Chills & Thrills: Three Novel Box Set (44 page)

He couldn't believe it. When he'd read of her death, he actually felt a sense of sadness, along with horror at the fact that someone so young and beautiful should suffer such a tragic death. But she hadn't died. Here she was in the flesh. It had to be her. And thus, the false reports of her death had to be the doing of Antonio.

He wasn't sure how he was going to approach her, but he knew that she was Lydia Espinoza and that he could pump a lot of information out of her. When she brought the drink over, Julio forgot all about the agent who'd stood him up. Instead, he concentrated on his newfound gold mine.

“Why don't you sit down and join me for a drink?”

“No, thank you. I've got to work anyway.”

“When do you get off?”

“I don't know.”

She was curt and cold and he wasn't sure how he'd break her, but he would. He took notice of the cross around her neck.

“I'll wait.”

“No. I'm not interested.” She wiped down the counter and turned her back to him.

“You go to church?”

She didn't answer.

“Catholic?”

No response.

“My uncle was a priest. Good man. I miss him. I loved the church. I still do. I travel a lot though, and so I go when I can.”

She turned around and this time looked at him. “What do you do?”

“I actually do some work for the government and the church. I'm involved with Father Miguel Diaz. You may have heard of him.”

There was a hint of recognition in her eyes and a pained look on her face. She immediately regained her composure and nodded.

“We're on a crusade to save this country from the filth that has invaded it. The drugs, those in power with all the wealth, the violence. I'm certain you know what I speak of.”

She turned away from him again. “I live a simple life.”

“Most of us do or try to, but with the greedy and evil amongst us, it's all we can do to maintain a simple life. Many of us never seem to get our fair share.”

“I wouldn't know about that. I keep to myself.”

“Yes. Well, I must be going. If you're interested, I'll be at mass this evening at Our Lady of Guadalupe. I would love to see you there.”

She didn't respond and Julio walked out of the bar, knowing that even if Lydia didn't show up at mass tonight, he'd gotten under her skin. And in the days to come, she would prove to be a wonderful ally.

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE DAY AND SOON BELLA WOULD 
receive Regala. The mare had been delivered in the early hours of the morning from a nearby stable where she'd been cared for a day until her unveiling. Javier had picked Alex up, and together they'd gone to inspect the new horse. Javier seemed duly impressed.“Quite a job you've done, my boy.”

“Thank you,” Alex replied. “I looked at a lot of horses, 
Señor
 Rodriguez. 
A lot
 of horses, but the minute I saw her, I knew she was the one for Bella.”

“Did you get the saddle to go along with her?”

Alex nodded. Not only had he bought Bella a saddle, but the saleswoman in the tack shop had also sold him every conceivable accessory. Regala had new day sheets, winter blankets, fly masks, bridles, and halters — anything and everything that a horse and rider might need. Alex had spent a good portion of his recent earnings on these gifts for Bella. But she was worth it.

Before the others arrived for the evening, Javier urged Alex to go and see Isabella. She was seated in the courtyard, wrapped in a shawl. A breeze tousled her hair. She was reading a book when he came upon her.

She flinched as he surprised her. “Hello,” she said coolly.

“Hi. I want to tell you again how…”

She held her hand up. “I know that you're sorry, and you were right. Everything you said to me that day was right. And, I'm sorry that I wouldn't try and that I said those things to you.”

Alex placed a finger on her lips. “No more apologies. Let's move on.”

She nodded. “Let's move on.”

Alex kissed her hand and then her cheek. He wiped the tears from her face. “Come on, the rest of the family should be arriving soon.”

“Family?” Pedro asked, walking up behind them. “Who are you calling family? If I remember correctly, this is not your family. You work for the family, but this isn't your family.”

“Pedro,” Bella scolded. “Don't speak to him like that.”

“Bella, can't you see what he's trying to do to you? You wanted no part of him two weeks ago and now he manipulates his way back into your life. Are you blind that all this man wants is to be a part of this family for the wealth and the power? He doesn't care about you.”

Alex clenched his fists. “You son of a bitch. That is a lie.”

“Alex,” Bella pleaded.

“That's enough.” Javier had come into the courtyard upon hearing the men's raised voices.

Pedro glared at Alex and pointing at him said, “He's a weasel, a rotten weasel and he will ruin this family. If he is staying here for Christmas, I'm leaving until he's gone.”

Javier crossed his arms and glared at Pedro. “Then, I suppose you better go ahead and leave.”

Pedro stormed away. Javier put an arm around Alex. “I'm sorry. I didn't know he felt threatened by you. I'll speak to him. Now leave this bad business behind and come inside. I can see that you two have done away with your problems. That's wonderful.”

With Pedro gone, and the welcoming arms of Javier and Isabella that received him, Christmas Eve was perfect. The house was decorated in traditional Christmas colors, candles lit the rooms, and the scent of pine and holly rod filled the air. Antonio, Rosa, and Felicia had flown in to join them for the holidays. This pleased Alex. He felt he really had a family.

Shortly after dinner, Antonio asked Alex if he'd like to take a walk with him. Alex looked at Bella, who was seated on the couch, gossiping with Rosa. Felicia had gone to her room to watch television. She was sullen and unhappy for some reason. Javier, who truly loved the magic of the holidays, was off in the kitchen, making preparations for the next day's feast. He always cooked Christmas dinner. It was customary for him to allow the servants time off, and he worked nearly twenty-four hours to see that his grand presentation turned out perfectly — a ritual that had always endeared him to Cynthia.

Alex and Antonio headed out for a walk through the gardens.

“You're a good man, Alejandro.”

“Thank you.”

“Next week after the holidays, Javier and I have some business to take care of. We are going to Germany. There's some interesting business prospects there. I'll fill you in upon our return if it all works in our favor. We're sending Pedro to Guatemala to set up some new business. As you know, we need Emilio in Los Angeles, but we also need someone we can trust to stay here and oversee our interests from this end. We discussed it today. Javier and I trust you. We think it would be a good idea for you to fill this spot while we're away.”

“Thank you. Of course I'll do it.”

“Good. You'll stay here in Mexico and oversee things. I'll have Emilio keep you informed of what is happening in both Colombia and Los Angeles.”

“Fine.”

“There's a catch.” Alex looked at him quizzically. “You'll have to play babysitter.”

“Babysitter?”

“To Bella. You'll also have to promise me not to touch her, or else there'll be hell to pay.” Antonio winked at the boy. “But then again, what her father and godfather don't know won't hurt them.”

“I wouldn't think of touching her,” Alex replied.

“You say that now, but wait until you're alone with her.”

*****

THE NEXT MORNING, PRESENTS WERE PASSED AROUND AND 
opened. Alex loved the hunting knife Bella gave him. She'd had it specially made for him with turquoise — his birth stone adorning the handle and his initials inserted within the turquoise in red coral.

“Thank you,” he said, handling the knife, truly touched by the gesture.

“I saw you one day down near the stables whittling a piece of wood and I thought that maybe you would like to have a special knife to do that with.”

He came over to her and kissed her on the cheek. It was sweet of her to notice the little things about him. He felt himself blushing. Something about this girl did that to him. When he didn't hand her a present, he knew that she had to be wondering where her gift from him and her father was.

When everything had been opened, Javier got up from the sofa and walked over to Bella. “I suppose you're wondering what we've gotten for you?” He pointed in Alex's direction. Bella didn't answer, but smiled, knowing that something big was coming. “You see, Alex and I collaborated on a gift.”

“Really?”

“Really,” Alex said. He got up and brought Bella's wheelchair into the room. “Get in,” he said.

“What?”

“You heard him,” her father said.

They went down the path heading to the stables. Upon reaching the stables there, in the cross ties next to the head groom, stood the new mare.

“Bella, this is your new mare, Regala,” Alex announced proudly.

“What?” She looked back and forth between Alex and her father. “What do you mean, this is my new horse? Why are you doing this to me? What do you expect from me?”

“What's the problem?” Javier asked. “We thought you'd be pleased with her.”

“Is she the wrong color?” Alex asked.

“Are you a fool? Can't you see that I can't ride? I can't walk! What are you two trying to do? Drive me mad? Because if so, it's working. I don't want this horse. Send her back. The only horse I want is buried in the ground in France where I can't even visit her grave.”

Alex placed a hand on her shoulder. “I know that she isn't Delilah, but in time you'll love her. I'm certain of it. Come on, pet her. She's very kind, very sweet — like you.” Alex walked over to the mare and patted her on the neck. She turned her head and nuzzled him.

“Alex went to a lot of time and trouble to find the right horse for you. At least come and see her,” Javier said.

“Alex wasted his time. What is it that you two don't understand? I can't ride! My legs don't work!”

“Your father has found an experienced trainer who works with people with disabilities. You'll be riding in no time.”

“You call that riding? That's not riding, Alex. Do me a favor and stop trying to make me forget that I have a handicap. Don't buy me anything and don't do anything more for me. Papa, take me back into the house, please!”

“Bella,” Javier pleaded. “You're being childish.”

“No, I'm being realistic. I want to go back inside.”

Javier came back around behind the chair and put his hands on the bars to push her back to the house. There were tears in his eyes. “I'm sorry,” he muttered to Alex.

“Wait, Bella!” Alex tossed his arms in the air. “I won't try and do anything more for you. I haven't been trying to make you forget that you're handicapped. You won't allow yourself to forget even if that was what I was trying to do. Your stubbornness and your mind have convinced you that you're a cripple. I wanted you to realize that everything we do is about choices and you can make the choice to do everything you can to live your life to the fullest while in that chair or you can make the choice to remain in the chair. It's up to you. But I can see you don't want or need my help.”

“You're right, Alex, I don't. You can take your pity and self righteousness and leave me alone.”

Javier took Alex aside. “Let her cool off. She'll settle down.”

Alex shook his head. “I think I better leave. I'm sorry that I was tough on her.”

“No. She needs to hear it. Thank you. Don't go. Antonio will be upset if you leave and so will I. Stay. Have dinner with us. Let me take her in, and maybe after a rest she'll behave better. Take a walk. The cool breezes are nice this time of year down on the water. It helps to clear the mind. If you want, grab a 
cerveza
 out of the refrigerator in the tack room.”

“Thank you.”

Alex watched as Javier and Bella made their way back up the path. He went into the tack room, grabbed a handful of hay pellets for the horse and brought it out to her. She eagerly took them from his palm. He then led her back into her stall and put a day sheet on her. She was a spectacular animal. How could Bella be so stubborn and blind? He grabbed the beer out of the refrigerator and took the walkway down to the sand below and made his way to the ocean where he took his shoes off and walked along the shoreline, kicking up the cold water spray. He'd thought that this Christmas again without his mother would be impossible to endure, but then he'd met Antonio and Javier and his life had changed so drastically. And, of course when he'd laid eyes on Isabella, he knew that he would never be the same. Her handicap wasn't a factor to him. Not at all. She was bright, sweet, funny and the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. He wanted to be with her, and love her, but she wouldn't allow that. He thought last night, after they'd talked, that things would be different and her focus wouldn't be on what she couldn't do but what she could do. He'd been wrong. Bella would certainly shut him out now.

*****

THE EVENTS AT JAVIER'S ON CHRISTMAS EVE HAD PEDRO
 in a rage. He knew that Emilio was staying in town because Antonio was here, and from his room at Javier's he'd seen Emilio make a quick appearance on Christmas Eve. Pedro followed him back to the house and he'd been biding his time before he was sure what he wanted to do was the right thing. He banged on the door of the villa overlooking the Bay of Banderas.

“Who the hell is it?” Emilio yelled.

“Pedro.”

“What the fuck do you want?” He flung the door open.

Pedro stumbled inside, smelling like booze.

“You're all fucked up. Can't you see I'm busy? Go home.”

Pedro took notice of the two scantily clad women, neither of whom appeared older than sixteen. Pedro nodded in their direction.

“Everyone deserves a good Christmas present,” Emilio observed with a derisive snort. “You want some 
fun,
 too?”

“No. I want Alejandro Peña dead.”

Emilio slammed Pedro up against the wall and whispered, “Everyone has ears and mouths — including whores — especially whores.” He looked behind him. The women drifted out of sight. “ I already told you that I would take care of him. Get your ass back to the house before anyone notices you're gone. Someone might want to know why, on Christmas night, you need to be out of the house. Keep your fucking mouth shut. I know for a fact that Javier and my brother are leaving in a few days. We'll take care of the situation then.”

“I'm supposed to fly to Guatemala then.”

“And I'm supposed to go back to Los Angeles, but I promise you, we'll take care of this first. Now go home.”

“Home? I don't have a home. Javier kicked me out because of Alejandro. He told me to come back after Christmas.”

Emilio snorted and put his arm around Pedro, “
Mi casa es su casa, amigo
.”

“No thank you. I'll be at a hotel. I'll call you tomorrow. I want this situation handled.”

“Whatever you need, amigo. But, I'll call you.” He winked at him.

Pedro left the villa. He hated Emilio but not as much as he hated Alejandro. He had no idea why Emilio didn't want the kid around, but he apparently didn't and his reasons didn't matter to Pedro. All that mattered was that Alejandro would soon be forever out of their lives.