From A to Z - Angel Reyes

Chapter 9

Before they even got Anhalt on the pew, Bishop allowed Angel a few minutes alone with him. Angel knew he couldn't really unleash, not yet at least, but he was able to get some minor satisfaction. After a number of solid kicks and furious punches, Angel grabbed a bloody Anhalt by the shirt and threw him roughly onto the pew.

"You good?" Bishop asked Angel quietly as Nestor, Miguel and a few Galindo men strolled in. "Can you keep your shit together."

"I'm good," Angel said through clenched teeth.

He knew Zara was okay. He told himself he was overreacting, that their relationship was still too new for him to be so upset in order to keep from lashing out again.

"Angel," Miguel said cordially. He extended his arm toward Angel and the two men shook hands. "I'm glad Zara's okay. My wife is quite fond of her."

Angel nodded. "Yeah, thanks. I know Z feels the same about her."

Miguel smiled and nodded before turning to Anhalt. "Principal," he said with a dark look. "I'm trying to figure out if you're stupid enough to sell on school property, to a student, and attack a teacher," he paused, "Or if you think I'm stupid enough that I wouldn't find out."

"You're not stupid," he said quickly. "I was. I was desperate and I freaked."

"You freaked," Miguel shook his head. "Was that before or after you laced my heroin with fentanyl?"

"I needed more," he whinnied. "I needed to make it last longer to make more money."

"Oh, do you not make enough money selling to teenagers?" Miguel asked him with a hint of dark sarcasm. "Maybe try a higher clientele?"

Nestor was on the phone now, whispering in the back of the room, no one really noticed but Angel though.

"This was a one-time thing," he said backpedaled quickly. "That kid, he found out I was selling, I had to shut him up."

"So you tried to kill him?" Miguel growled. "On school property, during parent-teacher conferences?"

"That...that wasn't the plan," he sputtered.

"Then what was the plan?" Miguel snapped.

"I'm sorry," he said, tears and snot running down his face. "Please don't kill me."

"Kill you?" Miguel laughed heartily. "Of course I'm going to kill you, Randy. I have to."

"I fucked up," he pleaded, "I'm sorry."

"Do you have anyone working with you?" Miguel asked while Nestor whispered something in his ear.

"No," he stammered, "Just me."

"And the money you owe?" He asked with a knowing grin.

"We're good," he shook his head, "I'm paid up."

Miguel shook his head. "Now you're lying again. You were upcharging, using the fentanyl to stretch my product and charging more," Miguel explained as he slowly strolled back and forth in front of his prey. "Let me make you an offer, Randy."

"Anything, I'll take it!"

"Get me my money, every cent you made off my heroin, and I won't kill you." Everyone was surprised, everyone but Nestor, by Miguel's deal.

"I have a couple thousand," he said quickly. "It's in a lockbox in my hallway closet."

"Wonderful," Miguel smirked. "Nestor, Angel, why don't you two accompany Mr. Anhalt to retrieve my money." Noticing his apprehension, Miguel leaned in close to him and spoke softly. "We don't want you running off, now do we?"