Chapter 5 - The Snake's Last Bite
Though Don Severo was locked away in a high-security holding cell in Guadalajara awaiting trial, his wealth and reach were still dangerous. A cornered predator is always the most lethal.
From behind bars, Severo used a corrupt guard to deliver a message to his remaining loyalists in the criminal underworld. He offered a massive bounty: five million dollars to anyone who could eliminate Mateo and the old man, Elías.
"If I go down, they go down with me," Severo muttered in his cell, a twisted, maniacal grin on his face.
On a warm Tuesday evening, Mateo was driving back to the luxury villa where Elías was resting. His mind was occupied with the upcoming court hearing that would officially restore the De La Cruz estate to him.
Suddenly, his driver slammed on the brakes.
Two heavy, unmarked semi-trucks blocked the narrow, winding road ahead. Before the driver could reverse, another vehicle rammed into the back of their armored SUV, pinning them in place.
Armed men in tactical gear poured out of the trucks, opening fire on Mateo’s vehicle with automatic rifles.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
The heavy bulletproof glass of the SUV began to spiderweb under the relentless barrage.
"Sir! Keep your head down!" the driver yelled, drawing his sidearm and returning fire through the vehicle’s gun ports.
Mateo remained incredibly calm. He had anticipated this. He knew Severo wouldn't go quietly.
He pulled out his phone and pressed a single red button on a custom security app.
Instantly, the high-pitched wail of police sirens began to echo through the hills. But these weren't standard police vehicles.
From the skies, two state-of-the-art military-grade helicopters bearing federal tactical insignias swooped down, searchlights blinding the attackers. Dozens of federal special forces rappelled down, catching the mercenaries completely by surprise.
Within minutes, the attackers were disarmed and forced to the ground, handcuffed and subdued.
The leader of the mercenary group, a notorious cartel enforcer, spit on the ground as Mateo stepped out of his armored car, completely unharmed.
"Who betrayed us?" the enforcer growled. "How did the federals know we were coming?"
Mateo walked over to him, holding up his phone. On the screen was a live audio recording of the conversation Severo had with the corrupt prison guard.
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"Did you really think I wouldn't monitor the prison?" Mateo asked with a cold laugh. "I bought the entire security firm that manages that facility three days ago. Every phone call, every bribe, every whispered word Severo makes is recorded and sent directly to my legal team. Your little ambush was just the final nail in his coffin. It's called conspiracy to commit murder. And it carries a mandatory life sentence with no parole."
The enforcer stared at Mateo in sheer disbelief. They hadn't been fighting a wealthy kid; they had been playing chess against a grandmaster who was always ten moves ahead.
