The Plan

Santiago

Let's get down to business. I'm getting ready to join my two stalwarts who are waiting for me with bated breath. To keep things simple, I opt for a casual style of clothes.

A plain white tee with round collar, followed by a brown leather jacket, over black slim-fit pants that are dressy but more comfortable and relaxed than suit pants. All accompanied by white sneakers. This casual chic staple will also help me when I join my half-brother at his engagement party right afterwards. This is one of the pieces I absolutely must have in my wardrobe. White or colored, it's at the center of my summer looks and a little on the back burner the rest of the year. By now, you may be wondering why I wear a bench t-shirt at all? It lets me wear it with almost anything: raw or faded jeans, chino pants, shorts, but always in casual styles. It's also easy to wear under a knit, sweater or cardigan, a shirt or a jacket.

Just as I'm about to leave the hotel, my phone vibrates in the back pocket of my pants and I pull it out to see who it is. It's a message from my faithful Alvaro, who lets me know that he's already on site, testing the waters incognito with Luis. It's almost six o'clock and I've got an hour's drive before I've to get home and take Blanca home. I'm going at full speed to make sure I'm on time, without stretching my stride too much. Arriving home, I've had just enough time to respond without giving the slightest hint that I'm leaving somewhere discreetly and I bump into Petra, who's collecting the cups in the living room.

"My little one, here you are at last!" She says happily when she sees me.

"Yes, I just got the perfect clothes for the evening. So, how do I look?" I ask, turning on myself.

"That's right, I lied to make it look like I was there, as good as gold. Me wise? You bet," I sneered devilishly.

"You're as handsome as ever"

"Yeah, I know", winking at her.

Petra is also my confidante, and from time to time I confide in her when my nagging thoughts turn to martyrdom.

She's the only one who can see my vulnerability and the real me. Understanding me, she knows how to comfort me.

"Ahh still a tease!"

Suddenly our laughter fades as my father appears.

"What's all the racket?" he raises his voice.

Petra immediately grabs the cups and rushes to the kitchen.

"Excuse me," she said with a mixture of concern and fear.

"And you, don't just stand there, go see your brother if he needs help!"

A feeling of bitterness comes over me and I frown slightly, clenching my fists. I hold back so as not to swing the bottle of scotch he's pouring into a glass and I remain calm.

"Easy, it's okay. He's just a big jerk who talks for nothing," I monologue aloud.

"Okay dad."

I don't give a damn about his stupid orders. I remain polite so as not to do anything stupid and I leave the room to find my two assistants, warning them that I'm on my way.

---

Estadio territory, 07:45 pm

I'm in my electric car, a Tesla Model S, which is often cited as the quietest, thanks to advanced acoustic insulation combined with a very discreet electric motor. Camouflaged by a large bush, I can make out men in an armored Jeep Renegade, drawing their silenced weapons through binoculars. Looking back at the little house, I see a hand pulling at the curtains. I call my two lads over to let them know what's going on.

"Hmm, it smells burnt, guys!"

"What are we going to do, boss?"

"Nothing. We're just passing through."

"Entendido boss!" (Got it boss!)

"As soon as I hang up, my eyes are riveted on the scene before me."

In a flash of lightning, a man emerges from the shack to face these unpleasant-looking armed individuals.

It must be Diego Perez," I whisper, adjusting my binoculars.

One of them, who appears to be the leader, advances and points his pistol in her direction. I wasn't able to attend the whole game as I was apprehensive about a beautiful young woman who was running away. So I got out of my car to go and help her. However, I wasn't able to witness the whole scene as my attention was drawn to a beautiful young woman who was running away from the house. So I got out of my car to go and help her.

Arriving in front of her, I grabbed her while her head was turned backwards. She jerks violently, turning in panic. Our eyes meet and we remain motionless for a few seconds.

"Let go of me!" she shouts breathlessly, struggling with all her might.

Brutally stunned by her cries, I come to, shaking my head as I rouse him from his torpor.

"Wait ! Now, calm down. I've come to rescue you. Come with me so you can be safe."

"How do I know this isn't a trap?"

"So, for a long time now, I've had you killed irrevocably, and believe me, that's no windbag."

She remained frozen, her lips trembling slightly.

"Let's get out of here before they catch up with you. By now, your husband must already be dead," I say hoarsely.

She closes her eyelids for a second and opens them to catch her breath. She nods, staring straight into my eyes.

“Let's go ! What's your name," I ask, as we gradually move away from the area.

"Orely"

"I'm Santiago. Follow me, we're almost there."

We head for the territory next door where Annetta, my godmother, stands. A very special woman, who will always have a place in my heart. She was my mother's midwife and looked after me before my father took me away and entrusted me to Petra. I've heard she keeps secrets, dark as they are, that only she knows. Old-fashioned as she claims, she prefers to be away from the sound city to enjoy the pasture to the full. Arriving at the door of her little hut, I knock eagerly.

"Godmother, please open up, it's me, Santiago."

"By all the gods, Sebastian, what's going on?"

She always calls me that because it was the name my mother wanted to give me, but my father didn't want to. Out of hatred, I suppose. There are men after her. Can you hide her at home until they give up their search?

"You're crazy! It's probably your father's men! They won't hesitate to turn my house upside down. And you, you must be the landlord's wife!"

"Yes, that's right. I'm Orely. Don't worry about me, I'll go and hide in the meadow away from here."

"No, time's running out - they'll find you faster than you think. You have to find a solution!"

"Well, come in, I've got a basement in my living room, come and help me move the coffee table and remove the rugs."

"I knew I could rely on you."

"Shut up! Lift the board. Help her into it as quickly as possible. Here, hide it under this big blanket and close the plank"

While I'm putting the rug and coffee table back in place, my godmother alerts me that her guys are coming. I rush out the back door and see my two robusts.

"About time! Glad to see you."

"Boss, let's hide behind this huge oak tree."

If I present myself to Annetta, I'm a dead man. I recognize one of my sire's gusses. She knows how to play the game of being the forsaken femme fatale who is in need of sex. I laugh inwardly as I watch her through the window, swaying because she knows it will scare off her tormentors and that if anything were to happen to her, my father wouldn't hesitate to shoot them in cold blood. After a few minutes, they leave and I wait a moment before joining Annetta, so as not to arouse any presumption.

"Don't you ever do that to me again! I thought I was having a heart attack."

"No, you're stronger than you think. Come on, let's get Orely out of there."

I confess I don't know why I wanted to save her at that moment when everything could have ended in smoke. Usually I don't give a damn about helping anyone. There's something about her that has an inexplicable effect on me. Maybe it's my instinct for a clear conscience? Nonsense!

"Thank you for helping me in such circumstances."

"It's nothing, but you won't be able to stay here because they'll be back to check if I'm lying."

"Don't worry, I know where to go."

"Where?" I pleaded, puzzled."

"At my mother's, she lives alone."

"In that case, I'll take you back to her place. Let's follow my two men, they're reliable."