Page 7 of Badass Women 13: Vincintis

Ria looked up at him.“Why would I be happy that you aren’t dead?The whole Gondo family is just no good.They came here expecting to kill a whole family just to get a link to push their drugs across the ocean.Stupid people win stupid prizes and pushing drugs is just stupid.”

Pushing the door open, someone entered the room.

Ria looked up and when she saw who had come in, her eyes widened.

Lucinda paused and studied the beaten girl for a few seconds.Then looking stunned, she gasped and rushed toward the bed.“Is that really you, Ria?”

Ria held out her hand.“Yes, it is me.”

Lucinda took it and squeezed it.“I never expected to see you here.”

She smiled and held Lucinda’s hand tightly.“I did not know I would be here either.Wherever this is.But I am so very happy you are still alive, my friend.Praise God.”

Lucinda smiled.“And I am very happy to see you too.”She looked her over carefully.“Your brothers did this to you, didn’t they?”

Ria nodded.“Si, my brothers.They dragged me all the way here to find you and ...kill you.They wanted to make a stand with the cartel.I told them not to but of course they didn’t listen.They aren’t willing to work for anything.They just want to use people to get to the top.”

“There is no power and glory worth another man’s life.”Lucinda shook her head.“But it is too late for that really, that cartel is dead now.Their darkness cannot hurt us anymore.”

“My brothers do not seem to know that,” Ria stated sadly.

Chapter Four

Lucinda looked overat Leon.“Her brothers are as bad as mine were and they are nothing but a menace.They have been making her life miserable since their parents died.”She peeked at Ria and at her nod she turned to face Leon again.“Back home, they worked independently for Trego, sealing the drugs his family produced.They were like factory workers really.It gave them just a peek at the power of the cartel but they wanted more.They wanted the money and the confidence from being in the cartel and they weren’t quiet about it either.Then her brother Ricco tried the drugs they were packing and the fool got hooked on them.Ricco is the oldest brother and when he couldn’t get the drugs he needed, he got mean.Benzo took his lead from Ricco and they became just nasty-mean.”She shook her head.“I’m not surprised at all that they followed the cartel here.”

Ria scoffed.“They wanted to use me.They dragged me here against my will because I could help to get them in.To get to you, Lucy.For me to come here then lure you out.So, they could kill you, then Paulo would accept them.I ran away as soon as they told me this.Then when they caught me last night, I told them that they were loco, wanting me to betray and kill my only friend?I yelled it at them as I couldn’t fake it like I usually do.They beat me up and said if that did not work, they would just sell me to some old man.Sell me for money to live on.They never worked back home, after our parents died.And they had used up the farm sale money on drugs and women.Paulo knew this too so he saw right through them.Yeah, he let them pack drugs but he knew they were reckless and wild and he didn’t want them working for his cartel.”

Leon shook his head.“Your brothers are idioti stronzos with no brains.They won’t last long here in my city.They might even cross the wrong man and end up dead before my men can get them.”

“It might be a sin to say this, but that isn’t going to hurt my feelings,” Ria announced.Then she looked at Leon to warn him, “But I am afraid for your family.They are reckless enough to confront you on their own terms and even without the cartel’s order they will come at you with their guns blazing.”

At this point, Dr.Badliss showed up.

Everyone went quiet while he examined Ria.

After about fifteen minutes, Dr.Badliss finished.He looked at her and asked, “My dear, how long has this sort of thing been happening to you?The violence to your body.”