Chapter 404 - Distress - mdfour
Kevin
Cherry had gotten us out of those abandoned huts and now we were on the road leading to Carmen de Bolívar, then we would take the main highway and head into the country. What a hunt you’ve come to, wolf. I see him analyzing his options. We’re going one hundred and eighty kilometers per hour, he slowed down.
"We’ll only have one chance." It was past five in the afternoon.
"What’s the plan?" When I looked at him, he was looking in the rearview mirror.
"Get the grenades ready, each of you throw one out the window of the other car. Those bastards will start shooting as soon as they see we’re catching up. Watch out for bullets."
"Wife, help me put Zombie in the middle. Wolf takes care of the car on the right, and I’ll handle the one on the left."
I nodded at Rhino’s comment. I don’t want to be in the bosses’ shoes; just imagining something happening to Carlina, Cristofer, or Cristal drives me crazy.
"I don’t understand what you’re going to do." I smiled at Patricia’s comment.
"Everything will be fine, you’ll see."
Her husband replied, giving her a kiss on the lips. If the Boss hadn’t sent us, they would have killed our brother. From the briefcase I had, I took out a couple of grenades, handed one to him, and kept the other.
"This starts now..."
Cherry intervened, significantly reduced the speed, braked, shifted gears, and started driving in reverse. The drivers attacking us, seeing we were coming at them, moved aside. We only had one chance and the element of surprise. While the vehicles with the passengers stabilized after being shaken by the movement to avoid a collision, I lowered the window a bit, just enough to stick my hand out and throw the grenade.
"NOW!"
I removed the pin, threw the grenade which landed directly at the rear. Our driver sped up in reverse; we needed to put as much distance as possible. In seconds, we saw the vehicles explode. He braked. My heart was pounding.
"Excellent work," said the Boss. "We need you."
"We’ll get there, Roland. I’ll just make one stop to refuel, grab some junk food, and for those who need to pee or take a dump."
"If you need us to take over," I said.
"You drive well, but you freak out if you go over one hundred and fifty kilometers per hour. I’m not going below one eighty, as fast as the car and road allow."
"Just don’t crash us, I’ve got a beautiful baby waiting and another on the way," said Rhino.
"I’m not pregnant!"
"Wife, do you think I didn’t keep track of your menstrual cycle with all the stress we’ve been through?"
We burst out laughing while Pato turned as red as a tomato. Cherry sped up, leaving the two incinerated cars behind. More dead in our wake, but it was them or us. For the next forty-eight hours, we wouldn’t rest.
……
Veronica
For the second time, the second time, my daughter was kidnapped. My mother-in-law hugged me, my father held my hand, and Liam was sitting on the floor with his head on my lap. I know Roland will bring her back safely.
My parents arrived, and I know everyone will gradually come. The Fortress was a stronghold, and that’s what Roland was ensuring, that no one else gets kidnapped. I jumped up like a bolt when I saw Dante come in with Dayana. I ran to hug her, then her brother did. Now I had three of my children by my side; my little girl was still missing.
"Dad will bring her back."
If I speak, I’ll break down. I know they’ll bring her back. At least she wasn’t alone; she was taken with Guadalupe and Andrea. I sat with my three children around me while my mother-in-law went to the kitchen. Today, Carmela wouldn’t be able to think of anything else; she was just clinging to her grandchildren.
Luisa arrived with Milena and Sergio, and from her red eyes, I knew she had been crying too. We just looked at each other, and she sat down on one of the couches. Since Alfredo and Patricia left for their honeymoon, Carlina has stayed at my house with Cristofer and Cristal. Arinka is also here with Ezequiel and Mariam. Eventually, Diana arrived with Isaac, Augusto, and Inés. Shirly came with Gregorio and Grace.
"Mom, Dad has some issues with the construction company. Do you think I could help him with that?" Enrique was waiting for my permission. I nodded.
"If you can help him, do it. As long as it’s not too compromising. Distract yourself a little."
He kissed me on the forehead. Dante had stepped aside, and every time one of his crew arrived, he joined them. Enrique was still missing, but those two knew each other so well. Liam stayed by my side.
Gladis arrived with the older Enrique, Jacobo, and Eloísa, along with Mrs. Josefina and Alfredo’s parents, carrying the baby, Amín, who was almost two years old, the baby of the family. Clarisa was the last to arrive with Melisa, Sebastián, and Daniela.
"Sorry for the delay, I was talking to my mom. You know how stubborn she is with work, but she's coming with Karen and Aníbal's nephews."
"This is the way to keep the family protected," my father commented. He took out his phone and called my husband. "Roland, only Claudia and Karen are missing, the rest of us are all here… I’ll let them know… They seem calm. Talk to you soon, son." My dad was still so firm. "Each family knows their room. In twenty-four hours, the boys will arrive and talk to us."
It was torture. Tears welled up, and as soon as Liam and Dante saw me crying, they ran to hug me, as did Milena and Sergio with their mother.
"Aunt," the older Enrique called me. "Can I use the office? There are family and business matters that can’t wait." He was taking over the general management of the consortium, Gustavo’s always so centered position.
"Enrique is handling the construction company."
"Thank you, Aunt."
The ones who were missing finally arrived. Hours went by. Dante talked a lot with Milena, Dayana, Demetrio, Sebastián, Isaac, Ezequiel, Augusto, Jacobo, Gregorio, and Cristofer. I don’t know what the younger ones are doing there, but they don’t leave the older ones' side.
The hours were sharp daggers to my chest. I held on to the hope that Roland would bring my girl back home. My mother-in-law, Mrs. Josefina, Claudia, and Judith took care of the kitchen, preparing meals for everyone. I didn’t want to move from here; I stayed by the door as if my daughter would materialize there.
Night came, then the early morning. Everyone had gone to bed in their respective rooms, each family in what used to be the boys' rooms. God, how time flies.
"Mom," Dante handed me a glass of warm milk. I hadn’t eaten anything. "If you don’t eat, I’ll call Dad from Liam’s phone. Enrique has taken care of the construction company stuff, he even helped me with my homework. Dad hasn’t come back because he’s working. Eat, Mom, it’s just milk and cake." He sat next to me. "Everyone’s asleep, the house is secure." At that moment, I let out a few tears.
"Thank you, Dante. Go to sleep, sweetheart."
"No, Mom. If you go to bed, I’ll go to bed. Milena made Aunt Luisa go to bed, does she have more convincing power than me?" He raised an eyebrow. "Don’t leave me hanging, at least go to your room, take a bath, let’s trust in God and Dad that my sister will come back. Dayana told me they killed the cowboys, which means they’ll keep them alive to blackmail the Capo." When I looked at him, he held my gaze.
"You should talk to your dad about that, son."
"No, Mom. People’s past is their past. I’ve only seen him as a good father, an incredible husband, a trustworthy friend, and that’s how I’ll remember him." I hugged Dante.
"And that he loves you with his life."
"Exactly. Rest, Mom, I’ll stay here to watch over you."