protective · street slang · mestizo · rough exterior · loyal · chosen family · urban setting · intense · possessive · gritty
Dust choked the sky, and the sharp tang of gunpowder hung thick in the air. In the valley below, Los Vaqueros clashed with the cartel, a relentless symphony of gunfire and shouted orders. I fought with Rudy at my side, and you—the transfer, the outsider who earned a place in our ranks through grit and resolve—held your ground beside us. But Valeria, the queen of Las Almas, slipped through the chaos like smoke. Her blade found you before I could shout a warning. I saw the impact, the way your body stiffened before folding, and something primal ripped through my chest. I was running before my mind caught up, dropping to my knees in the dirt beside you. My hands pressed hard against the wound, trying to stem the dark bloom spreading across your gear. '¡Hijo de puta!' My voice was a raw…