Ryanne said softly, “Micah seemed different.”
“He's reaching a decision in his head,” Eduardo said.“When he returns, we will discuss it and create a plan to move him forward.However, what is in his eyes is also on his mind.I don't think Eleon is ready for the conversation his grandson is about to have with him.Hell, a few of the conversations we've had in the past couple of months, I have not been prepared for and left me questioning a great number of things.
“Interesting,” Ryanne said.“Alita seemed different as well.Her mind was elsewhere.”
“She is in the same place.They want to be together, but she has no rights in the cartel or in his life other than what she is paid to do.If they want it, he will have to fight for them.”
“As his Czar, are you open to it?”
“No,” he said, “however, as his father, I will do what is best for my son.Ah shit...here comes Catarina with her tea invitations.Maybe I can say my plane broke down so Micah can stay.”
“Oh hush!You love having tea with your daughter,” she said, laughing.
“No.No, I don't, but she is so damned adorable,” Eduardo said, watching Catarina skirt around them to place the invitation for tea on his desk.
His shoulders slumped as he stood in the doorway, watching his plane take off from the airfield.The flight was nearly seven hours, and honestly, he was happy at not having to pay for fuel to take the kids back and forth to Argentina.In his gut, he knew and sincerely believed this would be Micah's last trip to his grandparent’s home.He had only to wait and see.
****
ALITA MOVED TO THErear of the plane, sitting alone, leaving Andres and Micah to talk.She took special care to avoid Andres since she didn't trust his eyes.He never sexualized her, but she made a point to avoid conversation and contact with him as much as possible.Yuñior, she felt comfortable to speak with if he addressed her, but only if he addressed her.She never sought him out or attempted to engage in small talk.
Her eyes would drift to her boss during the flight as she looked up from the book she was failing miserably to read.At the four-hour mark, she put it down and took out her journal to make a few notes and decorate some pages.She noticed Micah did not have his work laptop, but he leaned back in the seat with his eyes closed.Alita took him a bottle of water and a stress ball, for which he thanked her, and she handed Andres a bottle as well.The flight attendant, Juliana, would serve them lunch in about an hour, but her Boss seemed stressed.Andres noticed it as well.
“Talk to me,Hermano,” Andres said.
“I hate Argentina and I don't want to go,” Micah said.“Abuelohas rounded up three more teenagers to parade in front of me as if we’re at the Cattle Buyers Association to purchase a prize bull.I hate it.”
“Three?”Andres said.“You lucky cuss.Yuñior and I had no say in our choices.They were like, ‘Here is your future wife, sign here, you have X number of years to settle down and make families.’”
“You seem to like Roxana a great deal.”
“What's not to like, Micah?The cartel learned its lesson with Yuñior and Irena and took the time to allow the new matches to find interests and hobbies along with schooling, thanks to Irena.”he said.“She is crazy as hell but made a valid point.Roxana makes thousands of pesos for her textile arts and gained a degree in it as well.She is very talented.”
“This seems so unlike you, Andres.The playboy is ready to settle down?”
“I have no choice right now,” he said.“Plus, I like her.She deserves a chance to have a quality life with a man she respects.In a year or so, she provides me some very handsome children who shall inherit their father's dashing looks and charm.In return, I provide her a spacious home to raise them.I come through with the appropriate gifts to mark special occasions, birthdays, anniversaries, and what not, and she is happy.To ensure her happiness, I shall come home, hot and randy, reaching for my woman like a starving man, and at least three nights a week, I pounce her, telling how I can't get enough of her, and we are happy.”
“Is that what women want?”
“That is what every person in a relationship wants, to be desired,” Andres said.“I desire Roxana.She has some really awesome titties.I like titties.”
“You are...I don't even know what to say,” Micah said.
“What about you?Breasts, thighs, ass man?”
“I can appreciate a solid ass, nice and firm like a melon,” he said sighing softly.“I am worried about these women.Andres, are you aware that the young woman from Uruguay was created so she could be my wife?Who does that?Go into a bedroom and create a whole person to marry another person so the families can be joined?”
“It happens all the time,” Andres said.“The moment Roxana was born, she was chosen for me.She was groomed to be my wife.It sucks, but it is how we maintain our way of life.It is the way of the cartel.We continue our lines and commitment to our countries and cultures by doing as we must.”
“What if we want to chart our own paths?”
“Then pull your weapons and draw your lines,” Andres said.“Remember, when you shoot, there is going to be someone shooting back.”
Micah nodded.He was finished talking.At least for now.
****
THE AIRFIELD NEAR THEestanciaclosest to Perona de la Mar was where Eduardo's plane would remain at the airfield with the pilot and Juliana until Micah was prepared to return on Monday.He didn't think he would last through the weekend, but he would try.The first thing he noticed were the two vehicles.His gaze went to Alita.
