The Power of the Dog (Power of the Dog, #1)

by Don Winslow

Ramos swings his legs off the table and sits forward in his chair to bring his face closer to Art’s. “You had my help, remember? I gave you fucking Barrera, and you wouldn’t pull the trigger. You didn’t want revenge, you wanted justice. You got neither.” “I haven’t quit.” “You should,” Ramos says. “Because there is no justice, and you’re not serious about revenge. You’re not Mexican. There aren’t many things we take seriously, but vengeance is one of them.” “I’m serious.” “I don’t think so.” “I’m a-hundred-thousand-dollars serious,” Art says. “You’re offering me a hundred thousand dollars to kill Álvarez.” “Not kill him,” Art says. “Kidnap him. Bag him, put him on a plane to the States, where I can bring him to trial.” “See, this is exactly what I mean,” says Ramos. “You’re soft. You want revenge, but you’re not man enough to just take it. You have to mask it with this 'fair trial’ mierda. It would be a lot easier just to shoot him.”