Chapter 142 - They Finally Arrived - Meddos
Roland
Since Santiago's wedding, Luisa hadn't answered my calls. She ignored me all Sunday. That freckled girl was willful! I knew about her through my mother, who gave me a lecture. According to the expert on decent behavior, I needed to learn to control my jealousy. Say what you will, but I couldn't allow that idiot Juan to stay close to my woman. Saturday was the worst day of this whole ordeal, watching him follow Veronica around like a lapdog.
I trusted my wife, though now she thought I was dead. She could falter at any moment from sadness, depression, or who knows what other nonsense. I didn't want Juan playing the good Samaritan. Damn impotence! I hadn't slept a wink since Saturday. I wanted to see Veronica, and my sister refused to put on her glasses. I wanted to see her! I didn't know what had happened, but early Sunday morning, I burned the house down.
It was simple. I had the IP addresses, knew the program Rata had created, and he had taught me how to block it. Once I did, I had access to the house. I sighed in frustration. Another day. Today my guys would arrive with all the recovered information. I had no idea what Simón had decided. He would choose to put distance, keep my wife safe, and the only thing for sure was the ranch. The problem was I didn't know when they would arrive. My informant was reluctant to answer me.
It was better to go to work. Going out to the field might clear my mind. Besides, the vet was coming today to check on Hathor. She was already six months old. Soon, Amón would have his first foal. I went into the bathroom. Mom must be preparing breakfast. She was more stubborn than Inés. Five hours of work with the laborers had passed. The cattle for the El Renacer ranch had arrived, and we needed to brand them.
Mom came to the corrals and brought us juice. The heat was overwhelming. Seeing her, I smiled. Without a doubt, this was what I loved—the countryside. In the afternoons, I dedicated myself to designing. Now that Veronica was by my side, my designs would return to the company. We would come up with something when we were together and continue with the innovations.
"Thank you very much for the juice, beautiful lady."
I kissed her forehead and headed to the corral to brand the steers. Minutes later, Lara, the foreman hired for El Renacer, arrived on horseback.
"Boss!"
I remembered my wife's words that afternoon in Santa Marta when she said I had a special gift. The problem was it was channeled in the wrong direction, and I couldn't agree more with her at this moment. Now I was the boss, but not of criminals, and I felt so free. It wasn't just a cliché. Evil doesn't bring any good.
"Tell me, Lara."
He was Mexican. I had hired him about fifteen days ago, and since Saturday, his task was to watch over my ranch.
"Don Roland, two cars arrived at El Renacer. Three women, two men, and a baby got out."
My heart raced. So soon? Damn! Rata must be pissed off. My wife was already here. They would kill me when they saw me, but I couldn't wait any longer.
"Thanks! Support Kaley."
I ran like crazy until I reached Amón. Before mounting, I grabbed the binoculars. I couldn't just show up like nothing. I wanted to see Rata and Cebolla's faces. Maybe it was best to talk to them first. I didn't want to give Veronica or Inés a heart attack.
My hands were shaking. My wife was already here! I even felt like crying from the emotion. I rode off at full speed. On horseback, I was half an hour away. My wife was finally here! I was finally going to kiss her and make her mine again. You will be in my arms again. When I reached the boundaries, I dismounted. Amón was agitated.
"Buddy, I'm just like you. You're tired, and I'm scared shitless."
I patted his back, tied him up, and approached on foot to get closer. I needed to watch her. I grabbed the binoculars. I positioned myself in the same spot I had when Rata and Mojón came. "Damn! I even felt like peeing. I'm scared." I started watching. I didn't see anyone. While I waited to see her, Inés came out to the balcony. My old lady... To hell with my macho pride, I couldn't help but laugh.
My eyes welled up seeing her. She had her hand bandaged. She went back inside. I had been lying on the ground like an idiot for over an hour, and neither Cebolla nor Rata had come out, much less my wife. "I want to see her!" Another half hour passed. It was already noon. I had been lying on the ground for three hours like an idiot. Finally, the doors opened, and Veronica came out, smiling as beautiful as ever. If I had been agitated before, now my heart rate was through the roof.
She was still thin, but my love was going to change that once I talked to my friends. I had to organize the reunion, see how I could reach her, she looked beautiful and she was my life. I couldn't help it, my eyes welled up more than usual from the joy, but I clenched my butt to avoid crying. D'Artagnan also came out fluttering and running. If complete happiness existed, this moment would be it.
Her hair was tied in a braid, I remembered how good she looked with two. The happiness lasted a fraction of a second, out of nowhere Juan appeared. JUAN! What the hell was that bastard doing here?! And why was he smiling at her? At least at the party I avoided him, now he looked very friendly with him. That jerk's arm went around her shoulder and pulled her close. No! Stop touching her! Wasn't Onion or Rat around to keep him away? Who came with them?
Calm down Roland, calm down, Veronica loves you. The words I said to my sister came back to me. "Don't continue, don't be like everyone else, because the answer was, is, and will be the same, there was no, there is no, and there will never be another man in my life who isn't Roland Sandoval Manjarrez. I don't want under any circumstances other hands to erase the caresses left by him on my body." Don't worry, Veronica won't accept another man.
I looked again, she was still smiling, agreeing with what he was saying, she accompanied him to one of the cars. Good, time to go jerk! Diana came out on the balcony with the baby and they were also smiling, where did my friends go? When I focused back on Veronica, Juan was kissing her and that was the end of my existence.
The binoculars fell from my hands, I turned around, everything I had done to be by her side and she kisses another guy... Jealousy consumed my soul, without looking back I walked until I reached Amón, did you forget me so easily? No Veronica! You don't play with me.
…………
Veronica
Anger engulfed me, it was just a peck that idiot gave me and now it was Miguel who pulled me away from Juan, whom I slapped twice and started hitting.
"Veronica, it wasn't that bad!" said the idiot.
"IDIOT!" Tears started streaming down my face. "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" The crying became more noticeable, I started shaking with rage. "HIS KISSES WERE ON MY LIPS... I don't want another memory, WHAT THE HELL don't you understand?!"
People around might find it strange to hear me swearing, but at this moment I didn't give a damn. I wanted to kill him.
"GET LOST! I trusted you, I allowed you to get close as a friend, never look for me again because I swear I'll put a bullet in your head. GET LOST!" My voice broke. Juan's look was of pain, I didn't care. "I told you, you could only stay close if you kept your distance, now I don't want to see you even a mile away."
"Vero..."
"It's better if you leave, Juan. The lady is very upset."
Inés said, coming to our side, taking my hand. I hugged her, my whole body was shaking. Miguel's watch beeped and his phone rang, while they led me inside the house, Onion was pushing the idiot into the car.
"Calm down." I started shaking my head.
"Understand me Inés, I didn't want any lips other than the memory of my husband."
"You didn't let that young man last more than a second. How will that ruin the memory? Besides, you need to accept Roland's death."
"Never! I feel him here." I touched my heart. Diana came with a glass of water.
"Calm down Mrs. Vero, that man is gone, I don't think he'll want to come back, meanwhile enjoy the farm your husband left you. We thought we'd have to furnish it, but look, it's beautiful."
"Yes." My phone rang, it was a call from Simon.
"Ma'am."
His tone wasn't worried but angry. I imagine Miguel had already told him, but I was on the verge of killing someone.
"I'm fine now. How are you? Have you found out anything?"
"Today I've had a couple of setbacks with Barranquilla, and Rasca... Gustavo is in Bogotá checking how the house turned out, in two days I'll focus on that, for now we have work with the cartel, they're alarmed, they've made it difficult for us. I need to support Luisa."