Chapter 271 - Controlling and Helping - mdtres
Guadalupe
"I didn't know."
"Be careful…" We looked at each other. "Each of them is looking after their wives, and Arnold ended things with you."
"Do you think all of this is related?"
"One thing we are all sure of is that, with the youngest of that pack of wolves, you are very important to him."
"He's going to marry someone else!" I said, on the verge of despair.
"He hasn't married yet, maybe it's a front to cover something up. I know my brother, and he's got everyone working. Don't lose hope. I'm a detective, they're planning something, and my brother is… as soon as I can get up from here, I'll find out and let you know. But I will uncover the truth or stop calling myself Luisa Sandoval, I mean Moreno!" I hugged her tightly.
"Thank you, Luisa."
"That's what we're here for. Simon told me that Veronica kicked Arnold's fiancée out at gunpoint. If he didn't defend her, it's because he doesn't care. There's something fishy going on. For now, go to your date. If Arnold cares about you, he won't leave you alone or he'll make a scene.
"Believe me, those men have the soul of cowboys and are said to be very jealous. Analyze his behavior. If this is all a plan, they would have told you unless your life is in danger. Push him, and you can only do that by making him jealous."
"I'll follow your advice. Thank you."
I hugged her again. As soon as I stepped out, Arnold was talking to Simon in the stables, and I saw Rogelio all dressed up.
"Ready? I don't like your plan."
I was ready to talk to a friend, but I needed to rile up a certain guy. I'm going to get dolled up.
"No, take me home, wait for me to get ready, and then we'll go."
"Guadalupe!" Arnold's shout must have been heard across the entire ranch. "Get in, I'll take you."
"I'm going with Rogelio."
I took his hand, noticing it was cold. He knew what he was up against. He intertwined his fingers with mine and led me to his motorcycle. Mr. Simon had his friend by the arm, preventing him from lunging at us. I waved goodbye and smiled. As we left the ranch behind, I sighed.
"You're looking to get me killed, Lupe. Your husband will smash my face, dismember me, and rip off my manhood. That look was pure psychopath."
I smiled. Maybe it's all a front. What I experienced with him in the car was very confusing, and Luisa's suspicions confirm it. I'm going to push him to the limit and make him confess. One thing is getting married, another is pretending to get married…
But he slept with that airhead. If there's a strong reason, I don't think he should have taken it that far. Oh, you idiot! You're going to drive me crazy. But let's see who drives who crazy. As long as you're not married, I can wait. But that fling with the tramp is going to cost you dearly… I'm going to make you die of jealousy. You'll see.
……
Gustavo
It had been two weeks since we found out about the sacrifice Arnold was making for us. My brother in spirit putting himself on the line to save my family, taking care of Gladis, old Josefina, my sisters, not only made me proud of the man he had become but also left me with an eternal debt of honor to him.
And I recognize he was very strong. I would have given up long ago because of jealousy. Although we've all helped him with that, and that girl was so picky. She wanted to push him to the limit.
For countless reasons, unexpected events, and situations, we haven't let Rogelio go out with Lupe again. He did it once, and we almost couldn't calm down Arnold. Roland had to impose his authority.
I remembered that night; he had arrived fuming in his truck. I was talking to the boss when we heard the door slam. As soon as we stepped out, we saw a giant of nearly two meters holding poor Rogelio by the shirt.
I hurried to get the poor boy out of his grip. He was pale. If there's one thing we know, it's that Roland has taught us very well how to instill fear. Roland didn't intervene at that moment because imposing force without being able to talk, since that Russian bastard could hear us, was very tricky.
Although I forget that I'm referring to the boss. Ten minutes later, we saw Lupe get on that motorcycle in a dress that, as Gladis says, was flowy. The motorcycle took off, and the bull escaped.
Arnold was red with jealousy. His body was trembling. It was evident he was making an effort to contain himself, not to say what was on his mind. For a few minutes, he held back. When I saw him shake his head, I knew he wouldn't.
"Screw this!"
Roland looked at me to stop him. In height, I'm the next tallest, but the boss has monstrous strength. The kid dodged me, and I had to grab him. When he's in that state, he's like a raging bull.
"He could hurt that kid," I said as we started fighting until Roland stopped a punch aimed at me and pushed him away. Just remembering that look gives me chills. The boss landed two punches that hurt just watching.
One to the chest and the other to the arm he punches hardest with. He barely screamed, just groaned and ended up crying. It was surprising how Arnold calmed down. Inés and Verónica came out because of the screams, and some workers were watching, including Jacinto. Inés ran to hug him.
"My love, what's wrong?"
Arnold put a finger to his lips, our mom looked at us, and at the same time, Roland and I made the same gestures. Don't talk. Our brother stood up. The boss looked at me, and I understood: I had to watch Lupe to keep the bull under control. I put on my glasses, indicating I could see and he nodded in thanks.
"Verónica, if you keep this up, I'll have to keep an eye on you, beautiful!"
With that, Roland gave the instruction I had assumed, also notifying our brother that we would help keep Lupe away from suitors until this mess was sorted out.
I went for one of the motorcycles the boss has in his garage and headed to Blanco to find her. Luckily, I found her quickly, and they were at an ice cream shop. From the block across the street, where they couldn't see me, I watched them. They finished their ice cream and stayed talking and laughing for two hours.
Then they got on the bike and headed back to the ranch. I switched my glasses to night vision so I wouldn't have to turn on the lights and followed at a safe distance. When we arrived, Arnold was on the terrace. I imagine he saw Lupe arrive, and as soon as I got to his side, he said,
"Thanks."
That same night, I settled into what used to be my room at the El Renacer ranch. Gladis and Ernesto were on their way, and at dawn, I had to go pick up my wife and son. With my mother, it's another story; I have to get her on Monday.
That stubborn woman will make it difficult. I'll have to tell her the truth; otherwise, she won't set foot on the "flying tube," as she calls it. Luckily, in a month or two at most, Roland will hand over the La Reina ranch to me. I hope that seeing the farm will encourage her to stay for good. She can rent out the house in Montería for some income.
Anyway, I had to get Dr. Mendoza. As I had anticipated, it took me three days to convince my mother. I had to scare her with the lives of my sisters. The eldest turned out to be more stubborn than old Josefina.
Ultimately, I left Rosario with her husband and family under 24-hour surveillance. Yadira, who is two months away from finishing her specialization, is also under day-and-night surveillance. Then she'll come live with me and work at the clinic where I'm a partner.
Patricia, my duck, who was just about to start university, will study in the United States. After telling my mother what was happening, she agreed to come with me on the condition that I build her a house near my ranch.
Something like Jacinto's house, near the main estate. I said yes, but she would have to wait for Roland to start building it. Meanwhile, she would live with us. Stubborn old lady!
I picked up Dr. Mendoza, who I had to wait for two days while he sorted things out. Since then, he's been at the base studying and analyzing how to remove that device from our brother's diaphragm.
That's why today, Tuesday, the six of us were here, waiting for Arnold to come out of the surgery being performed by Dr. Mendoza and Dr. Jones. We had to plan everything carefully.
The harpy of a supposed fiancée was told we needed to meet as we always do quarterly for the information delivery at El Renacer, and since she was banned for the stupid thing she said about Liam, she stayed away.
We put a recording of the last information meeting we had in Arnold's ear. In fact, there were two, to cover the time the surgery would take. Our brother spends the day at the ranch and at night goes to sleep at the apartment where they are now living.
He travels to San Antonio every day he doesn't have university and other times, he spends watching over Lupe. These days, we found out that the leech also spent time watching Lupe to see if he was really not with her.
We worked from the base. Now the boss was designing the strategy for the new condominiums of the construction company to sell them more effectively. That kid works very well on the subject.
Before going into surgery, he called to say he would be at the meeting, which would take three or four hours. Since the aforementioned woman was calm, knowing Lupe wasn't with him, she didn't bother him.
"This wait is killing me!" said Miguel.