Failed State (A James Winchester Thriller Book 1) (James Winchester Series) - James Samuel (top novels of all time .txt) 📗

“And could the cartel break apart?”

“I don’t know.”

“It’s possible. The deaths of leaders in the past have split cartels. But a strong leader would bring them together. You have the respect of your peers. They’ve seen you work up from the bottom. It could give you what you need to take control, and you’d have help.”

Fernando felt his heart threatening to burst forth from his chest. Everything he’d ever wanted was about to come to him. All he had to do was commit to making a stand.

Blake extended his hand. “Just give me the word and I’ll make sure you control Santa Maria de Guadalupe. All you have to do is be in the right place at the right time.”

As the oblivious tourists strolled along the Malecon, Fernando grasped the gringo’s hand. The pact had been sealed.

Chapter Forty-Two

Yuriria, Guanajuato, Mexico

The oblong courtyard of the hacienda contained little more than dust and broken stone. James set up some targets towards the unoccupied half of the hacienda.

The targets consisted of a few bottles stacked on some old palettes he’d found in storage. He needed to build her confidence if he had to use her during the upcoming battle. She had to be prepared to defend herself when Quezada came.

“Have you ever even seen someone fire a gun before?” asked James.

Jessi shook her head. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

“It’s either that or we go straight back to Montoya. I need your help.”

Jessi shuffled her foot along the ground nervously.

“Now, take this gun. Feel what it’s like in your hand.” James extended his Glock 19 to her. “I didn’t load it.”

Jessi’s fingers shook as she grasped the cold, dark metal. She turned it over in her hands, as if entranced by the firearm.

“It’s heavier than I thought.”

“Don’t think of it that way,” said James. “Your weapon should be an extension of you. It should be part of your hand. That’s how you learn to handle one correctly. Don’t see it as a tool. Shooting is a matter of mindset.”

Jessi nodded.

James moved to her side. “Pretend as if you’re going to shoot those bottles. Show me how you would shoot someone who was coming at you.”

Jessi released an awkward smile, before pointing the gun in the direction of the targets. Like everyone who didn’t know how to fire a gun, she aimed like someone from the movies. The blast of the weapon alone would have knocked her off-balance.

“Your grip is wrong,” said James. “Let me help you.”

James took her free trembling hand and clamped it around the pistol in a double grip. She shivered at his touch.

“Now what?” she breathed.

“Bend your knees slightly. Make sure your dominant eye is the eye you’re using to aim at the target.”

“Now, can I fire?”

James nodded. “But you need something inside first.

He didn’t have time to run through the basics with her for more than a few minutes. Quezada could decide to pay them a visit any day now. He took the gun from Jessi and loaded it for her, showing her how each cartridge fitted into the underside of the grip.

“Now, I want you to do what I showed you before,” said James. “Remember what I told you about how you hold the gun and about how you should stand.”

Jessi repeated the stance James had shown her. Even though she still stood a little awkwardly, it would suffice for now.

“Fire one shot. Don’t put too much pressure on the trigger.”

She hesitated as she tried her best to line up her shot. The gun exploded. Her grip slipped and the bullet hit the building far above the target. James saw the bullet embedded in the hacienda’s walls.

James laughed. “The same thing I did when I fired a gun for the first time. You’re not gripping hard enough. Grip hard but not too hard. And squeeze the trigger, don’t pull it all the way back. Let the gun do the heavy lifting.”

“What do you mean?”

“Come on, let’s do it together. Get into your stance.”

James approached her from behind and placed his hand around her, his finger resting on her trigger finger.

Jessi’s arms wobbled. She let out a sigh as he pressed himself to her.

“Hold it steady,” James said into her ear. “Let me press your finger down. Don’t be afraid of the gun when it fires. It can’t hurt you whilst you’re holding it.”

Jessi bobbed her head.

“One, two, three.” He squeezed her finger down. The gun fired again. The bullet shattered the right bottle into a million pieces.

Her face lit up like a Christmas tree. “I did it.”

“You did it. Now try again without me.”

James stood behind her at ease, watching her as she kept letting loose their surplus of bullets at his targets. Over time, she gradually whittled the bottles away. No longer did the power of the weapon scare her. He watched with satisfaction as it all came together.

“You’re doing well,” said James. “One day, it’ll become automatic and you won’t need to think anymore. You’ll see a target and you’ll know what to do in a split second.”

Jessi threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. He blushed as he wound his arms around her figure. Stunned but relieved, he tightened his grip on her.

“Everything will be alright,” he whispered.

Chapter Forty-Three

Miami, Florida, United States of America

Scott found Romero enjoying an iced drink in his study. Although Romero did little in the way of business here, he said all rich people must have a study of some kind. Scott had been responsible for filling the shelves with books to make him look well-read. In reality, he doubted his