Chapter 153 - Guilty of His Madness - Feddos
Roland
Both of them had exclaimed at the same time.
"That's what I did," I tried to catch my breath. "I just needed their reactions and sufferings for the first few days, I didn't want to make Verónica suffer. Then Luisa was going to tell you, but the attempted kidnapping happened." I looked at Cebolla. "By the way, thanks, my friend, for saving her. After that incident, we decided to keep quiet, it was essential to keep you safe."
"You son of a bitch! Mrs. Verónica hasn't lost anything, she still has that memory around her neck with your ring." I felt like one of those cartoon characters who just got hit. "You should have given me the information, you have no idea what happened, and right now, Roland, you're going to have to be honest with her. I won't tolerate any more suffering due to your absence."
"What do you mean by 'you have no idea what happened'?"
"It's something Mrs. Verónica has to tell you herself."
They leaned against one of the corral posts, Cebolla was cleaning the blood off. The employees left.
"Damn, I forgot how hard you hit."
Miguel commented, we smiled as if nothing had happened, after looking at each other, we hugged like brothers.
"You're a son of a bitch, no offense to my mother-in-law." I separated from Cebolla and hugged Rata. "Let me clarify something, Roland. Your absence has created a bond of protection between us and your wife. Many have thought we're in love with her, and let me be clear, that's not the case.
"I feel more like she's my little sister. I hope you never get jealous, you'll realize that she somehow depends on our closeness to stay grounded in this world."
His comment made me nervous. Did Verónica have feelings other than friendship for my friends?
"When you talk to her, you'll understand," Cebolla commented.
"You're scaring me."
"The scare you gave me yesterday, boss." I laughed. "You were at the ranch, right?" I nodded.
"Don't call me boss anymore, we're friends."
"Alright, Roland."
They laughed again, we held back the urge to hug again, but we were playing our roles as tough guys, though their eyes were filled with infinite joy from years of invaluable friendship.
"Let's leave the sentimentality," Rata said, and the three of us burst out laughing. "Or we'll start acting all mushy."
"Speaking of that..." I looked at Cebolla and he widened his eyes.
"I'll tell you later, but I've never been."
"I don't understand, but I'm glad you're with that girl Diana now."
"Do you know her?" His eyes lit up.
"This bastard has had the house's IP since the operations started," Rata commented.
"I promise to tell you everything. Rata is right, you need to talk to Mrs... Verónica, I don't want her to go back to that state of madness," Cebolla's comment surprised me.
"Madness?"
"Oh, Roland, what you'll hear from her won't please you. But you have to learn, actions have consequences. Let's go," Simón said.
"Let's go inside, I'll introduce you to my mother."
"There's a lot to talk about," Cebolla commented.
"Yes, the first thing is to clear everything up with your wife," Rata said in his role as the older brother. "By the way, if my Pelinegra asks, tell her I gave you the two kicks she sent as a message."
I burst out laughing, Luisa wouldn't be Luisa without a comment like that. My mother was watching the whole scene from the back terrace of the ranch, and when she saw us, one of the employees brought her the first aid kit.
"Mom, these are my friends."
"These are real friends," my lovely lady said. "You must be my daughter's boyfriend." Rata blushed. "And you, the one they call Cebolla. I've wanted to meet you for a long time." She kissed Miguel on the forehead.
"Thank you for saving my son's life, they told me you took two bullets protecting him. Thank you." Miguel swallowed hard and smiled genuinely at my mom. "And you," she approached Rata now, "you're the angel who rescued him."
"I'll be anything but an angel, ma'am." I had rarely seen Rata blush. This was one of those times.
"You are. Now I'll treat your wounds, I hope you don't hit each other again because I'll be the one to beat you with a broom."
My friends looked at me and I nodded, letting them know she was very capable and worse than Inés.
"You'll get along great with Inés," Rata commented, and we all laughed.
"We'll be inseparable, she raised my son. If we ignore the whole capo thing, he's well-raised," I shook my head at the comment. "Now, have you already forced him to talk to Verónica, this hard-headed one?"
"Once you release us, I'll drag him to her."
My mother treated our wounds, gave us ice packs to reduce the swelling, my left side hurt where Cebolla had hit me, it was as if no time had passed between us, we talked, they bombarded me with questions, and it was already past five.
"It's going to get dark soon, we have an hour of light left. The path to the cabin at night is tricky. I'm heading there now. As soon as I arrive, I'll send you the location, Rata. Bring Verónica. And don't bother me until I call you again."
"I'm going back to Colombia today. I don't want to leave Luisa alone."
"She knows how to take care of herself very well. She has excellent aim and packs a good punch in a fight."
"She could be the queen of martial arts and marksmanship, but I want to take care of her. I'm glad you'll be looking after the lady."
"Call her Verónica."
"We're trying," they said simultaneously.
"I'll be back soon."
I went to the office, grabbed the keys to the truck and my friends' ranches. I would give these to my wife as our wedding gift. When I returned, they were waiting in front of the car they had come in.
"Don't waste time, find Verónica. I really want to talk to my wife."
They blessed me, and I smiled as I got into the car. Lord, it's never as I plan it. All this time, I had the truth right under my nose. They followed me. I honked when they stayed at my ranch and continued on to the cabin. It was past Cebolla's ranch. I had bought all this land a week after finding my mother.
The first ranch I built was hers. I didn't want to see her living in that dollhouse. Not after hearing about everything they went through, the hardships, my mother breaking her back at work to support Luisa. Now I know she would have done the same for me. Just seeing how much she adored Luisa showed what a good mother she was. But if I had gone with her, Verónica wouldn't be my wife.
Nerves began to get the better of me. It was time for the truth. When I reached the cabin, I sent the location to Rata. He replied with a message saying he was on his way. I entered the cabin, turned on the air conditioning, and sat on the couch. After a few seconds, I walked around the living room, then went upstairs to the bedroom. Everything seemed in order. I had stored the condoms in the drawer.
I imagine she hadn't continued taking care of herself, something we needed to address. I didn't want to use protection with her; I wanted to feel her, although I could check her menstrual cycle. I went back downstairs. Damn it! My nerves were at their peak. Why were they taking so long? I sat on the couch again, feeling the urge to pee when I heard the car. Why did they get here so fast? I no longer knew what I wanted. The moment had come. I heard three doors closing.
"What a beautiful cabin. It looks like the one Roland lost with you, Simón. Is this ours too? Why did you bring me here?"
"Someone wants to talk to you," Simón said.
"Is that why you traveled so suddenly?"
I had been the boss of bosses, a fox in business, and in the presence of that angel, I was a complete fool, about to piss my pants. I had to man up. Face her! You did what you promised. If she didn't listen, it wasn't my problem but Verónica's for always doing the opposite. I opened the door. They were coming up the stairs on the right. My friends smiled. Verónica's eyes widened, and she pointed at me.
"I told you, Miguel, he's the brother..."
"Ma'am," Cebolla took her hand, and Verónica trembled. "Do you trust us?"
At that moment, I understood what Luisa had said. My wife stood between my two friends, looking like titans protecting a sacred treasure. There were no lustful looks between them. They respected and cared for her at the same time.
"You know I trust you blindly."
"You need to talk to him." She began to shake her head. "Verónica."
"It's the first time you call me by my name, Miguel, and I can't stay with him. Simón?"
I saw the scene of a girl talking to two older brothers. What had happened to bring them together like that?
"You need to talk."
"He kissed me! And he looks so much like Roland... I don't have the strength... he makes me nervous."
"Verónica," Rata spoke now.
"Now I'm really confused. Both of you are calling me by my name. Fine! I feel like you're scolding me. What time will you pick me up?"
"Whenever you call us, we'll come," Cebolla replied.
"Ignore your watches."
I said. They smiled, approached to hug me again, leaving my wife with her mouth open. She began to shake her head. From her tear-filled eyes, I knew she understood what was happening.
Before leaving, Rata kissed her on the forehead, and then Cebolla did the same. I crossed my arms as my wife continued to shake her head, then began to hyperventilate. She already knew. The car with my friends disappeared, and now we were alone.
"I missed you so much, Beautiful..."