The Killer Family: A Martello Family Thriller Book Tasting

Chapter 1

The Plan

Carlos Gullien Vasquez stood in the kitchen of his New Orleans mansion, slicing into a ripe mango. The sun poured in through the large bay windows, casting a warm glow over the room. His wife, Michaela, sat at the island, sipping her coffee and watching her husband with affection and worry.

“Another beautiful day,” Carlos said, glancing over his shoulder at Michaela. “You should come outside with me later. The garden is in full bloom.”

Michaela’s face turned into a soft smile, though her eyes were clouded with concern. “Perhaps. But you know how much work I have to do.”

Carlos’ expression hardened momentarily before softening again. “Work can wait. Family is more important.”

Before Michaela could respond, the kitchen door swung open, and one of Carlos’s lieutenants, Raul, walked in with a determined stride. He carried an envelope, his face set in a serious expression.

“Boss,” Raul said, nodding with an air of respect. “A message from HQ in Matamoros.”

Carlos’ eyes flickered with interest. He wiped his hands on a towel and took the envelope, tearing it open with haste. Michaela watched him, her worry deepening.

Carlos scanned the message, his lips curling into a smile. “It’s time,” he said, looking up at Raul. “They’re giving us the go-ahead to take control of the drug trade here.”

Raul’s eyes lit up with excitement. “That’s great news, boss. What’s the plan?”

Carlos’ smile faded as he glanced at Michaela. “We’ll discuss it in my office. For now, make sure everything is ready. We will move with haste and efficiency.”

Raul nodded and left the kitchen, leaving Carlos and Michaela alone again. Michaela set her coffee cup down, her hands with a slight tremble.

“Are you sure about this, Carlos?” she asked, her voice tinged with fear. “This will put us in direct conflict with the Martello family. They won’t take this lying down.”

Carlos walked over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “We have no choice, Michaela. This is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for. Once we control the trade, we’ll be unstoppable.”

Michaela looked into his eyes, searching for any hint of doubt. “And what about Violeta? You’re planning to involve her, aren’t you?”

Carlos’s expression hardened again. “She is our daughter. She’s part of this family, and she needs to understand that. This is for our future, for her future.”

Michaela shook her head, her voice trembling. “But she’s just a child, Carlos. She’s not ready for this kind of life.”

Carlos’ grip tightened on her shoulders. “She’s ready. She has to be. This is moving forward, and headquarters will execute this, with or without us.”

Michaela closed her eyes, a single tear sliding down her cheek. “Just promise me you’ll protect her. No matter what.”

Carlos’ expression softened for a moment as he wiped the tear away. “I promise. She’ll be safe. But we need her to do this. Trust me, Michaela, there is no other way. If there was, I would not be doing it this way.”

Michaela nodded with unease, though her heart remained heavy with dread. She watched as Carlos turned and left the kitchen, already planning their next move.

As she stood alone in the silent kitchen, Michaela could only hope that Carlos’ ambition wouldn’t destroy their family.

Carlos returned to the kitchen; his expression set with a determined calm. Michaela’s hands shook as she picked up her coffee cup again, trying to steady herself.

“Carlos,” she began, her voice tight with worry. “What did the message say?”

Carlos took a seat across from her, leaning forward. “I’ve been expecting this for a while, Michaela. Matamoros has given us the green light to take over the drug trade in New Orleans. They believe it is time to keep more of the money from our products in-house now that we have the capacity to handle it, and legalization efforts elsewhere are hurting our overall bottom line.”

Michaela’s eyes widened. “You’ve been planning for this? For how long?”

Carlos sighed, reaching for her hand. “Long enough to know what needs to be done. The Martello family has been a thorn in our side for too long. They have been squeezing us on prices for years and skimming money owed to us even longer. They are greedy, and we have only continued to work with them out of necessity. However, since we have been able to get more people across the border in recent years, we have the infrastructure to do it ourselves now. This is our chance to make a decisive move and secure this market for ourselves.”

Michaela’s grip tightened on his hand. “And what exactly is your plan?”

Carlos took a deep breath. “We need to send a clear message to the Castenllo family. We’re going to hit them where it hurts most: their son, Vincent III.”

Michaela’s face paled. “Carlos, he’s just a boy! How can you even consider this?”

“It’s not just about him, Michaela,” Carlos said with firm resolve. “It’s about power. Control. If we eliminate him, we weaken their entire operation. Plus, it sends a powerful message to them and the rest of our enemies, don’t mess with us or we will not hesitate to eliminate that which is most important to you.”

Michaela shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “And how do you plan to get to him?”

Carlos looked her in the eye, his voice steady. “Violeta. She’s our best chance.”

Michaela’s breath caught. “No. Carlos, please! Not Violeta. She’s too young, too innocent!”

Carlos squeezed her hand. “She’s stronger than you think. She can get close to Vincent and gain his trust. Once she makes him fall for her, we can move.”

Michaela’s tears spilled over. “You’re talking about using our daughter as bait. This is too dangerous!”

Carlos stood up, still holding her hand. “I know it’s risky. But Violeta is smart, attractive, and capable. It’s the only way to get access to Vinny the Third. I’ll make sure she’s protected every step of the way, but I see no other way to do this.”

Michaela pulled her hand away, covering her face as she cried. “I can’t bear the thought of her being in danger, Carlos. Promise me you will at least try to do this upfront and honest first. Have a meeting with Vinnie Jr. first and see if he will walk away willing first.”

Carlos knelt beside her, his voice softening. “I understand your fears, Michaela. I will meet with him first, but I doubt it will accomplish anything. However, I love you, always have and if this is what you want, I will give you that. This is our chance to secure our position. I promise you; I’ll do everything to keep her safe.”

Michaela looked at him through her tears, searching his eyes for reassurance. “You have to protect her, Carlos. She’s all we have.”

Carlos kissed her forehead, his own eyes dark with determination. “I will.”

Michaela nodded, though her heart remained heavy with dread. She watched as Carlos stood and left the kitchen, already planning their next move.

Carlos returned to the kitchen about fifteen minutes later, his face set with determination. Michaela’s hands trembled.

Michaela’s grip tightened on her cup. “And what exactly is your plan?”

Carlos took a deep breath.

Michaela shook her head, “And how do you plan to get to him?”

Carlos took her hand and gripped it with a slight squeeze. “We’ll enroll Violetta in the same high school he attends. She can get close to Vincent and gain his trust. Once she does, that is when we will send our clear message to the Castenllos.”

Michaela’s tears started to well up again. “This is too dangerous. I really don’t like this! I wish that you really wouldn’t use her in your business. What happened to the days of ‘leave the kids out of it’?”

“I really wish we could, but those days are long gone and unfortunately, the kids have to be in the middle of it.”

“Have to be in the middle of it? NO THEY DON’T! YOU ARE CHOOSING TO PUT THEM THERE!”

Carlos stood up, still holding her hand. “I know it’s risky. My lieutenants will keep an eye on them while they’re together, ensuring her safety.”

Michaela pulled her hand away, covering her face as she cried. “I can’t bear the thought of her being in danger, Carlos.”

Carlos knelt beside her, his voice softening. “I understand your fears, Michaela. I promise you; I’ll do everything to keep her safe.”

Michaela looked at him through her tears, searching his eyes for reassurance. “You have to protect her, Carlos. She’s all we have.”

Carlos kissed her forehead, his own eyes dark with determination. “I will. We’ll get through this, together. Trust me.”

Michaela nodded, though her heart remained heavy with dread. She watched as Carlos stood and left the kitchen, already planning their next move.

As she sat alone in the silent kitchen, Michaela could only hope that Carlos’ ambition wouldn’t destroy their family.

Carlos returned to the kitchen, deep in thought, as Michaela wiped her tears and composed herself. The heavy atmosphere was interrupted by the sound of footsteps descending the staircase. Violeta entered the kitchen, her backpack slung over one shoulder and a bright smile on her face.

“Morning, Mama. Morning, Papa,” she greeted her parents with the exuberant cheerfulness of a typical teenage girl, heading straight for the fridge.

“Morning, sweetheart,” Carlos replied, trying to keep his tone light.

“Good morning, Violeta,” Michaela said, managing a weak smile.

Violeta poured herself a glass of orange juice and turned to face her parents. “What’s up? You both look so serious.”

Carlos exchanged a glance with Michaela before addressing their daughter. “Violeta, we need to talk to you about something important.”

Violeta’s smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. “What is it?”

Carlos gestured for her to sit down at the kitchen island. “Come, sit with us.”

Violeta sat down, looking between her parents. “You’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

Carlos took a deep breath. “Starting next school year, you’ll be transferring to a different high school.”

Violeta’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? Why? I love my school. My friends are there, and I’m doing well.”

“It’s not just about academics, Violeta,” Carlos explained. “This move is important for our family business, our future.”

Violeta frowned. “What do you mean? How can changing schools be important for our family business?”

Michaela reached out and took Violeta’s hand. “Honey, there’s more to it. At the new school you are going to, De LaSalle, there will be a boy we need you to get close to. His name is Vincent Castenllo III.”

Violeta’s confusion deepened. “Why is it so important that I get close to him?”

Carlos leaned forward, his voice steady. “Vincent is the son of the head of the Martello family. We need you to befriend him and gain his trust. This is crucial for a plan I am putting in place to expand the family business.”

Violeta pulled her hand away, shock and disbelief evident on her face. “You want me to spy on him? To use him? Why me?”

“Because you’re smart, capable, beautiful and trustworthy,” Carlos said with firm authority. “This is about protecting our family and securing our future. We wouldn’t ask this of you if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.”

Violeta shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. “I don’t want to be part of this. This feels like you are using me in ways that I don’t like.”

Michaela squeezed her daughter’s hand with the gentle touch of an empathetic mother. “We know this is a lot to ask, Violeta. But we believe in you. And we’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Carlos nodded. “My lieutenants will be keeping an eye on you and Vincent while you’re hanging out. You won’t be alone in this.”

Violeta looked between her parents, feeling a mix of fear and anger. “You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”

Carlos’s eyes softened. “Yes, Violeta. We need you to do this for the family. I promise we’ll do everything we can to keep you safe.”

Violeta took a deep breath, her mind racing. She looked into her father’s eyes, searching for any sign of hesitation. Finding none, she nodded, concern still evident in her movement. “Okay. I’ll do it. But you have to promise me that this will end as soon as possible.”

Carlos leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I promise, Violeta. Thank you for understanding.”

Michaela hugged her with a tight embrace. “We love you, honey. This is just a temporary sacrifice I promise.”

As Violeta sat there, holding her parents, she couldn’t shake the dread that had started to develop in her stomach. She only hoped that their plan wouldn’t destroy everything they held dear.

Violeta sat in quiet reflection for a moment, processing the weight of her parent’s request. The kitchen seemed to close in around her as the reality of the situation sank in.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” Violeta said, breaking the silence, her voice a faint whisper. “What if they figure out who I am? What if they find out why I’m there?”

Carlos leaned in closer, his eyes filled with determination and concern. “Darling, I wouldn’t ask you to do this if I didn’t believe you could handle it. You can blend in and most importantly, you’re pretty, which will make it easier to attract the attention of any teenage boy.”

Michaela nodded in agreement; her eyes soft with sympathy. “It’s natural to be scared, sweetheart. But remember, you’ll have support. Your father’s men will be watching, doing the heavy lifting during this, all you are going to have to do is what any teenage girl likes to do, flirt with a cute boy and grab his attention.”

Violeta looked down at her hands, fidgeting with a loose thread on her sleeve. “But what about being the new girl? It’s hard enough to start at a new school without having to get close to someone like Vincent. What if he doesn’t like me? What if he sees right through me?”

Carlos reached out and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’ll make sure you have everything you need to fit in. New clothes, a new makeover, whatever it takes. You’re good at making friends, Violeta. Use that talent.”

Violeta’s eyes filled with tears. “But what if he’s dangerous? What if I get hurt?”

Michaela squeezed her daughter’s hand, her voice soft but firm. “We would never let anything happen to you. Your father and I will be monitoring everything. You won’t be left alone with him unless it’s absolutely necessary, and even then, you’ll have backup nearby.”

Carlos nodded. “We’ve thought this through, Violeta. We wouldn’t put you in harm’s way without taking every precaution. We need to show the Castenllo family and everyone else that they can’t mess with us.”

Violeta swallowed hard, still feeling a knot of fear in her stomach. “I just… I don’t want to be part of this world. I want to go to school, have friends, and be a normal teenager.”

Michaela’s eyes welled up with tears as she pulled Violeta into a hug. “I know, sweetheart. We want that for you too. But sometimes, sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. We believe in you, and we’ll do everything to protect you.”

Violeta hugged her mother with anxious trepidation, feeling a mixture of fear and a reluctant sense of duty. She pulled back, looking at both her parents. “Okay, I’ll do it. But promise me this won’t be forever. Promise me that once this is over, I can go back to being a normal teenager.”

Carlos nodded; his expression resolute. “I promise, Violeta. This is just a temporary measure. Once this is over, you can go back to your life.”

Michaela wiped a tear from Violeta’s cheek. “We’ll make it through this, together. And we’ll come out stronger on the other side.”

Violeta took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “Alright. When do we start?”

Carlos smiled with a hint of pride in his eyes. “We’ll start preparing immediately. We’ll make sure you’re ready by the time the new school year begins.”

As Violeta sat back, a sense of resolve slowly replacing her fear, she hoped her parents’ plan would succeed without tearing their family apar