Santina’s initiation was fraught with blood and anxiety, as was her first months in Javier’s crew. This was not like the last crew. She had to work twice as hard and be twice as cunning as the men she worked with, and even after a few months the men did not believe her worthy to work alongside them. Santina was an outsider. Unlike her previous crew, her crew members did not make her feel like family. Rather she felt as if she had to sleep with one eye open. There were several instances when men would try to come into her room of the hacienda at night. Santina had to make it clear, quickly, that she was not going to allow that. As a result, some of the men bore the scars from Santina’s message. One man was even missing a couple of fingers.

Santina wasn’t much on the crew. The men brought her along as added protection, but she didn’t run any jobs on her own. After what seemed like a long six month, Santina was surprised by Jose’s presence at her door one evening.

“Señor Ramirez would like you to accompany him this evening,” he said meekly. Santina nodded and, grabbing her knives, followed Jose down to the foyer. Javier’s driver was waiting there. He thanked Jose before escorting Santina out to the car; Javier was already seated in the back seat. Santina slid in next to him. It was just the two of them and the driver. It was silent in the car as they pulled away from the house.

Santina’s mind was running as she tried to discern what she was doing there. She had only seen glimpses of Javier after her initiation. He didn’t participate in the small jobs Santina got assigned to. She risked a glimpse over at him. He sat there coolly looking at her. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver case. Taking two cigarettes from it, he put them both in his mouth, struck a match, and lit both. He pulled one out of his mouth and offered it to her. Without a word, she took it and tentatively put it to her lips. She puffed on it, not taking her eyes off him.

“You’ve been doing well,” Javier said finally. “We’re on our way to a job. I’m meeting another crew leader of mine. He’s been stealing from me and he thinks I don’t know. He thinks this is a regular visit. I’m going to confront him about the facts and need someone who can think on their feet with me. That is why you are here.”

Santina was stunned by his straightforwardness. She simply replied with, “Okay.”

They rode the rest of the way in silence, smoking cigarettes and watching the streets go by. They were going deep into the city. Finally, the car arrived at a warehouse building. Few words were exchanged as they made their way to an office inside the building. Once inside, Javier and Santina were standing in a dimly lit room before a man called Roberto as he sat at a table.

“Please, have a seat,” Roberto greeted them. “Be sure to get our finest for Señor Ramirez and his, erm, associate.” He inclined his head to one of the men posted at the door. He turned his attention back to Javier. “So then, business as usual? I have the books here for you to review.” Javier had a bemused smile on his face, but his eyes looked as calculating as they always did.

“Roberto, you and I both know that I don’t need to look at those books. I’m going to give you a chance to tell me what I already know.” Javier paused, waiting. He had his hands clasped before him, his eyebrows raised in question. Roberto’s brow furrowed.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, jefe.” Roberto did will at fixing a puzzled expression on his face, but the bead of sweat trickling down his left temple belied his expression. His hands began to fidget on the table, and he dropped them to his lap out of sight. Santina’s eyes narrowed, but made no move just yet.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about, Roberto. I’ll give you one more chance and you know how generous I am being. I’ve been doing this a lot longer than you.” Javier’s tone intensified, and Roberto’s eyes shifted momentarily down to his lap. He made as if to stand when Santina jumped up and slid across the table. She grabbed Roberto by his arm and slung him to the ground, pinning his arm behind his back. A pistol slid out of his other hand across the floor, and Javier smirked.

“Wow, Roberto, I knew you had cojones enough to steal from me, but trying to kill me? Now I’m impressed.” Javier stood and walked over to where Santina had him pinned. “Flip him over.” Santina obliged. Javier squatted down beside the struggling Roberto. Roberto desperately looked around and tried to call out to the men posted at the door.

“Por favor! Por favor! Ayudame!” His shouts sounded pitiful and fell on the deaf ears of loyal men. Javier turned to Santina.

“Where is your knife?” Without unpinning Roberto she pulled out a knife with her free hand and gave it to Javier. “You know, Roberto,” Javier said as he turned the knife over in his hands, “for stealing from me, I would have only taken one of your eyes, letting you pick which one to give up. But you have committed two strikes against me. For that, I guess you have made my decision for me.” Javier leaned in as Roberto tried to squeeze his eyes shut, his head thrashing wildly. “Hold him steady!” Javier barked at Santina. She leaned forward and, using her elbow, she pushed his head to one side.

Santina looked on as Javier slowly inserted the blade into one eye socket, then the other, the sound of Roberto’s screams distant as she focused on the blank expression on Javier’s face. When he was done, he stood and took out a kerchief to wipe the blade clean. Santina stood, releasing Roberto. His screams had subsided to tortured moaning and his raised shaky hands to his face, though he did not touch. He began to wail again. Javier stalked for the door, Santina falling in step behind him.

“Please let the right hand know that he is now crew leader,” Javier said to one of the men posted at the door. Then he and Santina went on their way.