Chapter 294 - Where's Patricia? - meters
Roland
"Well, Jacinto..."
"I can deduce who they were, boss, but I know men once I see them. Maybe that's my gift. You are men with a code of honor and family that runs deep in your veins, and you are the leader.
"Use all your knowledge to do good. The bad ones are few, but they make a lot of noise, while the good ones stay thinking, literally doing nothing.
"And sometimes from that group of good people come those who raise the flag and make a difference. I think you are one of those. You were educated in hell so you could understand it, and now you know how beautiful heaven is.
"If you can move from one place to another, don't you think you should be the instrument to help God? And I don't mean giving money to people. I'm one of those who think we should work to earn money.
"But there are things money can't buy. Freedom is one of those. Many things could be, boss." Jacinto's words nearly gave me a heart attack. "It's beautiful when you are the one who brings freedom."
"You sure went on, and I respect that way of thinking."
"That's what my kids say, that I should have been a philosopher. But when you spend your time in the field, it teaches you more, boss. In other words, do what makes you feel alive, that contributes something to life and leaves a warmth in your chest."
My heart skipped a beat again. That's what I felt when I gave the order to rescue those children.
"Why do you say it should leave a warmth in your chest?"
"That's God's response when you do what He likes." My skin tingled all over.
"Do you think a man like me can achieve redemption?"
"That's why God sent His son to this world, to redeem us."
"Thank you, Jacinto."
"At your service, boss."
Since the beginning of dismantling Nikolay through Arnold, I've had anxiety in my chest. Is this what you want from me, Lord God?
"There you are, honey."
"Tell me."
"Can we send a lot of things on the flight Inés and Carmela are taking?"
"Veronica, what do you want to send to Lupe?"
"She loved our children's cribs. They don't use them anymore, and it's not because we can't buy new ones. She told me that if she had kids, she'd want Victoria and Liam's cribs because she sees that they are always together, the four of them adore each other. Dante looks after his three siblings, but the ones who are inseparable are Dante and Enrique, Victoria and Liam." I smiled. "Can I send her the cribs? Everything else will be new. Is something wrong, Roland?"
"You could say I'm having an existential crisis."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Love, a few weeks ago, I found out why you came to Arnold's fake wedding."
Veronica sat on my lap. We were in the outdoor living room on the side of the estate. I felt a lump in my throat.
"By fate, Arnold discovered a child prostitution ring." My wife covered her mouth. "What we saw has messed us all up in some way. We got them out of that hell and ruined the lives of thirty men who were using the services. The owner, Any, put him in the worst ward and spread the word about who he was. I imagine the guy isn't having a good time."
"And your anguish is because?"
"Jacinto says I should do what leaves a warmth in my chest, and at the moment we saw those images, I felt the voice of Mr. God or the angel sent by Him again.
"He told me that's why they need me, to reach me, it would always be through you." Veronica's eyes sparkled. "I'm a dad, Veronica. I have many nephews now, and just thinking that some pervert might force them to lose their innocence that way. I swear I'd kill again, Beautiful."
"Are those the children who arrived at my orphanage in Colombia?"
"We've returned thirty to their parents so far, and from the monitors, it feels so damn good."
"Then keep doing it. While you do what you do, also save those children. You know that world, you know how they move, lean on Any, look into creating an elite group to help those kids.
"To the women who are forced, it's one thing to choose to be a prostitute and another to be forced. Look at Diana's case." I pulled her close, and Veronica hugged me tightly. "We have the means, money, and knowledge. Besides, that elite group would have the boss. Turn your mistake into your strength, my dear husband. That is forging steel. I'm proud to hear you think that way."
"I need to redeem my soul. I'll think about it, and when I have something clear, I'll tell the guys. Also, I want to say that I love you and hadn't told you before. Thanks for showing up that morning with the mariachis and messing everything up." He laughed. "Now, what are you sending to Lupe?"
"I'm sending the two cribs and two big boxes. Your sister is sending the strollers and also some boxes. Each of us will send some things, including the letters we send her every month and a half, as you've subjected us to this medieval era with her."
"Because I know you. Who knows what you're capable of. What am I going to do with you? I can already see you calling them to send half of the United States."
"Nothing like that. By the way, Raúl and Manolo are arriving next week. They're inviting us to their wedding."
"Finally, the dick that settled my cousin down showed up."
"Did you have to ruin it? I knew it, you were talking too nicely."
……
Alfredo
This mission is going to give me gray hair at twenty-eight. The princess is at a party with friends who are trash. While she's having fun, Arnold's wife is running me ragged with her cravings, at least she's not vomiting anymore.
Here I am in my apartment making enchiladas. Those twins might be born German, but with good Mexican blood. I can't wait for Mrs. Carmela to get here and take over these things. My phone rang, and it was the father of those two tornadoes who sometimes seem like they'll burst out of her belly like an Alien.
"Arnold."
Since then, he calls me every day at this time from the phone of a prostitute in one of Nikolay's clubs.
"Alfredo, how's it going?"
"Your two little monsters are eating. You owe me an intensive course since I had to hire a Mexican chef because those Aliens won't stop asking for Mexican food." The laughter on the other end of the line even made me laugh.
"Don't call my babies Aliens. When is the C-section scheduled?"
"It's still scheduled for the third week of February. Their lungs are maturing, they won't wait long because they're huge."
"What are my kids craving now?"
"Enchiladas."
"Lupe makes them delicious."
"Well, like that time she got a phobia of the kitchen and turned this idiot into a cook with that Giordano face and that deformed belly. I hate cooking, but after wasting time looking for what she wanted, I preferred to bring in a chef to teach me."
"Not much longer."
"Arnold, don't even think about showing up here. You know you can't."
"Don't worry, I know. I called to ask you a favor. Find protection for Dasha and Nikanor. I'm sending them both to Colombia while I finish exterminating the rats."
"Nikolay doesn't suspect."
"He knows it's Roland, but he doesn't know how they're being killed. He has ruled me out since I'm always by his side."
"I'm glad, Arnold. Hurry up so you can meet your kids."
"Since when do you talk to that idiot?!"
"Did she hear?"
I turned around. She was as red as the sauce I was preparing for her enchiladas.
"Yes, your husband calls every day at this time because it's when he can escape from the mission he's on. Do you want to talk to him?"
"I came for my food. I don't care to talk to that gringo."
She took the food, poured the sauce, and left my apartment. She and the princess both have keys in case something happens.
"Oh, a friend of Patricia called me. I think something happened to her. Please, go find her."
"Arnold, I'll call you later."
"Hand her the phone."
"He wants to talk to you."
"Really? He wants to talk after all these months." She took my phone and hung up. "I don't want to hear anything from that man."
"I bet in less than two months, you'll be begging me to call him. Don't condemn him when what he's doing is called sacrifice." I already had orders from the boss to start talking to her about Arnold.
"If that happens, I'll decide. It was delicious. But really, Alfredo, the girl who called was crying."
"That's what happens for going out with cheap boyfriends."
"She doesn't have a boyfriend, just friends."
Lupe went upstairs with her plate of enchiladas and that huge belly, and I went to look for Gustavo's sister. As soon as I got there, I realized something was wrong. At least I covered myself by telling Rasca culo that his sister just wanted to party.
When he came, he scolded her, and she called me a snitch. Like I care, but I told her brother I'd just limit myself to picking her up at night. She was wild, provocative. I entered that party, didn't see her anywhere, until I saw her friend being treated. Damn it!
"Where is Patricia, Karla?"