Blood in the concrete: Empire of Pain

By James Hutchinson

"There are no saints. Only survivors. And some of them carry fire."

Born in the prisons of El Salvador, Rico Reyes rose from Ghost gang enforcer to myth. Charismatic, cunning, and cold-blooded when he had to be, Rico doesn't just lead-he haunts.

When his blood brother is murdered, Rico launches a violent crusade across borders, carving through enemies, corrupt priests, and double-tongued politicians. His war drags him into the heart of Los Angeles, where the gangs are preaching, the churches are killing, and the streets are listening to a prophet named Cuervo-a madman who baptizes bullets and rewrites the gospel in blood.

But this isn't just about revenge.

This is about legacy, power, betrayal-and a girl named Luc a, whose drawings speak louder than any sermon.

As old ghosts clash with new saints, Rico finds himself at war with something bigger than the cartel: faith weaponized, myth monetized, and history repeating itself in gunfire and ash.

And in the end, the only question that matters is this:

Will he die a man...
or become the final gospel?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0G28ZPJNH
• ISBN13: 9798267917933
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"