Chapter 40 - In his world of Capo - mduno
The phone woke me up. It was past midnight. I was dead tired after spending the day decorating the apartment with Christmas ornaments. Fixing the lights and everything we had stored away.
It looked beautiful, like Santa Claus's house. The three of us were exhausted. I fell into bed after taking a bath and an analgesic for my cramps. My period had started, and it seemed like one of those times when the pain would send me straight to bed.
"Yes," I answered, more asleep than awake.
"Veronica." It was Roland's whispering voice. "Sorry for waking you. I can't sleep."
"And you think, you and I in the same state?"
I heard his laughter, echoing. Who knows where he was calling from.
"Where are you?"
"Arriving at your apartment. Can I stay over? I haven't slept since yesterday."
I sprang up like a jack-in-the-box, rushing to the bathroom for a big release. I don't know if it was from the sudden movement or the surprise.
"What time are you getting here?" I heard him talking to someone.
"In about ten minutes. Simon has to stay with me, Vida."
It was more of a plea than an order, and something must have happened.
"We'll talk here, no problem. Take care."
"I want to give you that task tonight." I realized something was wrong.
"Well, I'll be waiting, Mr. Sandoval. Should I think about the fee?"
I heard him laugh, then he hung up. I finished changing, washed my hands, tidied up the room a bit, and ran to my friend's room where she was sprawled out, blankets thrown on the floor. I shook her to wake her up.
"What!" I laughed. She was groggy, and I kept shaking her. "Vero. What!"
"Roland and Simon will be here any minute, and they're staying over."
"And who the hell is Simon?" I remembered no one knew him by his real name, only his nickname. "Are you sleeping with me?"
"No." I was grateful it was dark as I felt my face heat up. "Roland is bringing Rat."
Lorena shot up as if she had sat on a pin.
"He can stay with me!"
She rushed to brush her teeth in her bathroom, quickly pulling out a very transparent robe.
"You never change, Lorena," I said, leaving her room.
"Don't start with your..."
I closed the door, not wanting to hear her justify her nymphomania as she always did.
When I got to the living room, I turned on the light and heard a car brake. I peeked out the window and saw Roland looking at the apartment entrance lit up with Christmas lights. I opened the door before he could knock. Just seeing him made me realize how much I needed him. He picked me up before I could say anything.
He kissed me deeply, exploring my mouth. I needed it. Maybe our need was normal. For me, it was a new feeling, craving his lips, his arms, and his tight embrace as if he wanted to break my bones.
After a long kiss, Simon closed the door. We pulled apart, and I could breathe. That kiss was the best medicine, making me forget my menstrual pain for a few seconds.
"God, I missed you," I said. He kissed my forehead as Lorena came out.
"Rat."
We all looked at her. She had covered herself with a robe. I rolled my eyes, and the raised eyebrow Simon gave his friend made me smile slightly. I had never seen him make expressions other than being serious and more reserved than Roland. Without saying anything, I took my boyfriend's hand and led him with me. His eyes sparkled as if expecting a reward.
"Don't get your hopes up."
He tried to speak, but I ignored him. He looked around at the Christmas decorations, seeming both puzzled and a bit uncomfortable. He crossed the living room in silence, and I closed the door once we entered.
"I'm on my period."
"What?"
I couldn't help but laugh. Something always seemed to prevent us from taking the next step in our relationship.
"Don't joke, Beautiful. How long does it last?"
I never thought the most dangerous drug lord in Colombia and a famous construction magnate could look so frustrated.
"Two heavy days, one moderate, and the fourth is residual."
He bit his lip as I crossed my arms. Roland sighed and turned to look at the bed.
"It's a very small bed." I burst out laughing. "Now you're mocking me?"
He was also trying not to laugh. He sat on the edge and began to bounce.
"It won't break."
He looked at me so sadly that my heart ached. I approached, and he wrapped his arms around my waist, his face buried in my abdomen.
"Lie down."
He took off his shoes, belt, wallet, three phones, some keys, and his gun, placing them on my old nightstand. He got under the covers while I turned off the light. In the dark, I slipped under the sheets.
In reality, it was a three-quarter bed, perfect because we had no choice but to cuddle. I started stroking his head, and I liked the small signs of hair growth. Before meeting him, I didn't think bald men were attractive, but he breaks all the patterns; everything suits him perfectly.
Within seconds, I heard his calm breathing. He was holding my hand tightly. We fell asleep. To my surprise, after days of sleeping with him, I realized that listening to his breathing was what I needed to sleep peacefully.
The silent rhythm of his breathing had become the best music. For days, I've been asking myself the same question: Is it normal to need someone so much in such a short time?
Despite how comforting it was to have him by my side, I slept for several hours. However, my menstrual cycle played a trick on me, and I had a terrible night. It was awful; after four in the morning, I changed several times. Roland would move, then fall back into a deep sleep once I snuggled up next to him.
The knocks on the door pulled us out of the most gratifying sleep. My boyfriend got up when the door opened. Just one look was enough to understand they had another problem. We didn't even have time to talk.
"Give me five minutes, Rat," Simon said, closing the door. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Is there danger?" I propped myself up on my elbows.
"Always, Veronica."
He walked around the bed to grab his things from the nightstand. I wanted to say so many things to him. He stroked my hair.
"Leave that world; deep down, you don't like it." He faked a half-smile.
"If I leave, it will be dead, Vida. You don't leave that world alive. It's better if you think very carefully if you can live with this."
I looked at him. We were just starting. What did he mean by living with this? Until that moment, I hadn't thought about the long-term with Roland; I had been focused on the present.
"Are you talking about a future?"
He looked at me, and a fleeting sadness crossed his face.
"You still don't understand anything."
He gave me a sweet kiss on the forehead, took his keys, and before leaving, he turned around and handed me a key.
"It's to my house. I'll call you in advance so you can wait for me, and we can sleep like carrots in a more comfortable bed." I smiled, and he wrinkled his face. "Did I say something funny?"
"No, it's just... I also gave that label to what we've been through. Take care."
He winked at me, and an electric current ran through my body. Before leaving, he kissed me again, caressed my back, and bit my lips, stealing a moan.
"Promise me you'll come back safe and sound." He didn't answer. "Is it that dangerous?" I got no response either.
I talk with Roland countless times a day. These days, the little I’ve managed to get out of him is that the situation is heating up. He mentioned something about infiltrators in the organization and having compromising evidence on some partners. Tomorrow is December seventh, and I wanted to spend it with him if possible.
I didn't know what to do. My friends had asked several times where we would eat sandwiches and donuts with hot chocolate. I know what I'll do! I got up, wanting to surprise Roland.
I went into the bathroom and got ready; sweatpants and a T-shirt. I tied my hair up and left the room with a backpack of clothes over my shoulder. I had my bank cards and the key Roland had given me to enter his house. I took my cellphone and called Raul.
"It's six in the morning!" he answered.
"We're going shopping," I waited for his reaction. I know how he gets at that word.
"And can I ask you for anything now that you have money?"
This favor will cost me a branded jacket.
"You're such a blackmailer, but yes, you have half an hour to get to the apartment, grab the car keys, and pick us up."
"Is Lorena ready?" I knew why he asked; she takes forever.
"Don't worry, I'll say the magic word 'shopping.'"
I heard a laugh and the sound of his shower.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes."
I laughed. I went into my friend's room, and all the blankets were on the floor. What a habit she has.
"I'll only say this once; I know you can hear me. I'm going shopping. Tell me if you can be presentable to society in twenty minutes to go out." She shot out to the bathroom.
"I'll be ready in fifteen."
I burst out laughing. The phone Roland had given me, which only he calls, rang. It was a gift from two days ago, delivered by Onion, whose real name I still hadn't managed to get. He was my main bodyguard.
"How's the most handsome man in the world this morning?" I heard his laugh.
"You're spoiling me, Vida. Without knowing it, this is what I needed to hear. You have no idea the hell I'm in. I needed to hear you, Veronica." What could be happening to him?