Jesse would also, no doubt, look back on this and wish he had done something very different. But in the present, he didn't question the decision. This was the right thing to do, for every reason he could think of.

Chewing on the inside of his mouth, he stepped forward. He would never feel comfortable standing this close to Gus - not after Victor. But he didn't let himself linger reluctantly. He dealt with dangerous people all the time. This was a transaction like any other, with all the usual risks.

He reached out and took Gus's hand, held it for ten seconds at the most, and then let go. That was it. No flashing lights or magic spectacle. Not even an intuitive, psychic feeling that something supernatural had occurred. It was a handshake like any other, if for an uncomfortably long moment.

"That's it," Jesse said. "It's done."