Chapter 199 - Apologize to her - mtres
Arnold
We were heading back to the ranch, driving through the busy street where people often went to drink beer, there were bars...
"Stop, Onion!" I shouted.
My friend instinctively pulled over; we were on edge, I guess he thought there were other unwanted characters in Blanco.
"What the hell, man?!"
I looked at him and pointed to where Renacuaja's motorcycle was parked. He looked, then raised an eyebrow at me.
"What?"
"Can't Lupe have some fun?"
"She's a kid, she just turned eighteen a few months ago."
"That was last year, she just turned nineteen."
"So what? She's still a tadpole out of her pond." The jerk mocked me.
"Then you say you don't care."
"Not in that way, she's screwed me over like seven times, now I have a chance to mess up her life."
"Look Arnold, it's almost midnight and my wife is struggling with the pregnancy, she needs me."
"You're not going to wait for me?"
"Not unless you were my wife." He laughed. "You can stay or come with me, but I'm not staying any longer, Diana is waiting."
"I'll stay, just don't put that big lock on the door."
Aside from the regular locks, Miguel had added a wooden bar that he used every night like we were in ancient times.
"Fine, don't mess with Lupe, my wife cares a lot about her, not to mention Isaac. Got it?"
"I told you, I'm just going to annoy her, she owes me a lot."
"See you tomorrow."
I got out of the car, left the gun in the glove compartment, I'd get it tomorrow. I entered the bar, the first thing I saw was Renacuaja dancing with a guy older than me. I raised an eyebrow, walked to the bar, took out my phone, and snapped a picture of the couple, then another of the guy's face. The bartender came over.
"What can I get you?"
"What juices do you have?" The idiot looked at me like I had a third eye. "I don't drink, don't you have any juice?"
"Orange."
"Give me that."
While waiting for my order, I looked up the guy's life, logged into the SSCTC from my phone and read everything about him. The more I read, the angrier I got. Didn't Renacuaja realize who she was getting involved with?
The bartender handed me the juice, I thanked him and drank it. That calmed me down a bit. "Calm down, Arnold," I told myself. I paid for the juice and walked to the table where Guadalupe was smiling, flirting with the guy. I didn't think she was the type to get involved with married men, more like he was tricking her. I stood in front of them.
"Arnold!" She was surprised.
"We're leaving, Guadalupe."
"I'm not going anywhere."
I looked at her, I knew I was one of the boss's men, I was very angry, at her too. She saw something and stood up.
"Who the hell are you?" The guy was tall, but I was about four inches taller.
"That's exactly what I am, but be grateful I'm in a good mood." I grabbed Lupe's arm and pulled her out of the bar. "What's wrong with you? Let go of me, you brute!"
"Oh, are we going to call each other names? How cute!" She broke free and faced me.
"No, you're the animal here."
"Just answer one thing, Guadalupe Sanchez, do you get involved with married men?"
Her face turned red, those beautiful eyes of hers almost popped out. Then I felt a hard slap.
"Don't insult me, you jerk."
A woman had never hit me before, my hands trembled, I brought this on myself for meddling.
"Hey!"
Thank God, a man stepped in because I was about to break everything in my path. When I turned around, the guy who wanted to mess with the fool who just slapped me stood in front with two other men.
"You're not taking her."
To hell with composure. I shook my head, didn't want to show the scum I was, but I couldn't control myself. I extended my hands.
"Here I am."
The guy came at me, and with all the anger I had, I punched him in the face, felt his nose bone break on impact. The other two came at me, one grabbed me from behind while the other punched me in the stomach.
Maybe for normal people this would have been enough, but as they say in my hometown, "they don't know who I am." He was about to hit me again, and I kicked him, then ducked, sending the guy who was holding me to the ground, and kicked him in the face.
"Want more?"
The adrenaline had been released, the anger had faded, it was getting easier to control it. I grabbed the guy by the hair; his nose was purple.
"Now you will apologize to her." Lupe looked at me, not understanding what I meant. "Apologize for mistaking her for a floozy!" I pulled his head back further. "I can’t hear you!"
"I'm sorry," he said between gasps.
"Sorry for what?" Guadalupe didn’t know what he was referring to. "What are you sorry for? That you forgot to tell her you’re a married man with three kids, and your wife just gave birth two weeks ago? Is that why you’re apologizing?"
La Renacuaja’s mouth dropped open. Now she understood my question; instead of looking at him, she looked at me, pleading for forgiveness.
"I can’t hear you!"
"I'm sorry for all that." I threw the guy, who ran off with the help of the other two.
"Give me the keys to your bike."
His hands were shaking. I looked at Lupe’s fancy bike. Great, I’m going to look ridiculous riding one of these! I got on. I’ll drive. I’ll look silly enough on this little bike, let alone as a passenger. Besides, I’m much heavier; she might lose her balance.
"Get on, I’ll take you home."
"There’s only one helmet."
Is that what she was worried about? I looked at her. Those pretty eyes were full of tears. It was clear she was fighting not to show weakness in front of me, and I liked that. I liked strong women, even if she was just a girl; she’d be a great woman someday. She covered her face.
"I didn’t know. A friend introduced him to me about four months ago, and today was the first time I accepted... I’m not a floozy, I’m not a degenerate, I’m not..."
I pulled her close. She was trembling. As I was sitting on the bike, my face was closer to her neck. This Renacuaja smelled good.
"Anyone can make a mistake, but don’t be so naive. Just like you fight with me, stand up to them and investigate." She clung to my chest, and my skin tingled. "Let’s go, get on."
"Thanks, güerito." I raised my eyebrow, and she shrugged.
"Now I’m güerito, not pendejo, güerejo, orangutan! That was the last nickname."
"I actually have more for you. But today..." We looked at each other. "Not today."
"I’m responsible for you. Today, I’m your hero, your Superman."
"My faded Superman," she said with a half-smile. The light’s reflection made her look beautiful.
"Ha, ha, ha, what a great joke!"
"It’s not my fault you’re so pale."
"Get on, or I’ll leave you, Renacuaja. It’s too late for you to be out of your pond."
She almost killed me with that look. She put on the helmet, got on, and held on to the back of the bike... she didn’t hug me. Well, we’ll see. I started and accelerated.
"Rule number one with me, Renacuajita!" I shouted. "Never give the bike to an expert if you want to stay calm!"
"What?!"
I shifted gears, accelerated, and lifted the bike. Lupe’s reaction was to grab my waist. Now I had her where I wanted. Why did I like her hugging me? I had no clue. I pushed the bike to its limit. Half an hour later, we arrived. I turned off the bike on the road, in front of El Renacer.
"You’re going to crush me, Guadalupe." A series of punches on my back made me laugh.
"You’re an animal, idiot, orangutan, brainless, arrogant, who thinks he’s the big deal!" I kept laughing while she screamed in frustration.
"Did you let it all out? Now be a good girl. This gallant prince protected your chastity, so go to sleep."
I didn’t know how to interpret her look. She seemed uncomfortable, like I had hurt her, and I didn’t understand why I felt different being with her.
"Are you making fun of me because I’m a virgin?"