn't weak, who wasn't a victim.
This was his chance to take control. But it came with risks he couldn't fully predict.
By the time dawn broke, Lex had made his decision.
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The First Deal
At noon, Marco and his men found Lex waiting at the same corner. Without a word, Lex handed the bag back to Marco.
"I'll do it," he said simply.
Marco's grin returned, and he clapped Lex on the shoulder. "I knew you were smart, kid. Here's how it works—you sell at school. Keep it low-key. We'll collect the money every week. Don't mess this up."
The first sale wasn't easy. Lex knew he needed to be careful. He waited until lunch, scanning the courtyard for the right person. Finally, he spotted Mateo, a loud-mouthed boy who was always bragging about the parties he threw. Mateo was rich enough to pay, dumb enough to buy, and connected enough to bring in more customers.
Lex approached him casually, sitting next to him at the lunch table. "Mateo," he said, his voice low. "I've got something that'll take your next party to the next level."
Mateo frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Lex slid one of the packets onto the table, covering it with his hand. "This. Two hundred pesos. Guaranteed to make you the king of the night."
Mateo's eyes lit up, but he tried to play it cool. "What if I want more?"
"I'll bring more," Lex said, standing. "You know where to find me."
The deal was done in seconds, and Mateo spread the word. By the end of the week, Lex had sold every packet in the bag.
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The Taste of Power
When Marco came to collect the money, he was impressed. "Not bad, Navarro," he said, counting the bills. "You might actually be worth something."
But for Lex, it wasn't just about the money. It was about the control, the sense that he was no longer at the mercy of Colima's chaos. He wasn't just surviving—he was thriving.
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