Chapter 38: D A R I O
I followed Ambrosio to a small table in the back. Through the sea of goons, we still had our eyes on the girls, though they couldn’t see us. Ambrosio took out his phone and pounded on it while he took a few deep breaths and finally said,
"O Italós pernáei tis grammés."
*“The Italian is crossing lines.”*
I nodded my head in agreement and Ambrosio continued,
"Tha prépei na epistrépso apópse, esý na meíneis edó kai na prosécheis tin Íra kai ton Keegan. Écho tin aísthisi óti érixa móno ládi sti fotiá kai o Emiliano prókeitai na antapodósei."
*“I’m going to have to go back tonight, you stay here and watch over Hera and Keegan. I have a feeling I only added fuel to the fire and Emiliano is going to retaliate.”*
Ambrosio, still pounding away on his phone, said,
“I’m going to send you a link to an app I had an associate create.”
I pulled out my phone to anticipate Ambrosio’s text invite. He explained,
“While Hera was out being a fucking *decoy*, I had a team go in and put hidden cameras all over her apartment, this app gives you access to those cameras.”
When I received the text link, I clicked it and downloaded the app. It finished downloading and I opened it. Ambrosio gave me all the passwords to get access. I scrolled through, taking inventory of where the cameras were. Ambrosio’s team had every inch of Hera’s apartment covered.
“This goes without saying, but do not tell Hera about these cameras. I also have the same set up for Keegan, but I’m only going to give you access to her front door. I just need you to keep an eye on Keegs. I’ll be watching her too.”
The app on my phone had a notification pop up, which led me to Keegan’s front door in the hallway of her apartment. I toggled back over to Hera’s apartment. The cameras were constantly recording and I could watch *my Hera* all the way back to a few months ago if I wanted. Ambrosio pointed out,
“It also has a tracker on her cell phone- well *had*. I had a new phone ordered for her, it will arrive tomorrow morning. Once she turns it on and sets it up, the app will pick up her location.”
Ambrosio took my phone and showed me how to toggle from the cameras to the tracker. He gave me access to Keegan’s tracker as well, just in case of anything. This was the best thing I received since landing here. Not the swanky apartment, not the stashes of cash, not the access to the sweet fast cars. This app had the ability to have eyes on Hera at all times.
We calmed down enough to join the girls back at our table. Ambrosio took Keegan somewhere to say goodbye. I glanced at Hera and saw her eyes were white. I grabbed her hand that she rested on the table and squeezed it. Her cold eyes locked with mine and I could never get over her beauty. It left me completely defenseless. She turned her palm so that her fingers interlocked with mine and I stared into her eyes until all the ice melted and they returned to their green blue. I decided right then and there, Hera was going to be mine. I was going to use my time here to show her she didn’t need *him*. I was going to sweep her off her feet and be the man she needed. I was not going to let *him* have her ever again.
Ambrosio returned Keegan to our table then left without saying anything to Hera. I saw her shrink in her seat. Keegan with tears in her eyes said,
“I’m going to go.”
Hera jerked towards her and said,
“What? No! We just got here! Let me order you another drink. We did not spend all that time getting ready to be here all of five seconds.”
Hera handed Keegan her cloth napkin and Keegs wiped her eyes, being careful of her makeup. Hera looked around for the waiter and flagged him down.
“Let us get three shots of Patrón, please!”
The waiter smiled at Hera and was gone all of four seconds before returning and passing out our shots. We each took one and Hera raised her glass,
“To a fun night, to bring in the New Year right!”
Keegan and I touched our shot glasses to Hera’s and Keegan and I suffered through the taste. Tequilas are not normally my thing. Hera didn’t even flinch and I started to wonder how often she took shots of hard liquor.
Hera got up and got Keegan out of her chair. I stood so I wasn’t the only one sitting; these girls weren’t going to ditch me here. Hera approached the dj and said something in his ear. As she walked back to our table, the dj started playing “Scream & Shout” by will.i.am and Britney Spears. Keegan’s face lit up and Hera was singing the song to her as she dragged the red head onto the dance floor. I immediately sat back down and observed the girls as they danced and sang the song at the top of their lungs as if the whole banquet hall wasn’t watching them. They were the only two on the dance floor. None of these other goons sans ladies were going to dance. Music kept playing and the girls kept dancing, taking breaks every once in a while to take shots with me at the table.
At one point, Hera and Keegan each grabbed one of my arms and dragged me to the dance floor. I had no idea how to dance, especially with two women at the same time. But by this point I had had a few shots in me and decided to join the ladies in their shameless dancing. The liquor kept me from remembering how my body chose to react to the music, and for that I am grateful. We continued drinking and dancing until the rest of the night became a blur. I barely remember Hera and Keegan tucking me into bed in Ambrosio’s apartment.