Chapter 360 - The Conquest Begins - mdfour
Aníbal
I was on the terrace with Ana doing stretching exercises. Jacinto parked in front of the ranch, and Verónica got out of the truck with my son. I stood up and walked as fast as I could, but it's hard for me! Everyone says I'm making great progress, but I don't feel it. I get frustrated. Victoria got out with Grego's diaper bag. As soon as my son saw me, he reached out his arms, and once again, my heart melted, especially with how emotional I've been since my old lady passed away.
Holding him was comforting. I didn't cry because I held it in; I've cried enough over Inés. That little body hugging my neck was like an injection of beautiful feelings, the kind that keep you going because life goes on, it never stops.
"Are you sure you won't drop him? With how angry your wife is, I don't want her to take away what I fought so hard for, and if I return Grego with any bruises..."
"I won't drop my son, Vero. Thanks for bringing him to me." I kissed my baby's head; he smells so good. "How many hours do I have?"
"The weekend. And that's how it will be; I got you weekends with your son." I hugged Verónica.
"Thanks, comadre."
"It's nothing. Victoria, take the bag to your Uncle Aníbal's room."
"Of course, Mom." She always confirms twice. I covered my son with kisses.
"Training is over. From now on, weekends are for my son."
"You have a meeting at the barracks today."
"He comes with me."
"No way, he stays with me, and Ana helps me," I insisted.
"Verónica, did you talk to her?"
"Aníbal, all I can say is that if Roland once talked about bringing me the moon with the stars, my dear compadre, you'll have to bring her all the constellations of the Milky Way."
"So, you convinced her to let me have Grego." I bit my lip. "Tell me what to do, and I'll do it." She looked at me and sighed.
"She's really hurt. Try flowers, letters, serenades. Bring her a mariachi band or whatever, just show her she's important. Don't corner her; you know how she is. If she needs to throw punches and kicks, she will. Just make her know you love her, that you're back to stay with her. You know how to woo her."
"The problem is, she was the one who wooed me, brought me to life, and roped me into marriage. I never thought such an amazing woman would notice someone like me."
Verónica's look was one for the camera; she couldn't hold back and burst out laughing right in my face.
"Compadre, I'm sorry, but now you'll have to bring out your alpha male skills and mark your territory."
"What do you mean?"
"It's not just the teacher your friends scared off who are after her."
A sour feeling hit my stomach out of nowhere. And now my wife is hurt and so proud that just to spite me, she might...
"Exactly, what you're thinking. I'm afraid she might do that. And I'm not telling you this to gossip, but to prepare you for the battle of winning her back."
"Thanks."
I've done nothing but play with my son, who is trying to take steps but isn't quite ready to do it alone yet.
"Champion, let's work on that."
On my knees, I gave him my hands, and he started walking, holding onto my fingers. He set the pace, and I walked on my knees behind him. My phone rang; it was a message from Roland. At three at the barracks, after lunch.
An hour later, Grego was walking, holding onto just one finger. I'll send him walking to his mom. I picked up my boy, and Ana brought his soup. Sitting on my lap, he ate, and three seconds later, he was out cold.
"Ana, take care of him. I'll be working after lunch."
"Don't worry, Mr. Aníbal."
Roland arrived with his kids, looking tired. Liam was asleep. I kissed my baby, and my nurse took him.
"Hi, Uncle," Dante and Enrique greeted me.
"Knocked out?" I asked.
"He lasted longer than the teacher and I expected. Kids, go bathe, change, eat lunch. The music teacher arrives this afternoon." Dante made a face. "Young man, keep your word. If you don't, no one will. We men have only our..."
"Word."
Roland and I said it together. My nephews nodded, and with a smile, the boss went in with his kids, one on his shoulders. I followed.
"What happened to Liam?" Verónica asked, concerned as she set the table for lunch.
"He did all the exercises, participated alongside his brothers. He's exhausted."
The lady's eyes welled up, and she kissed his cheek. "I'll go up and change his clothes." We arrived at the barracks. If there's one thing we're good at, it's being punctual. As soon as Roland and I arrived, so did the kids. Since our wives' trip, we hadn't returned, and the silence was noticeable. Everyone took their place at work, and I set my cane aside.
"We will continue with the operation we were on; many children need us."
"Yes, sir!" we responded.
"Additionally, let's see how we organize ourselves; but I want to know what he does, how many times he shits, if he pees, if he eats his boogers, I want to know every single damn detail about the life of that bastard Emilio Medrano. Everything!" I felt a chill knowing we would avenge my mom's death.
"Maybe we won't kill him, and I really don't want to, but I will be the bastard who gets in his way in everything he does. If he sends a shipment, we tip off the authorities. If he receives a delivery, we take it. If he wants to buy a property, we get there first. I want him tied up, deranged, and ruined."
"For that, we must travel constantly to Colombia," Rata said.
"It will be done. We must work; let's pick up where we left off. Aníbal." When he looked at me, I knew I had to find out about Emilio.
"Right away."
Hours passed, and we had the faces of the pimps who were in charge of kidnapping or rather stealing the children. This was a shitty network. I cross-referenced some information and... Shit, shit, and the fucking shittiest shit! What I had just found...
"Son of a bitch!" I shouted.
Everyone looked at each other. I sent the information from my screen to the big monitor. That way, everyone would see what I had discovered... that bastard Emilio Medrano has his days numbered. Two of the pimps reported to that wannabe mafioso. When we saw the boss's face, we saw that aura that makes your balls freeze.
"It looks like we'll meet sooner than planned." He made that mocking sound with his mouth. "You're going to have to pay a few visits to many acquaintances." We all smiled.
"Let's start the Checkmate operation," he said.
It was already seven at night, and my rear end was numb from sitting so long, but in a couple of days, we would have what Any needed to give us the green light for another operation.
"Well, on Monday, after our personal duties, we'll continue with the same schedule."
"Guys," I said, "I need a favor."
"What's up?" I looked at Miguel.
"I need to win my woman back." I looked at them.
"Serenade, women melt with mariachis," Gustavo said.
"It has worked for me," Roland added.
"Well, mariachis it is."
......
Shirly
I miss my baby. I've called Veronica several times, and she was in perfect condition. I sat on the bed. It's eleven at night. What could he be doing? Did he lay down with his son on that strong chest? Ohhh! Since I saw him, I can't stop reliving my steamy moments with that tanned skin. Aníbal makes my whole body vibrate just imagining him...
Don't think about that! He's thinner, BUT HE WAS MY PRECIOUS MAN! What I can't forgive is that he left me aside as if I wasn't the woman he swore to be with in good times and bad, in sickness and in health.
And what did he do? He pushed me aside. Although, these days I've felt so guilty for authorizing his disconnection. Mrs. Josefina told me I can't think that way; no one knew if he would react.
The doctors had already given up on him; he was a vegetable. It hurt me more to see him like that, and now I feel so much remorse. I don't want him to think I didn't love him, that I wanted to get rid of him.
Without a doubt, the wisdom of Gustavo's mother calmed my regret. She said that what happened to my man was a miracle negotiated and paid for by Roland. It was an agreement between him and God. I wasn't religious at all.
The truth is, I came to respect and truly understand it when I joined this brotherhood. With the hardships I've faced in life, I was reluctant to believe an invisible being had helped me achieve what I had through effort and work, "according to me."
It only took meeting Aníbal to understand my mistake. "I only ask you, Lord, to give me the strength not to succumb to that precious smile that undoubtedly dominates me. You know me, I need him to desperately seek forgiveness."
Both Mrs. Josefina and Vero said today to punish him a little, but not too much. He might find someone else. "If he does, by the holy trinity, I'll cut off his dick."
It's pointless to try to sleep. I got out of bed, put on some comfy pants and a T-shirt. A bit of warm milk with honey would help. I turned off the stove, poured the milk into the cup with honey, and just before taking the first sip...
The trumpets of some mariachis sped up my heart. I left the cup on the counter, ran to the door, luckily the house was dark. Through the peephole, I saw it was my man with his brothers and those amazing mariachis. I bit my hand to keep from screaming with joy and let them sing the first song, "Volver, Volver."