Penance

Carlos Ramirez is an Ivy League educated lawyer and the son of an infamous drug lord. He spent most of his life sheltered from the seedier side of his father’s business dealings, devoting his time to running his family’s legal business ventures. All that changes, however, when his father is murdered by his partner, the head of the northeast Irish mob. Consumed by hatred, he and his sister Lena exact their revenge. Seemingly oblivious to the collateral damage he is causing, Carlos’s actions result in the death of a number of innocent people. The deepest of regret follows. Given the perspective of time, he comes to grieve his actions, leading him to the brink of suicide. Carlos’s sister, Lena, is a very different person. While Carlos avoids his father’s legacy, Lena embraces it, maturing to become a major crime boss. As the story unfolds, Carlos devises a desperate plan to soothe his stricken conscience. What Carlos does not realize, though, is that Lena and her professional killer are watching over him, protecting him from danger. At various points during the story, you might find yourself cheering for the killer, empathizing with the drug lord, or lamenting the weaknesses and flaws of the one character that is risking his life and sacrificing everything to do the right thing. Carlos, Lena, and her hired assassin are complex characters caught up in a complex story, not unlike real life. And, as in reality, at any given instant in time, it is difficult to tell the good people from the bad. Penance is volume two of the Legacy of Loyalty trilogy. Volume one, Change of Heart , chronicles the demise of Lena and Carlos Ramirez’s father and their struggle to avenge his death and to reinstate the family dynasty. Volume three, Loyalty , is the story of Lena’s battle to secure the future of that dynasty and the long-term safety of her extended family.