Lay it on the Line : Prodigal book one

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter 23

Two years later

The Alvarez cartel carved a bloody path with violence and power. This brutality helped them make their way up the ranks to be the top cartel in Mexico. The Family cartel had started in the 30's during prohibition days running whiskey up to the states. This gave them a firm footing and built their foundation. In the 90's the cartel jumped at the opportunity to get into the cocaine business and flourished even more at the death of Pablo Escobar. Currently, the cartel has broadened their trade into guns as well as other goods all over the world. Marina's father praised her for wanting to further her career in the family business. He taught her everything he knew and allowed her to form her little group to aid in the new business. The cartel expanded their trade with the Ukraine rebel groups as well as other countries. Marina took in a member from each country to be a liaison of sorts between the two.

Marina of course was the first of the fallen, or Lucifer as she referred herself. Kevin O'Neil as well as JJ and Nathaniel Steel an ex-navy seal, would aid in the United states effort. Her military was able to act openly in Mexico, but the states were not so easy to make moves in. Mariana appointed missions to these three for set things.

Kevin mostly worked alongside her father, but also with Marina as to look after her for Senor Alvarez. Violet Bello or Vespa was the daughter of one of the main members of the Ukraine/ Russian rebel group. They appointed her to the group as a member from their origination.

Derrick Lyne was from a member of an Irish organization and lastly Kojo Falana from A rebel group in Kenya Africa. Each member bringing their expertise as well as men to aid in the business between the cartel and their own organization. Each member was given a codename that related to the seven deadly sins.

Marina-Pride, Nathaniel-Wrath, Derrick-Sloth, Violet 'Vespa'-Lust, Johnny-Greed, Kojo-Gluttony, Kevin- Envy. The seven devils were known and feared across not only Mexico but also throughout the world. No smart business organization would dare mess with the Alvarez cartel or anyone doing business with them. They knew all too well what would happen to not only them but their business, associates and even family. The heaviest pull the group had was in Mexico.

Often the members of the group would set up altars on the side of the road of in front of business to Santisima Muerte, or saint of death. Her skeletal frame would be covered like the Virgin Mary and around her they would lay beads, feathers and offerings such as animals and in most extreme situations human remains. Nuestra Señora de la Santa Muerte or, colloquially, Santa Muerte (Spanish for Holy Death), is a female folk saint venerated primarily in Mexico A personification of death, she is associated with healing, protection, and safe delivery to the afterlife by her devotees. Despite opposition by the catholic church, her cult arose from popular Mexican folk belief.

The worship of Santa Muerte is condemned by the catholic church in Mexico as invalid, but it is firmly entrenched among a small percentage of Mexican culture. Santa Muerte generally appears as a female skeletal figure, clad in a long robe and holding one or more objects, usually a scythe and a globe. Her robe can be of any color, as more specific images of the figure vary widely from devotee to devotee and according to the rite being performed or the petition being made. As the worship of Santa Muerte was clandestine until the 20th century, most prayers and other rites have been traditionally performed privately in the home. Marina admired this Goddess of death and allowed her men and women to continue to place alters, it gave her people not only fear but purpose.

JJ grew darker each passing day, although he didn't give into this death worship, his relationship with God was waning. The savage world of killing and mutilation sucked him in. Not only did he need to keep his cover to help Kevin obtain information, He also needed to keep a sane head. He would let his demon out to play but had to keep it on a short leash so it wouldn't over power him. JJ had to keep the mentality that he was cleaning up the streets by killing the other rival drug dealers or gang members that crossed the Alvarez cartels path. Anything to keep him from thinking about working for the very people responsible for Sean's death. The very people that he had sworn to put away. Yes, they were all bad people, but the innocent ones that got in the way, those were the ones that tore at JJ's conscience. The Cajun could only pray that Kevin would have enough on senor Alvarez soon. He would play to Marina's sick orders all the while trying to figure how he was going to cut her down. What better way to study your enemy than to befriend them. The same logic Kevin was using for his operation of three years. Three years undercover for the CIA. Johnny couldn't see how Kevin has kept his sanity. JJ was fighting to keep his own cool for the small amount of time he had been in this horrendous company. The Cajun had seen far more ghastly sights then he could ever imagine.