“She has them lying around throughout the apartment,” I go on, my hand reaching behind me as if our apartment is there and she can see all the books. I pick up the book and fan through it before placing it back on the holder. It appears a little crooked, so I straighten it.
She laughs, causing me to look up at her. “Sure. Whatever you say.” She looks behind me, raising her chin upward to the person ready to get the next order.
I feel my face heat and then step away, and when they finally call my order out, I pick up the cups in a holder to return toour table. I hand out the black coffee and wait to see when he approaches.
Right on time, a man in his late forties with a salt-and-pepper military-style buzz cut that matches his mustache enters, head held high, and heads straight for us.
We stand and offer him a seat. It draws the barista’s attention, but she pretends not to notice us. Clever girl, I think to myself. Our table screams danger, but we only want to harm those who have taken something that doesn’t belong to them, and we intend to right that mistake very soon.
“Please, call me Santi.” He holds out his hand to Eduardo, who is leading the meeting. “I was told that we could be mutually beneficial to each other.”
Eduardo nods, and we all stay silent and pensive while observing his reactions to Eduardo’s following words.
“I understand you have had unpleasant dealings with a certain public figure in Brownsville.”
We notice Santi visibly tense, and we spare a quick glance at one another to see if they picked up on it, too. He sits upright, no longer relaxed and wary of his following words.
“I–”
Eduardo holds up his hand. “We are very aware of your problem with Mr. Martinez and him threatening your only daughter. I believe we can help one another because, you see, he has two young women, sisters, that belong to our family. We understand what it is like to have someone take and hurt your family.” His eyes shoot up to mine.
“What did he do to your sister?” His hands ball up in anger. His rage is barely contained beneath the surface.
Eduardo shakes his head. “Not my sister, but my fiancée and her twin sister, who is also my friend’s girlfriend.” He gestures in my direction, and I look at him. I’m sure my eyes are pleading with him to help us.
Andrés speaks up, causing us all to turn our attention to him. “She is my sobrina.”
Adrian speaks after his uncle. “My prima.”
Santi nods in understanding. “They are your family.”
Eduardo looks around at the group gathered at the small table in the cafe. “They are our family, yes, Santi. Mr. Martinez has taken them to sell them off to the highest bidder all because he wants to further his assets and solidify partnerships through their marriage. They are selling them off like cattle, and I want my fiancée and her sister to be back home with us where they belong. With their family.”
He nods, determination lining his facial features. “They threatened my daughter, Meli. If I didn’t turn my attention away from his drug smuggling, he would retake my daughter, and, this time, she might not come back. Meli—” He stops to compose himself before continuing.
“That monster, Oro, assaulted Meli, and she wonders if she’ll be retaken. If that happens, I know she won’t survive mentally or physically.” He rubs his face as if attempting to erase the bad memory from his mind.
Andrés leans in. “Help us get rid of him, and you have my word. He won’t hurt Meli or anyone else again. Any of them.”
Santi nods. “What do you need me to do?”
Eduardo looks over to Andrés, and he nods, giving him permission to relay the idea we came up with earlier.
The remaining days pass in a whirlwind of planning and high emotions. We all realize the severity of the consequences if we fail. Eduardo was a wreck the night before, but I convinced him to ride it out without alcohol.
The time frame is too delicate, in case we need to go in there and break them out, but this way is much better than that. We just have to be patient for a few more hours.
Tonight, we strike when they least expect it. They are undoubtedly planning for us to sneak around like thieves in the night to steal Emma and Evie away, buttheyare the thieves, and we are merely there to take back what belongs to us—our family.
“Did you get the tuxedos?” Andrés speaks to Adrian as he waltzes into the condo with a few takeout bags. He places everything on the counter and drops the bag he carries with his teeth onto the table.
“Yes, Father. I just couldn’t carry it all.” He scoffs. “Can you help out?”
Seeking any excuse to make the time go by, I jump at the offer. “I’ll go.”
I spring up from the desk chair and practically run out the door to make myself useful. I have been monitoring things at the mansion, but I am so nervous about tonight. I feel the need to release some of this pent-up anxiety. I wish I could go for a run to expel all my nervousness, but I can’t bear to be away from the computer screen for too long.
What if I am out running and then miss a crucial element of the conversation and events of tonight?
