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YUÑIOR WAITED IN THE living room for the arrival of Andres along with the new resident of Las Tierras. His desire was to provide the new family with two options. Life should be full of choices, and the man had taken a risk for him and would be rewarded handsomely. The black SUV arrived, and Andres jumped out the front seat. He opened the back door to provide a path to a short man with leathered skin, an older woman, two children, and another woman Yuñior assumed to be the man’s wife. Andres offered his brother a brilliant smile, climbing the stairs with a backpack slung over his right shoulder.
“Howdy, Fruit Licker! Did the mango munching provide the necessary skillsets to make your amante smile for the remainder of the night?” he asked, laughing at his own jest.
“She was pleased,” Yuñior responded, looking over Andres's shoulder at the newly arriving family. “Cuantos?’
“About four million, give or take in the shipment,” Andres replied. “I filled the bag like you asked. The rest has been sent to your bank.”
“Did you take out your share for the efforts?”
“I did,” Andres said, “and paid the men, but Hervé and his family, Yuñior, they left everything behind. The village where Tito has made his stronghold, it is in a sad state.”
“They have a new home now at Las Tierras,” Yuñior said, inviting the family up the stairs.
The fear in their eyes was palpable as they climbed the steps for the introduction. Yuñior softened his expression as he looked at the children. The older woman clutched the hand of the smallest child, her aged eyes darting back and forth in distrust.
“Welcome to Las Tierras,” Yuńior said, offering a wide smile.
Andres spoke up, “Yuñior Delgado, I present to you Hervé Santos, his wife Mari, mother Luna, and his two daughters Deyka and Ari.”
“El gusto es mio,” Yuñior said, asking them to come inside the main house. Hervé followed along, looking around the large house. The shining inside lights and the large piano reeked of money and status. He had hoped to provide his village with electricity through the aid of the funds from Tito, but instead found himself to be a man without a country.
“Señor Delgado, your brother, Andres, said my family and I would have a home here, be safe from Tito, and find work,” Hervé said, holding onto the dark sweat-stained thinly worn straw hat. “I took his word to be true.”
“My brother’s word is true, Señor Santos, as well as mine. For the grave favor you have done for me, your family will have a home here and you shall have work,” Yuñior said. “I do like to provide choices for you. What type of work would you like?”
“Señor, I am but a simple farmer. I know how to make small repairs, but I take care of livestock and till the soil. I can drive, which is what I did for my last...employer, but I work where you need me,” Hervé replied.
“If you would like to continue working as a farmer, there is a position available,” he said.
“This I would like,” Hervé said, “I am no stranger to hard work. I work hard for you.”
“Bueno, you and your family may follow me,” Yuñior said, taking them all out the side door. They walked along the pathway, leaving behind the main house and down a small incline. Tonda’s mother had lived in the home, but after accidentally cutting off her fingers, she’d since retired. The three-bedroom cottage had been left empty with help from the nearby villagers to maintain the gardens which fed the Delgado family.
“Hervé, this shall be your new home,” Yuñior said opening the front door and flipping on the light switch. “The kitchen, Señora Santos, has been updated with energy-efficient appliances. I believe, and don’t quote me, but the bathroom was refurbished as well. There are three bedrooms and a front office for your paperwork. If need be, you can turn the front office into another sleeping area if you desire for the girls to have separate rooms.”
He heard sniffles from Mari, Hervé’s wife. Yuñior turned around to ensure everything was okay with her. She nodded her head yes.
“Bueno,” he said, walking through the house. “You will need more bedding and possibly new pillows, but the furniture is steady. The garden is about six and a half acres and provides much of the vegetables for the main home, for our family as well as what you will need for yours. The remainder we use to swap with the other villagers if there is extra. Please let me know if you require any different seeds, and I will provide those for you.”
“Señor,” Mari spoke up. “Are there schools for my daughters?”
“Of course,” Yuñior replied, walking to the front door. “Look there at the church steeple. The school is next to the church.”
“We have no clothes for the girls, Señor, we left with only what we have on our backs,” Hervé said, lowering his head.
Yuñior placed the backpack Andres had given him on the kitchen table. Yuñior opened it, taking out three, then thought better and made it five bundles of the cash Hervé had stolen from Tito.
“You will receive a monthly salary, plus bonuses. Here, this is yours,” Yuñior said. “Buy whatever you need for the house and your children. The job comes with the use of a truck, but there should be enough here to get to Bogota or Medellin and purchase a second vehicle for your wife.”
Hervé blushed. “Mari does not drive.”
“Better to have it and teach her, than to make her feel as if she is unable to travel of her own free will,” Yuñior said. “Preguntas?”
The old woman cleared her throat. “In return for this, what must my Hervé do to receive such a blessing as this?”
“Madam, his job is to grow food for his family and mine,” Yuñior said. “In exchange, he will have this home to live in and the protection of The Bocaracá. Your other son cannot know you are here. If you let him know, I will send you all back to the village to suffer the wrath of Tito, do you understand me?”
All the heads bobbed up and down in agreement.
“We have an understanding,” Yuñior said. “There should be food in the pantry and fridge. When you get settled, Hervé, I shall give you maps to get to either Bogotá or Medellin to buy supplies. We have a small store next to the church for staples that has clothing and shoes, a few items to get by, but for sheets, towels, and household items, you will have to go to the city.”
“Thank you, Señor. I shall do a great job for you and your family,” Hervé said, trying not to cry the tears of joy that were overwhelming him.
“Again, welcome all of you to your new home,” Yuñior said, taking the backpack and leaving.
He’d barely made it up the walk path when Hervé ran to catch up with him. His eyes shimmered in tears. He touched Yuñior on the arm.
“My brother Santos is Tito’s right hand,” Hervé said. “If it is ever found out that I am the one who betrayed them, he would have my head.”
Yuñior observed the man, the gratitude flowing through him so thickly that he could almost touch the emotions with his fingers. “May I ask, why did you betray them?”
His bottom lip trembled when he spoke. “Santos has developed a liking for what he does for that monster Tito. He and I fought as he tried to take my daughter, his own niece, from her bedroom through a window. I have no loyalty to a man who would take advantage of his own blood,” Hervé said solemnly. “I wish they all would rot in Hell.”
“It is my intention to expedite Tito’s passage to the underworld,” Yuñior replied, his dark eyes boring into Herve’s. “Go, see to your family. Let me know if you need any assistance in getting settled.”
“Thank you, Señor. We are most grateful,” Hervé replied, running down the pathway to his new home with indoor plumbing, electricity, and a computer on the desk in the office. He had only had two classes on how to use one, but he would learn. His daughters would teach him and Mari how to function in this new world of technology.
For this, he would forever be loyal to the Delgados.
****
THE DAY HAD STARTED on such a high note and was ending as a crapshoot. In his head, Yuñior ran down a mental list of items he needed to get done, starting with checking his bank account in the Caymans. A good amount of the funds would need to be moved quickly to other accounts, but he would use a good deal of it to buy a home in Costa Rica.
The first thing he thought about was purchasing a plane ticket for Diadra to come to the new house where they could spend a weekend alone, enjoying nature and lounging by the pool.
“The house needs a pool,” he said, collecting his messenger bag to locate his laptop. “Check the accounts, find a real estate agent in Costa Rica...transfer funds.”
His hand reached inside the bag and found an item he hadn’t placed there. Withdrawing the contents, he found a book. Scowling, he looked at the cover of a yellow alien with scales by Taylor Vaughn.
“What is this?” he said, looking at the title, His To Steal: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance. A slip of pink paper nestled between the pages. Yuñior removed the note, sniffing the paper to inhale the coconut scent Diadra wore on her skin. His eyes skimmed over the missive.
“Our topic of discussion in three weeks. I look forward to hearing your perspective on T’Kan’s treatment of his human woman. Until the next time I am in your arms- Affectionately, Diadra.”
“She does not expect me to read this!” he bellowed, looking at the cover with the yellow man covered in scales. Against his better judgment, he took out his phone and called Diadra. The phone rang three times before her soft voice came through the line.
“Hello, Ed. Missing me already?”
“In more ways than one,” he replied, feeling he blood rush to his lower half at the sound of her voice. “I’m calling because I found your...gift.”
“Yes, I’m interested in hearing your perspective on T’Kan. He is the hero of the story,” she said.
“Did you choose this book because the man is yellow and covered in scales as some type of metaphor to my life?”
“No, I chose the book because although he is an alien, he loves hard and makes sacrifices for a woman who doesn’t understand what real love is,” Diadra said.
“Again, are you being allegorical or metaphorical on this choice of a book?”
“Neither. There are hot sex scenes in it, and I want you to be truly worked up when you get back to me, and I can be all charged up thinking about that one scene in the book that turned me on so much, I had to go and get my toy,” Diadra said.
“A toy?”
“A vibrator, Ed. His name is Tommy. I think me, you, and Tommy need to have a threesome,” she said.
“Ah, how do you say, ah sí... fuck no,” Yuñior said, laughing into the line. “Passport, Diadra. Keep Tommy’s ass in the nightstand, and if I can work it out, I may be back sooner than three weeks.”
“You can come back tonight if you’d like. There are so many things I want to try to explore with you, Ed,” she said, lowering her voice to a husky whisper. He immediately hardened, listening to her breathing.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Yuñior said. “Have a good night.”
“Ed...will you read the book?”
“Sí, I shall read this...book. Until next time,” he replied and ended the call.
Yuñior sniffed the pink paper again and saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned quickly to see who had snuck up on him during the call to find Andres standing there observing him. His brother leaned against the door jamb, snacking on peanut butter cookies.
“So, that must have been the mango you munched on the phone,” Andres said, pointing to the bulge at the front of his brother’s pants. “She must be something to do that to you over the phone. Can I meet this amante?”
“No,” Yuñior said.
“Does she have a sister or a slutty best friend? I’m young. I can bounce back from a night of debauchery,” Andres offered with a wide smile, looking at the book in his brother’s hand. “Hey! You found a book to read. If it’s good, can I read it after you’re done?”
Yuñior loved his younger brother. However, at times he wasn’t sure if Andres understood the heaviness of the weight they carried. Times were changing, and they were the future of the lands.
“Andres, we are the lifeline of the Delgado legacy,” he said in a sober tone. “The load we must carry, should something happen to Papa, is greater than ourselves. Uncle Carlos very seldom returns home, so he is not fully factored into the equation of our legacy. It surpasses just Micah and Angel, but also includes Isabella and Catarina, plus the Señora. We cannot allow our heads to rest easy.”
“My head rests just fine. I know what must be done just like you, and I’m ready to do my part,” Andres said.
“I trust you more than anyone in this world,” Yuñior said.
“Even Papa?”
He didn’t want to admit it, but he nodded his head. “Our father has a vision, but he also is not beyond sacrificing our happiness for an alliance that would benefit the cartel. He leads many, not just us. I must plan for us.”
“Have you discussed this opinion of yours with Papa?”
Movement in the corner of the room caught Yuñior’s eye, but he didn’t turn around or acknowledge the other body eavesdropping on the conversation, Instead, he proceeded with what he needed to say so that all the ears could hear his train of thought. At this point, it mattered little if the listeners agreed because what he stated was a fact.
“Papa is responsible for the drug trade of not only this country, but he must oversee the activities of two continents and Central America,” Yuñior said. “If Papa brokers an arrangement for marriage with Brazil for you, and Peru for Micah, we will be protected from the South. My marriage will offer alliances as far south as Paraguay. Angel is the wildcard, but if Isabella and Catarina can seal up Venezuela and Bolivia, then we are good. Family comes first in his mind, but he is also a businessman. Irena is a good match since it keeps Enrique Villareal close at hand.”
“You’ve given this a great deal of thought,” Andres said.
“I have. Keep in mind that Papa has trained and raised me to think like him,” Yuñior replied, looking at his brother. “Also, Andres, make sure the funds you deposited to your accounts have no ties to Las Tierras.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m spending it,” Andres boasted.
“Invest the money, Hermano. Purchase a piece of real estate, a secure vacation home,” he offered, picking up the book and laptop. “You left no traces to follow in Herve’s village?”
“I hired a local sleazebag who runs a bar with women. He brought in a truckload of entertainment and liquor, and Tito’s men left their posts,” Andres said. “Herve’s family was eased out through the jungle with no worries.”
“And the gift for Tito?”
“It’s sitting on his desk,” Andres said. “Anything else?”
“No, good work and thank you,” Yuńior responded, heading for the stairs. “Good night, Andres. Bueno notte to you as well, Papa.”
Eduardo had been standing around the corner, listening to his sons. Yuñior was, in fact, exactly what he raised him to be. The role the eldest Delgado was trained to assume had ingrained itself into his DNA like bad blood. He didn’t regret his decision to make Yuñior a replica of himself. His concern was that maybe he’d made his son become far worse than he could have imagined.
It also concerned him more than he cared to admit, that Brody the Johnson could have been correct, especially after seeing his interaction with Irena. Yuńior didn’t like the girl. The look in his eyes worried Eduardo that if Irena continued her course of action that his son, just may, take the woman’s life to be rid of her.
That he couldn’t have. Tonight, they would all rest and approach the subject in the morning.
****
YUÑIOR ENTERED HIS bedroom to find Isabella in the middle of his bed. Her face lit up when he entered the room, the smile beaming brightly. Wearing pink pj’s with bunny slippers, she held his tablet with a story cued up, ready to roll.
“Isabella, you should be in bed,” he said in a soft tone.
“I’m waiting on my mutherfuckin’ bedtime story,” she announced with a larger smile.
“Izzy, that is such an ugly word! Where did you learn such a thing?”
“From you, Yuñior. You said it to Irena about an um-ber-rella. If it’s a bad word, why did you say it to the pretty lady? I think it hurt her feelings,” Isabella offered.
Yuñior stood pensive for a moment, then removed his phone. The plane would still be in the air and his fiancée should be able to take his call. His finger slid over the screen and called up the number. He listened to the rings of the phone, hoping that it would go to voicemail, but she answered.
“Irena, you and I are in this together,” he started the brief conversation and added, “I had no right to use such ugly language with you, and I give you my word that I will not do so in the future.”
“Promises and assholes abound in this world, Yuñior, and at this point, neither make much difference to me,” she told him.
“It makes a difference to me. I am a man of my word, as you shall learn. It is my hope that you can forgive my shortness of temper,” he said softly. “Irena, I look forward to courting and falling in love with you. Please, allow me the opportunity to court you my way.”
Irena had nothing to say and ended the call. She didn’t bother to say goodbye, farewell, or offer a fuck you. She hung up in his face.
“Hmmph,” Yuñior said aloud, looking at Isabella. Tonight, he had a story to read to Isabella and another to start reading on his own. Tito should be arriving at his office soon to open his gift. “Come little one, let’s get started on your story for this evening, but only if your promise to never say the bad word again.”
She crossed little fingers over her heart and scooted closer to him on the bed once he sat down. Yuñior pressed the button on the tablet and started to read the story. Midway through, her eyes drooped, and by the end of the story, she was fast asleep. He carried her to the nursery, placed her in bed, and pulled the covers up over her shoulders.
“Sleep well, Izzy,” he said, running his fingers over the soft hairs on her head. He knew two things for certain on this quiet night. Tito wouldn’t be happy with the gift, and Irena was going to do something stupid. Being a spoiled young woman accustomed to getting her way and being told no would make her act out.
Irena’s next move would either free him or make him want to kill her. Yuñior Delgado didn’t feel good about either choice. He lumbered back to his bed, falling on top of the covers and wishing for a moment, he was just plain, simple Ed.
“Tito’s going to make me have to kill him,” Yuńior grumbled. “Just when a mutherfucker tries to be nice, some asshole gots to go and fuck it all up.”
