CHAPTER 56

There were no sirens announcing the arrival of the authorities. They stormed en masse into the compound, fanning out in all directions, guns drawn and cocked. Don Ramon and Matthew were behind a couple of policemen, making their way to Angelo. The youngest Montoya was trying to sit up when a blood-curdling scream resonated in the air. Then a male voice roared out Isabella’s name. The cops wasted no time in getting to the source of the sound. Their faces were grim, imagining the worst possible scenario.

“Tio Ramon, Louisa is still inside. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get her out,” Angelo said, getting up on his feet with the help of Matthew.

“Oh, Hijo Mio! You shouldn’t have come here without the authorities. Ay, por dios! What would your father say to this?” Don Ramon said as he fussed at Angelo’s make-shift bindings. The older man's hands were shaking, his forehead sweating.

“Aren’t you worried about Louie?” Angelo asked.

“Not now. I would recognize that scream anywhere. It was my Louisa and if she could scream like a banshee, then she’s okay. It’s you I’m worried about. Look at all this blood!” the old man said, cringing.

“Don Ramon has a ‘thing’ about blood,” Matthew whispered to Angelo, a slight smile tugging at his lips. Angelo nodded, trying hard not to grin.

“Let’s get you into the car. We have to take you to the hospital. You’ve lost a lot of blood. Look at how pale you are,” Don Ramon took his other arm and started towards the gate.

“Wait! I need to see Louie,” Angelo said, pausing mid-stride.

“But your wound!”

“Really, Tio. I’m doing fine. But I need to be sure Louie’s okay.”

They were on their way back to the house when two policemen came running down the porch. One was speaking into his walkie-talkie. When they heard the word ‘ambulance’ they all hurried into the house.

Angelo breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Louisa and Gabriel hugging each other. Although the sight caused a tiny ache in Angelo’s heart, he still was thankful they were both okay. Upon seeing them, Louisa broke away from Gabriel and ran to her father. The tears came flowing as soon as she was in her father’s arms. Gabriel turned pale when he saw the bloody scarf around Angelo’s chest. He was at Angelo's side in a heartbeat, hugging him for the first time since their conflict.

“Angel! You fool! What made you do such a daredevil act? Por dios por Santo!”

Angelo chuckled against Gabriel’s embrace. He was glad the bond he’d almost destroyed was now restored. “I couldn’t let you get all the credit, could I?”

There were tears in Gabriel’s eyes when they finally pulled apart. Proving to Angelo that his eldest brother would always love his brothers. In spite of their differences and quarrels.

“Where’s Miguel, by the way?” Angelo asked. Gabriel stepped back and inclined his head towards the bottom of the stairs.

Angelo swiveled around to look for Miguel. Seeing his brother sitting on the floor cradling Isabella's unconscious form surprised him.

“Miguel, what happened? Is she…” he wanted to ask if she was alive, but the words wouldn’t come out.

“She fell down the stairs and hit her head on the floor.”

Angelo now understood why Miguel’s position looked awkward. He was trying to stem the bleeding in her head.

“Will she be okay?”

“I’m not sure. She’s been unconscious since she fell and had not woken up yet. But at least she’s breathing,” Miguel replied without looking up.

Gabriel and Angelo exchanged puzzled looks. Both were not sure what to make of their brother’s sudden concern for Isabella.

The other policemen were now coming down from the second floor. One of them was holding on to a handcuffed Anselmo, his face covered with a few nasty bruises. Then, from out of the nether regions of the house, Martin came dragging a beat-up man by the arms. Martin also sported a few cuts on his face, but they were minor compared to the ones on the other man’s face.

“There’s one more in the kitchen. He’s tied to a chair. This one caused the most trouble,” Martin said, pushing the man towards one of the cops. He leaned against the railing of the stairs, exhaustion written on his face.

“There were three of them?” Angelo asked the PI. Martin nodded, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Turns out the other one was in the kitchen, eating, it didn't take much to bring him down. It’s that one,” pointing at the man getting handcuffed by the police, “who caused me to lose precious time.”

The last of the cops had come down empty-handed. Another two came out of the kitchen with another of the thugs held between them.

“Officers, didn’t you find Arthur up there?” Gabriel asked the two cops who made a sweep of the upper floor.

He’d left Arthur slumped inside the room, passed out from his last vicious blow. He ran out when he heard Louisa scream. In the ensuing tragic fall of Isabella, he had forgotten to see to his erstwhile pal.

“I’m sorry, sir, but we didn’t find anyone up there. The others have also swept the grounds but didn’t find him either. “

“What the hell? Where could that slippery eel have gone to? I knew I shouldn’t have left him alone up there. He must’ve gone out the window.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Montoya. We’ll do a sweep of the surrounding area, then we’ll come back when it’s light and do another pass. He might turn up then,” the officer said.

Gabriel nodded and thanked the two cops.

“They didn’t find Arthur?” Louisa asked, slipping into Gabriel’s arms.

Gabriel looked down at her and tried to sound reassuring.

“They’ll find him, dearest. And even if they don’t, we’ll make sure he never comes back to bother you again.” He bent down and kissed her lovely lips.

At least, she’s now safe. And I’ll make sure she stays that way for the rest of her life.

************

The hospital room was getting a bit crowded from all the well-wishers. Angelo sat on the bed feeling guilty for being the center of attention. He must admit that he liked it, even though he didn't deserve the limelight. He was no hero, yet his family acted as if he had come home victorious from war. It’s been three days since his shooting. He’d been dying to leave, but his mother insisted he stay a while longer. The room felt like home, anyway. What with the constant stream of family members coming to visit day in and day out. Only Miguel was nowhere in sight. He’d dropped by earlier. He excused himself after an hour, mumbling something about looking in on Isabella. Angelo wanted to grill his brother about this new development but knew Miguel would only clam up. He would ask his questions some other time.

He looked around and saw Don Ramon, Matthew, and Martin conversing with his mother. They must be regaling her with outrageous stories if he were to base it on his mother’s reactions. In the lounge sat Gabriel and Louisa, wrapped in each other’s arms again. It still hurt seeing them like that. But he wouldn’t get in the way anymore. He didn’t know when, or if ever, he would stop loving her. Perhaps never. Which was why he’d decided to take up Gabriel’s old post in England. It would be better if he kept on loving her from a distance. His father was sitting with Isabella’s father, deep in conversation. And Angelo would give his right hand to get a hint of what they were talking about. As it turned out, he didn’t have to lose a limb to get it.

***********

All heads turned to the door when it opened to let in Isabella who was being assisted by an attentive Miguel. Isabella looked around, a hesitant smile gracing her pale lips. She had lost the baby and was still recovering from her head wound. The set slant of Miguel’s mouth told Angelo his brother was not happy with her walking around in her condition. But still, he helped her settle into one of the armchairs facing Don Fernando and her father.

“Don Fernando, I would like to apologize for everything that happened. I did it out of desperation, which I now realize was foolish of me. I’m sure my father had told you about the present condition of our business. It's what propelled me into doing those despicable things.”

Don Fernando glanced at Joaquin. The other man nodded and cleared his throat. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I should’ve been more forthright with you. None of these would’ve happened if I had been more honest. Believe me, it was pride that prevented me, foolish, stupid pride.”

“What are you saying, Papa?”

“Remember what I told you about the benefactor who helped keep us afloat? Well, I shouldn’t have been cryptic about it. Fernando, Gabriel’s father, was our benefactor. And as it turned out, it was only I who thought he’d imposed a deadline on our debt out of spite. I didn’t realize his true goal was to encourage me to partner with him and end the decades-long rivalry between us.”

“I’m also at fault, hija. I should’ve made the condition clear to your father. I was only a bit reluctant to divulge the full extent of his contract with me since I didn’t know how he would take it. He is a bit prideful, you know,” Don Fernando chuckled.

Isabella didn’t know if she wanted to scream, or laugh, or tear her hair out in frustration. But she’d promised to turn a new leaf, and she determined to start now. Besides, she could not undo what she had done. The only thing she could do now was to move forward. She turned to see how Gabriel was taking all these. She was glad to see no animosity from him. He wasn’t being entirely friendly, but at least he didn’t look hostile. Still, she needed to make amends. She had used him, tricked him, and played him false.

“Gabriel, I…” She stopped short when Gabriel held up his hand, afraid he was about to rebuke her.

“No need for apologies, Isabella. What happened between us is all in the past now. And it’s all that matters. There’s nothing to be sorry for and nothing to forgive.”

Isabella nodded and turned to Louisa. She needed to apologize to the woman she had hurt without intending to. But as with Gabriel, she waved her hand and even gave her a timid smile.

“Please, no apologies, Isabella. Let’s consider everything as a sort of nightmare. The important thing is it’s all over now and we can all move on.”

Two short knocks prevented Isabella from voicing her intended protests.

****************

Their visitors turned out to be two of the cops who were with them the other night, PO1 Esguerra and Capt. Rodriguez. Miguel stepped aside to let the two men in.

“Sorry, to disturb you, sir. But I’ve promised Mr. Montoya,” Capt. Rodriguez said, nodding at Gabriel, “an update on the case.”

“Of course. Please, it’s no bother at all. We actually appreciate your coming here to deliver the report yourself. Please sit down,” Gabriel said, gesturing to the chairs Martin and Matthew had vacated.

“It’s okay, sir. We won’t be staying for long. It won’t be a lengthy report, either.”

“Alright, please go on, Captain,” Gabriel said.

“I’m afraid we haven't made any progress. We’ve exhausted all resources but were, unfortunately, unable to locate Arthur Cummings. Based on a tip we received this morning, however, someone spotted a man with his same description at the NAIA. We have yet to confirm if it was him, but I’ve already sent one of my men there to further investigate the matter.”

“Captain, are you telling us the bastard got away?” It was Angelo piping in from his hospital bed. He’d gotten up and was striding towards the group. Following his example were Martin, Matthew, Don Ramon, and their worried-looking mother.

“Angelo, get back in bed. You might reopen your wound,” Doña Aurora cried, but Angelo did not take heed.

“How could he have gotten away? What about his henchmen? Can’t they tell you anything more about Arthur?”

“Well, according to Anselmo, Arthur had been blackmailing him all these years. Arthur caught Anselmo skimming from the budget for the horse feeds. He threatened to tell Don Ramon about it. He also told Anselmo Don Ramon would have him arrested and sent to jail,” the captain replied.

“Rubbish! I would never have done such a thing. I would reprimand him and put him on probation, but not in jail. I knew of his father’s condition even before I hired him,” Don Ramon protested.

“Yes, but Arthur somehow played on his fears and weakness. Anselmo didn’t know you had cut all ties with Arthur. The other two men were his cousins, both asked by Anselmo to help him look after Ms. Almendrez. None of them has any criminal record. Arthur duped them all.”

“Well, keep us posted on whatever development may crop up. Thank you, gentlemen,” Don Fernando said, rising to his feet to shake the hands of the two officers. Gabriel also rose and did the same. The two officers turned to the others and said their goodbyes.

“Oh, by the way, you’re invited to our wedding next week,” Louisa called after the two officers. “We’ll send you the invitations tomorrow.”

The two men beamed, mumbling their thanks, and went on their way.

“Next week? But I thought we still had two months to go. There’s still so much to do,” Doña Aurora moaned.

“Mama, we’d decided to rush things a bit. We want it to be a very simple affair, just us family and a very few selected friends. We can’t risk anything getting in our way again,” Gabriel said, casting a meaningful glance at Isabella. Then he laughed out loud and pulled Louisa close. “Actually, I can’t wait to marry this wonderful and fascinating hellcat.”

“Hellcat, huh? You’ll see what a hellcat I am,” Louisa retorted, punching Gabriel’s arms. “But the truth is, I can’t wait to marry you, either, Señor Montoya,” Louisa replied. Her eyes were twinkling with the promise of things to come.

Gabriel leaned in and kissed Louisa, unmindful of the catcalls and groans around them. After everything they’d been through, he had earned the right to be demonstrative for once.

Finally, the girl he had run away from for fifteen long years. The woman who turned out to be the only one his heart was waiting for, would at long last be his.

To have and to hold, for as long as they both shall live.