“I know The Circle was a tightknit group. Although they’re no longer, I want in as they did.” Alek ponders Santo’s terms. “So you will introduce me to your…family and help me kill Raul, and in return, you want to pick and choose who will remain my loyal servants?” Alek has chosen this term with intent. He wants Santo to know that neither he nor any of the remaining players once the cull is complete will ever be his equal. It may seem Alek is in partnership with Santo, but Alek works alone. He isn’t interested in sharing his throne, which is why Santo plans to kill him. Santo nods. “Yes. That’s all I ask. As I see it, what you’re proposing will mean there will be very few…bosses, I guess you could say, in their expertise. We all have to co-exist as we once did. I don’t want to deal with

