Cuco’s pov

I didn't know what I was going to say when I met him. As I hadn't seen him… I hadn't seen him face to face. And since I joined the gang I hadn't even seen him at all…

He always stayed nowhere. Always moving. Always travelling. And never through the same form of transportation twice... If he took a plane last week, he's probably taking a submarine the next. A scheming squirrel of a man. But no coward, that was for sure.

And now that same man wanted to see me?...

So much had happened in one night and I was still reeling. I had done things I didn't even think through. I just did them… And I didn't even realise how much they'd do to me?

The sudden respect and power. Everyone singing my name, and praising me. Giving me free beer I didn't ask for. Doing favors without questioning. And now the boss wanted to see me?... I had just done one thing and it singled me out enough for the boss to notice me?...

I held the beer bottle now and looked at it. A beer someone I didn't even notice had given me. I held it and saw the liquid dance inside the bottle. The green glass frame making the drink inside almost dark colored. And I suddenly threw it away and let it go. Not wanting to seem too cocky when I walked in the room. The glass shattering when it landed and only the echo reaching my ears when it did.

The guards standing at the door tough as leather with muscles and forearms the size of tree trunks. Holding AK-47s in their hands and staring into the void. I walked through their middle, a metal door standing there. And one of them pushed a button and the door slid open.

I held my breath as my eyes now met a dark room, lit up only by lamps set around in the corners. Leaving the center barely visible, and the face of whoever was sitting behind the desk hard to see. I walked in and I heard the door slowly go down and close behind me. My heart rate doubling…

And doubling even more when I suddenly heard a voice say:

“Have a seat…”

I froze for a few seconds before I did have the seat. I pulled it back carefully and then slowly lowered myself inside. I didn't say anything, as I knew the code…

-Never speak to the boss unless spoken to—

And we all lived by it, or else we got shot…

“Como estas, el Cuco?…” I heard now.

I gulped again before I answered.

“Si… Estoy bie– uhh…caballero”

And I felt my spine stiffen as I heard him chuckle after…

“You don't need to be afraid, hermanos…” he laughed calmly.

But that only made me more afraid…

As he usually only said that when he was about hurt someone. And when he said don't be afraid, that was when you really should be…

“I only called you here because you've done something right and not wrong. So even if my heart is cold. I won't peel your skin off…” he encouraged now, and still in spanish.

“Because the boys tell me you did something impossible…” He said, as I heard his voice drop a decibel. “And you did something every other rival gang in Jos Palamos couldn't do?...” he asked, not yet done. And I could hear the hoarse and gritty tone in every sentence. Before he slowly leaned forward on his table. With his face still in the shadows.

“Even something that I couldn't do with ten men and a well thought out plan?...”

But I couldn't answer... My tongue was tied, and I was frozen. I didn't know what to say but even more I was worried as I didn't know how I would say it. I wasn't scared of talking to him— well I was— But I was more scared of talking in the wrong way…

One wrong word and I could be dragged outside and shot by a firing squad. One wrong statement that sounded disrespectful could lead me to a grave faster than having a baby with my niece. And I sat there on the metal chair in a dark room with candles lit in the corner like this was a ritual temple. But instead of a pope, I had a menacing boss who didn't take no for an answer; and as I realised now, also hated prolonged silence…

“So capturing Maldini has made you mute?...” his voice tensed up.

And I suddenly broke out of my fearful quietness.

“Nue, nue… I just don't know what to say tu caballero…” I answered frantic, my spanish breaking off and coming back. “I think it's luck and I don't know, I'm not sure. But I just happened to do it and survive…”

“So capturing Maldini has made you more afraid than proud?...” he asked, processing what I said.

“Si, si…” I nodded. “And I'm scared because I don't really know what happens from here?...

But he clarified immediately.

“Well, what happens from here is that he dies…” and his voice was as cold as ice.

It scared me. But I felt my heart jump to my mouth when he stood up. His chair sliding back and the metal creaking. I heard him slowly walk up, but I couldn't see where. I could barely see his legs move. Or even anything. And I gasped as one of the candles in the corner suddenly turned off. Then another. And another one just beside it… before the room fell into complete darkness.

“You should only be proud of what you've accomplished Cuco. And not scared…” I heard now.

“Because I'm proud…” he added.

“That a man of my unit had the capacity to take down a man who seemed untouchable…”

I sat stiff and held the metal chair by it's legs. Not seeing anything, but only hearing his voice… I could hear it move from one side of the room to the other, but I couldn't hear legs moving or feet tapping. And it was almost like a ghost was talking to me.

“You should be proud Cuco…” I heard again now. And my heart spiked as I now heard it from behind me?... But this time his voice was strangely gentle and calm?...

“Because this is a great achievement…”