Chills & Thrills: Three Novel Box Set (45 page)

CHAPTER SIXTY

ALEX THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THAT HAD OCCURRED IN HIS LIFE
 over the past year. It was as if he belonged amongst the Espinoza and Rodriguez families, and not for the mere purpose of business. They had become his family. He owed this reclaimed sense of security lost with his mother's death to Antonio. Alex sensed a connection with Antonio, as if he'd known him in another life. He had heard about the theories of karma and reincarnation in a religious class he'd taken and had to wonder if they might not hold some truths.

But now he walked alone down to the stables. Bella hadn't spoken to him since Christmas and it didn't look like that would change anytime soon. It had been a week and now both Antonio and Javier were off doing business elsewhere, and he was stationed here as an unwelcome guest. The New Year had passed and he hadn't really celebrated, other than to have dinner with Javier and a sullen Bella. He'd overheard her tell her father that she didn't need Alex watching over her while they were gone and didn't understand why he was staying.

That had hurt. Javier explained that he was a trusted employee and had become a good friend and that he would be using his office to balance various records and books. Javier's words had healed the hurt a bit, but the silence coming from the woman he was falling in love with was angry and thick.

He didn't know where she was at the moment, probably in her room reading again. She spent a lot of time doing that. He'd even bought her new books and had set them on her dresser when she wasn't close by. She hadn't returned them to him, so maybe she was softening some.

As he turned the corner into the closed-in stable area, cutting off the breeze that had sent a chill through him, that familiar scent of horse, fresh cut hay and manure wafted his way. He liked it, the earthiness of it. He'd made his way to the stables every day. It had become a ritual to go and see the mare that Bella denied. He'd be sad to see the horse go. He'd already placed a call to the original stable she'd come from and the old owners had forwarded him information about someone else interested in the horse. Alex then had called the people and they were still interested and excited that she was again for sale.

Heading for the tack and feed room to retrieve Regala's treats, he stopped, surprised.

There was Bella, in front of Regala's stall, feeding her a carrot. She looked up at him.

“I've found a new home for her,” he said.

“So soon?”

“Yes.”

“She is lovely,” she said.

“Yes, she is.”

“Maybe I should keep her.”

“That's up to you,” Alex replied and approached her, not allowing the tinge of hope he felt come through in his voice.

“I didn't think I could love another horse after Delilah, and I'm not sure that I can, or at least not the way I did with her.”

“Of course not. No one is expecting that from you, Bella.”

“I suppose if I keep her, then you should call that trainer you were talking about.”

Alex didn't reply.

Bella reached up and put her hands around the bars on the stall. She tightened her grip on the bar and pulled with a groan. Alex went behind her and placed his hands under her arms.

“No. I have to do this alone.”

Alex removed his hands and watched in awe as Bella grasped the bars even tighter, her hands turning red and with every ounce of strength she could muster, she pulled herself up. She stood for several seconds until she collapsed back into her chair, tears sprung to her eyes.

He knelt down next to her. “You're a stubborn woman.”

She laughed between her sobs. “Call the people who want the horse and tell them we're keeping her. I'm going to ride again.”

****

ALEX WAS PLEASED THAT BELLA HAD A CHANGE OF HEART.
 After leaving the stables and having lunch together, she phoned the physical therapist and told her she wanted to continue therapy and be more aggressive with it. She then asked for the phone number of the horse trainer Alex had told her about and she set up a time for him to come by and see her and the horse. After all the activity she was exhausted and had gone into rest before dinner.

 In his gratefulness he felt that his mother had something to do with all that was happening to him. He knew his mother's spirit was there in the room with him, loving him as she always had. And he knew she was at peace. She was letting him know that things were all right with her. He sat down on the bed in the guest room he was sleeping in at Javier's hacienda, thinking of her, of her soul, of his loss, and at the same time, appreciative for the joy he had so suddenly found.

Hearing a sound, he looked up to find Bella, seated in her wheelchair, just inside the doorway to his room, more radiant than he'd ever seen her, her long hair pulled back in a braid. She wore a pink silk blouse with black linen pants.

“I thought you were resting,” he said.

“I was, but I was so excited after this morning that I couldn't fall asleep. I thought I'd clean up and come to see you.”

“I'm glad that you did. You look beautiful. How do you feel?”

“Fine.”

"How about you? Are you all right? You seem sad," she said.

"I'm fine. I was…" He paused and looked out the window away from her and then down at his hands.

"That's all right, you don't have to tell me. I don't want to intrude on your privacy."

"No, really. You're not. I was thinking about my mother."

Isabella rolled her chair over to him and touched his arm. "I think about mine often, too. You must miss her."

"Very much. She was a wonderful woman. She raised me all by herself. My father deserted us before I was born. He was a wealthy man, and she worked for him. I don't know all the details, but I do know that the bastard left us. My mother suffered over the years, slaving for us to get by.”

“I'm so sorry. How horrible for you. I didn't know.”

He faced her and with a fury building inside of him whenever he thought of his father out there somewhere, he said, “If I ever meet my father, it'll be a sorry day. I have nothing but contempt for him."

*****

THE FOLLOWNG MORNING, BELLA AND ALEX TOOK A WALK
 down to the beach to enjoy the sunlight bouncing off the ocean. A roll of waves crept up and sprayed the rocky shoreline. Alex looked at Isabella, sitting next to him on a rock. They'd left her chair on the path and he'd carried her across the sand. She was scheduled for a therapy session again that afternoon, so Alex didn't want to push her. Her skin glistened as water splashed against her and she laughed. He laughed with her and wiped the droplets of water from her face.

Moments later her laughter halted and she turned to him, growing serious. "You wouldn't believe how corrupt things are down here,” she said. “I've tried talking to my father, but he brushes me off, as if I were some dumb girl. I know my family could do something to help our people, but my father concentrates on making more and more money. I think he does 
some
 good things. I'm sure of it. I don't know exactly what they are…" She hesitated. "My father is a good man. It's hard for me to imagine him as being a part of the corruption. I try to ignore what we are, but the reality of it is getting harder and harder to avoid each and every day. What do you think, Alex? Do you think there are any honest politicians anywhere? Is my father like the everybody else?"

“I doubt it. But that doesn't make your father a bad man. It only makes him human."

"I suppose you're right. Can I ask you a favor?"

Alex hesitated. “What kind of favor?”

“I know that my brother is speaking in Mexico City in a few days and there is talk that his sermons are on the corruption and how we can change what's happening here in Mexico. I haven't seen or heard from him since the accident, and I really need to see him.”

“I don't know, Bella. I think we should talk to your father about this first.”

“I'm not a child any longer, and if you won't escort me, then I'll do it on my own. You said I was a stubborn woman. I want to go to Mexico City to see my brother. Will you take me or not?”

Alex sighed. “All right. I'll take you.”

At that moment a large wave crashed against the rock they were sitting on, soaking both of them.

"Oh no." She ducked away from the wave.

Alex scooped her up, as they started to laugh again. He was concerned by her request, knowing that Javier wouldn't approve, but he also knew that she would find a way to get to Mexico City on her own. If he didn't allow her to go, it might ruin what they were finally building together.

While Bella was occupied with her physical therapist, he tried to reach Antonio to discuss the situation, but couldn't locate him. He didn't want to upset Javier. He contemplated his next move. He couldn't stand Emilio, but he was Antonio's brother and he had brought him and Hector into the operation. Maybe he should ask his advice. Instead he called Hector.

“Shit, man, take her. They love you, those 
Patrónes
. Even if they find out, you know it'll work out. Plus, man, maybe you'll get laid.”

“Go to hell. It's not like that.”

“Oh yeah, 'cause she can't walk and stuff. Why you want her so bad, then?”

“I'm sorry I called you.”

“I just teasing, Cuz. I seen her. She's gorgeous, but be careful. Take her to see her brother. It will make her happy and I don't think anyone would be too mad at you for making the Señor Rodriguez's daughter happy. Good luck, Cuz. Gotta go, Emilio is on his way over. We got a meeting with some new buyers tonight. It's getting big. Real big.”

“Right. Listen. Don't mention our conversation to Emilio.”

“No 
problema
. You do your thing.”

Alex hung up the phone, not sure if taking advice from Hector was a good idea, but he did want to hear it from someone else that it was an okay thing to do. Even though, Alex figured it probably wouldn't please Javier. The facts were that Alex wanted to take Bella to Mexico City, away from the watchful eye of the servants. And that he desperately wanted to be completely alone with her.

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE SAT IN THE PEWS OF THE 
church where Father Miguel delivered his sermon in the city of Cuernavaca, a place of spiritual roots and more wealth than most of the places he'd spoken in, other than the seaside resort type areas where his audiences were small. However, they'd been growing with each lecture, and today the audience before him was proof that the crusade was working.

His next stop would be Mexico City. With each town and city in which he spoke, Miguel's convictions grew. Julio had shown him the pictures of innocent slain victims, including women and children, all murdered in the name of money and drugs. And with each returned letter he received from his sister, his belief in what he was doing became stronger.

“The politicians of this country do not work in the name of God. They are not trying to better your circumstances at home. They are not working for the people.” He went on to quote from
 
the Book of Romans. He then recited a list of names he believed were enemies of the people and enemies of the Lord. Javier Rodriguez was one of those names.

After the hour-and-a-half service was over, Miguel was drained. As he lay his head down on his pillow that night, he wondered how much time he had left to live. He knew that the implications of his crusade could have deadly consequences for him. He imagined that sooner or later, regardless of his bodyguards, his enemies would catch up to him.

*****

PEDRO RUBBED HIS PALMS TOGETHER, EYEING EMILIO.
 They were seated at an outdoor café in Los Angeles. Emilio had insisted Pedro come there to see him, in order to put their plan into play. Pedro didn't like L.A. Too many people, too many noises. He preferred the serenity his country held for him rather than the glamour of the big American city. Plus, he didn't like Americans and their pompous attitudes. They had no culture, no history. It was with disdain that Pedro sat across from a man he would normally consider an enemy, or at the very least an opponent. But he had nowhere else to turn.

“We've been struck with luck, my friend. I had one plan at first on how to deal with Alejandro, but it seems that something interesting has happened, and a new plan has been created with great ease.” Emilio winked at a buxom blonde who set their hamburgers down.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I've been told that Alejandro and Isabella are taking a trip together, while Antonio and Javier are away.”

 “I don't know anything about this. There's no way Javier would ask them to go on a trip anywhere. Isabella isn't even aware of her father's businesses. I certainly doubt he'd have her travel with one of his 
thugs
.”

“He asked him to stay with her and not you.”

Pedro's grip tightened around his cola. He snarled. “That's because he had me ending business elsewhere.”

“Which I can see that you're doing.”

“Fuck you, Emilio. You asked me here. You said that you had a plan. What is it? Quit wasting my time, because I do have business elsewhere, and the sooner I get out of this place the happier I'll be.”

“Yes, you do have business elsewhere. In Mexico City.”

“Since when do you tell me where I'm supposed to be?”

“Since you decided to join me in eradicating the thorn in our side.”

Pedro looked out at the street, cars speeding by. He closed his eyes and sighed. “Tell me.”

“Isabella misses her brother. As you know, Father Diaz is causing quite a problem for us. He is working with the DEA from what our sources say, and he is vigilant in his efforts to bring us down.”

“He's a priest. He can't hurt us. Leave him alone.” Pedro had always liked Miguel. In a way he understood the boy's need for revenge. He remembered himself at that age and leaving his father's home, only to return to kill him and find refuge in another family. What Miguel had chosen to do was not much different. Javier had banished him from the family. He'd chosen the church and his country as his new family, and hoped the death of the positive reputation of the man he once called father would thoroughly tarnish his reputation and bring him down from his throne. It couldn't be done. Javier and Antonio retained too much wealth and too much power for Miguel to ever succeed. However, Pedro, although against the crusade and angry that the DEA was using the kid, respected him and understood him for it.

“Can't hurt us? The little people listen to God, and even some of the big people. He's 
hurting
 us.”

“What does this have to do with Isabella and Alejandro? I don't see how Miguel is a part of the destruction of that peon with an ego too big for him.”

Emilio lit a cigarette, offered one to Pedro who hesitated before taking it. By the time they were finished with their smokes, Emilio had laid everything out and explained how Miguel fit into the plan. Pedro shook his head, not ready to agree to it.

“This is the best way to get him out of our lives and to get him away from Isabella. Isn't that what you want?”

“You have more than the motive of getting rid of Alejandro at stake.”

“True. But, you have to admit, it is necessary that we do this.”

After listening to Emilio and taking into consideration what he had to say, he finally nodded his head in agreement. By the following day's end, Alejandro would no longer be a problem.