chapter 104: You Are Not Here To Protect Her
Chapter 104: You Are Not Here To Protect Her
Rodrigo
“I have to go, sweetheart.” I told her.
“I will call you when we get back to our rooms.”
We bid our goodbyes and I set my phone down. Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought about my dishonesty with her, how once again I was going to hurt her. Nicolas walked in as I tried wiping the endless tears and his face falling in worry.
Rodrigo,” he called, walking up to me and pulling my head into his stomach, comfortingly. I let out a sob, fully breaking down at the thought of losing her for good this time.
“You got to tell her, man.” He told me and I nodded.
“I know, I just need to find the right time and figure out how to explain it so she knows I didn't want it to get this far. I can't keep hurting her, Nicolas.”
“Okay,” he agreed.
“No matter what, I will be by your side through it all. I know your intentions are good this time and Abigail will understand that too.”
I thanked him, for now I had to push that situation to the back of my mind and focus on tonight. We took a taxi to the club where this guy was partying with his friends and spending money that he got from the stolen drugs. Nicolas went in from the back while I went through the side doors. We saw each other on the top floor and looked down at the guy and his little group. I aimed and shot him in the head while Nicolas got most of the men around him. I joined him after making sure the main target was dead. By the time the job was done, people were running and screaming. We got out of there as fast as we came in, knowing the police would be here soon enough for someone else to deal with.
As we were driving back to the motel in the getaway car, my phone lit up with a text from Abigail.
‘Goodnight, I love you if you are still awake.’
‘I am still awake, goodnight, sweetheart. I love you.’
My stomach churned uncomfortable from the queasiness I felt. I can convince myself that I am keeping this secret for her own good but I know damn well that this is so I can stay in my little bubble and ignore reality for as long as possible. I told her she needed to start toughening up and facing reality when I am the one that needed that advice more.
‘Take the advice you give or else you are just fucking yourself.’
It wasn't in my place to be telling her that because she couldn't be handling it any better. She and Sonia were thrown into this and adapted perfectly, they are the queens of our side of this business now and they have more control than they think. I, on the other hand, have been doing it since I was able to walk and talk but still need guidance. I still don't know what the fuck I am doing but I channel it onto everyone else and walked around acting like I am a boss who knows better than anyone even though I don't know shit. Right now more than ever, I just wanted my father and I hated myself for it because that bastard deserves to keep rotting in hell for what he did to me, to my mother and most importantly to Agnes. But he was good at this, so good that he didn't have to worry about our safety.
As I got in bed beside Nicolas, we got lost in random conversation. Our girls, childhood, some memories or work which was something we did whenever going on jobs like this so we could ignore the guilt we felt. Yes, we could mask it and pretend nothing happened but we both knew each other more than anyone. We knew what to do to keep those thoughts out of our mind and continue on with life even after unfairly taking another but if we got the chance, we would find comfort in each other's voice.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed up again, thinking it was another text from Abigail. But when I opened it, my heart sank with fear. In our chat sat a picture of her laying in bed naked, her eyes were closed in a deep sleep while a shadow stood over her taking the picture. I couldn't make out who it was but it was obvious the prevent was a man. Then another message popped up underneath.
‘You are not here to protect her, Alvarez.”
I immediately showed it to Nicolas, who quickly got out of bed and grabbed his phone to call Sonia while I called Abigail over and over again but there was no answer. Where the fúck is the security? Sonia luckily picked and hurried over to our room, making sure to take a gun with her. But when she got in, Abigail was still asleep and no one was there with her. I heard her voice waking her up. Her soft and confused voice made me punch the wall in anger.
I told her I would keep her safe and I fucked up. Nicolas stayed on the phone with them, telling time to pack up whatever they needed while I called Alec. He rushed to where they were along with Agnes. We weren't able to go back to sleep, instead we booked another hotel that wasn't too fancy but the girls would be comfortable in. We rented a car for the next few days. We told Alec to bring to the airport so they can reach her by morning with the private jet.
The next morning, we met them at the front of the airport with their luggage. Abigail’s face was filled with stress and anxiety when I pulled her in for a hug. I couldn't even tell her that she was safe because she probably isn't. None of us are.