Aloha, page 27
I see her standing in the bedroom doorway, and her eyes flash with understanding. She is everything to me—beautiful, compassionate, and my refuge from the shadows of my past.
"Sí, Luciana. I was just thinking about Rafa, my old friend. He's doing well now, found a new life and a woman who loves him."
"That makes you happy, doesn't it?" Her slender body moves slowly to me.
"It does. But not as happy as you make me." With a smile, I take her hands in mine.
Her family resisted our relationship from the start. They see me as a plebe beneath their daughter's status. It's a challenge and a painful reminder of all the barriers I've faced.
As if reading my mind, Luciana clears her throat. "Antonio, you need to ignore what my family says or thinks. They have an idea of what they want for me. So much so that they forget this is my life, not theirs." Luciana leans into me. Her passionate voice and sweet scent calms my anger.
"I know, mi amor, but it's hard. They don't see me for who I am. They see where I come from, what I've been through," I confess. My shoulders slump, but the frustration is still in my voice as I move closer to her.
"But I see you, Antonio. I see the man you are, the man you've become." Luciana squeezes my hands as her eyes shine.
I pull her into my arms, feeling the warmth of her love, and gently press my lips on hers, grateful for our paths crossing. "I don’t deserve you, and not because of what they say, but because you are an amazing human being."
"You deserve all the happiness in the world," Luciana whispers against my lips. "And I'm going to make sure you have it."
I kiss her deeply, tasting a future of hope and possibility. I will sacrifice anything to make sure we can be together, and our lives are made even better with each moment that passes.
Her arms slide around my neck, pulling me closer as she presses her lips to mine. “You have no idea how amazing you are," she whispers breathlessly against my mouth. Her fingers tug at the belt loops of my trousers, slip into them, and release the button. She yanks them off and kneels between my legs, taking in the sight of me. Taking me deep into her mouth, she pleasures me with a skill I've never felt before, as if she commands the laws of nature to bend to her will—my blood thrums in anticipation of what comes next.
My desire reaches a fever pitch when Luciana removes her panties and positions herself atop me, pushing deep into her tight center as we move together. Every sensation sends pleasure radiating through my body; I never want this moment to end.
My eyes widen with pleasure and anticipation as I thrust faster and harder, and my body trembles with each movement. As the intensity rises, I remove her soft summer dress in a flurry, leaving her exposed and vulnerable to me. Her full breasts and pink nipples gleam in the light as I hold her close and begin to suck gently yet hungrily on them. With each pull, her nipples harden while she gasps for air, and her body vibrates from the onslaught of sensations caused by my movements.
I feel the power of the man I've become coursing through my veins as I hold Luciana closely in my arms. My body feels electrified by her touch and burns with desire for her. I’m euphoric as she gives herself to me, like a precious offering from the gods. Her beauty is mesmerizing, her scent intoxicating, and every kiss feels like an explosion of emotion deep within my soul. Making love to her is all I live for; never ending and always pure bliss.
Luciana gasps as my lips find her erect nipples. My tongue flicks and teases them into shivering submission. She quivers in anticipation as I push myself further with each thrust, bringing her closer to pleasure as she lets out a passionate moan.
Her hands sensually explore her body, massaging and caressing her breasts. I can see the pleasure radiating through her as my fingers pleasure her. Every curl of my finger sends electric shocks of delight throughout her body.
I surge forward, snatch Luciana, lift her swiftly, and lay her on the bed. I part her legs and plant my tongue onto her, savoring the sweet flavor of her arousal that fills my senses. Luciana gasps as I move my tongue faster around her, sending shocks of pleasure coursing through her body. I add two fingers to the mix with a smirk and swirl them around her swollen bud while thrusting deep inside her with another. Her muffled screams are music to me as they drive me madder with desire; I want her to come first to find rapture together.
Her back arches, and her knees quake as I enter her. My strong arms hold her tightly against my body, thrusting with an insatiable hunger. My sweat mixes with hers as our pleasure gradually increases. She moves hard against me, fueling the raging fire within us to the point of combustion. My lips find her breasts, and I suck ferociously on her nipple, biting and releasing in a hypnotic rhythm.
"Harder!" she demands, and I drive into her more profoundly than ever, pushing past her limits until we are both rendered breathless with pleasure.
Afterward, we lay entwined, our bodies a testament to the love we shared. I watch Luciana drift off to sleep as her naked body wraps around me. The steady rhythm of her breathing gives me comfort, but something more profound stirs within me.
An understanding settles in my heart as I lay with the woman I love. I know what I want more than life itself.
I gently nudge her awake. “Luciana,” I whisper, a nervous edge to my voice. “Luciana, mi amor. Wake up.”
Her eyes, barely a sliver, find my gaze. She smiles sleepily. “Yes?”
My heart pounds as I take her hand. “Marry me.”
Her eyes fly open, disbelief turning to joy. “For real?” Tears well as she pushes onto me. “Tell me you’re not joking?”
I smile, and love swells within me. “I’m not joking. I don’t have a ring yet. But I promise you I will get you the ring you deserve. So, tell me, Luciana Portillo. Will you be my wife?”
Tears spill down her porcelain-like face as she throws her arms around me. “Yes!” Her voice breaks with emotion, and she presses her full lips against mine.
We make love, and empty our souls into each other. There is no lust—just pure intimacy and passion.
Her soft breasts, the smell of her hair, the feeling of skin on skin, the sound of our breathing, the taste of her—it is so beautiful. It is deep, and it is meaningful and soul-searing, passionate love.
I vow in silence that I will create the best life for her. Luciana will want nothing.
I’ve struggled mentally and emotionally for weeks, losing sleep over my next moves. There are not many opportunities for an educated young man like me in Mexico. My meagre earnings are barely enough to make ends meet. I already work extra hours and pick up odd jobs for extra cash to take Luciana out.
My brain is constantly buzzing with ideas. I can’t shut it off.
And there, like a sinister whisper finding its way to me at all hours, the opportunities of the underworld with a cartel. My innards twist in reaction to the idea. I can’t, I say to myself. Yet, I’m unable to push the possibility away. How else? I hear that voice in my head. How else are you going to give Luciana the life you want for her? How else are you going to prove to her family that you are capable?
At twilight, when my world is finally still, my heart pleads but my brain silences it. It’s decided. I’ll do what I can for a short period of time. Long enough to make quick money and get out.
I start to connect with people from the darker side of business, exploring opportunities that are not strictly legal. The lure of easy money tempts me. I feel the pull, the desire to give the woman I love everything she deserves and, once and for all, silence her family.
Luciana becomes the stabilizing force in my life. She is my moral compass, even as I start to step into the shadowy world of cartels, I feel cleansed every time we are together.
I work hard, and the recognition abounds. The jefes reward me with money, and lots of it, as I slowly climb the ranks, utilizing every skill and knowledge at my disposal.
My slithery yet lethal ways earn me a nickname, La Serpiente. The serpent. Because I can slither my way in and out of almost every situation, escaping death and cutting golden deals.
Oblivious to what I am genuinely involved in, Luciana announces she is pregnant, and we feel happy. But the fairytale wedding I want to give my bride will not be, not even a honeymoon to Hawaii that I’ve fantasized about. Instead, we have a small quaint gathering, and exchange our sacred vows before God, in a small capilla on one of her family’s properties, Hacienda La Luz.
Luciana’s parents take me to the side, and condescension drips with every word. “Antonio, this place…” Luciana’s dad spreads his arms spread wide. “Now passes on to my daughter and you. This is our wedding gift. A place to call home and somewhere decent our grandchild can grow up in.”
I seethe. Despite my love for his daughter and her carrying my seed, every word that oozes out of the man proves they still think little of me. I nod and walk away. I’m not about to thank Don Portillo. Sure, it’s the mature thing to do, but I'm not allowing the man to believe I need to be grateful for marrying into his family. My child will be a Cervantes, a surname to be proud of.
The weeks pass, and the agitation from my status in the Portillo family’s eyes grows. I refuse any of their invitations and appreciate that Luciana respects my decisions. But she makes it abundantly clear that just because I won’t visit her family doesn’t mean she will not. She’s not wrong.
In the field, my reputation as La Serpiente grows. My bodyguards, Roberto, and Luis, and two others with hand-selected night watches always stay by my side.
“Jefe.” Jorge, my driver, pulls my attention away from the newspaper I’m reading.
I meet the man’s gaze, and he stares at me through the rearview mirror. “The boss wants to see you.”
There’s no fear in me, despite the look on my driver’s face. I nod. “Go there at once,” I instruct, returning to my paper. My conscience is clear. I’ve done nothing to offend the man nor double-cross him. I’m a loyal soldier, doing his bidding quite well, if I say so myself. Despite what I told myself when I entered this dangerous role, I’ve learned quickly how to pivot and anticipate the bosses’ needs. His recognition always comes with a monetary bonus; money I’ve become addicted to as I elevate my family’s lifestyle and my standing in the cartel. The truth is, it's not just the money, it’s the power that I’m becoming drunk with.
Chapter 7
The car grinds to a halt outside a building that's an odd mixture of warehouse and office. My heartbeat accelerates, a natural reaction to the tension in the air. Roberto and Luis, my bodyguards, exit the vehicle behind me. Another one of my men rushes ahead, opens the door, and checks the path.
We enter the building, and the receptionist glances up from her desk with a forced smile. "The boss is waiting in the warehouse office, Señor. Antonio," she stammers, and her body trembles.
I nod, but a nagging feeling deep in my gut tells me something isn't right.
I lift my fist, motioning for my men to stop, and quickly move to the side, taking cover behind a stack of pallets. My hand points to Roberto and Luis to follow suit. My heart pounds and my ears strain to listen.
Crash!
The sound echoes through the warehouse. I lock eyes with Roberto, and a silent understanding passes between us. This is a setup, or someone got to the boss before us.
Roberto dashes ahead, finding shelter behind a stack of boxes, while Luis stays close, flanking me. We move forward, slow and stealthy, every sense attuned to the environment. The scent of dust and oil fills my nostrils.
Glancing back at the receptionist, I notice her eyes have widened, and her hand presses to her mouth as she dips behind her desk. She knows something, but I'm unsure whether she's part of this or a frightened bystander.
But one thing is sure: we're walking into something dangerous.
The feeling in my gut grows stronger. Whatever awaits us is not going to be pleasant. Yet we continue to move, ready to face whatever comes next.
I slowly draw my gun. Its familiar weight feels cool and deadly in my hand.
I quiet my mind as we approach the door to the office. Roberto presses against one side of it while Luis crouches on the other.
Taking a deep breath, I nod at them both before opening the door with an explosive burst of energy.
The onslaught of bodies leaves no question. We’re under attack. The boss lies dead on his desk, and blood soaks his white shirt. My eyes dart around frantically, scanning for signs of who may have done this or if they're hiding out of sight.
There's no sign anyone else is here except for us. Whoever did this ensured nobody could get near him without being noticed first.
That realization sends a chill down my spine. It's an expert job—a professional hit.
And we've just walked into it.
"Clear," Roberto calls out after checking under tables and behind boxes piled high along the walls. We stand cautiously and survey everything happening around us.
We walk back toward the reception area when– gunfire thunders loudly throughout the building. Shortly afterward, cracks and snaps pull our attention indicating more damage as we shift our line of sight.
The smell hits me next: a sharp metallic tang mixed with something sweetly sickening—the unmistakable stench of death drifting down the corridor outside toward Pallet 12B, housing chemicals lethal enough to kill large animals by simple inhalation. But it’s much more than that. I believe it to be a compound used to create weapons of mass destruction. It was something I questioned myself over quietly, upon learning of the dangers of this job. Could I live with myself knowing I have a hand in it all? If there truly is a God, which I believe there is. Am I redeemable? I’ve already killed. If I continue down this path, there’s no question that I will kill more. My eyes focus on the pallet. I may not be a chemist, but the instructions are grave yet simple. The chemicals, under no circumstance, can be allowed to leak or be exposed to extreme temperature changes. I push my moral compass to the depths of my being. I’m already going to hell.
I motion for Luis and Roberto to follow me toward the source of the gunfire. My heart races with each step, fearing what we might find around the corner.
My finger tightens on the trigger as I round the corner, and a figure jumps out from behind some stacked boxes. The semiautomatic in his grasp glints menacingly in the light. Only one conclusion reaches my brain—fire! I pull the trigger without hesitation, every muscle tight with anticipation, praying that this shot will save me.
The bullet finds the center of the man’s head, pushing him back, then crashing to the ground. I can already tell he’s dead as I stalk past his body toward the lethal chemicals.
A string of gunfire is unleashed on me, but I dive and roll out of the shooter’s line of fire.
Finally, at Pallet 12B, we come across armed men guarding the chemical containers.
An enraged man screams "¡Atras!" incessantly in broken Spanish as his troops close in. They point their guns at us with deadly intent. There's no going back now; too much hangs in the balance.
Realization slams into me: this shipment is being hijacked. We are likely dealing with a rival cartel. The whys of getting their hands on these chemicals leave little to the imagination. But I don’t have to time to rationalize it. We're only hired guns for a job that evidently was doomed from the start. Gunshots in the distance tell me some of our team still live. Fighting. I must act fast.
Luis yells, "Take cover!" moments before, multiple explosions rock through the buildings nearby. Massive, billowing smoke rises into the azure sky. My eyes leave the broken windows above and scan for my men.
Roberto darts forward, pulling a grenade pin from his belt, likely to create a makeshift path between us and the rival cartel determined to kill us.
I watch in horror as Roberto throws the grenade. Its explosion throws me back and deafens me momentarily. Through blurred vision, our rivals fly through the air like rag dolls. We exploit this momentary gap and race toward Pallet 12B.
But we're not quick enough. Those left standing catch up with us. A hailstorm of bullets rips through my clothes as I dive for cover behind a container filled with toxic chemicals.
An acrid cloud surrounds me from a punctured drum, and another explosive discharge sounds nearby. My thoughts turn dark. Is all this worth it? The promised money won't return anyone from the dead or repair relationships ruined by this bloody trade war, making cartels rich off innocent lives. I’m already neck deep; I doubt there’s any going back to the status quo. But the boss is dead. Can I walk away? Is this that sliver of an opportunity to get out if I make it through this battle?
I see danger encroaching on Luis, as a man springs in the air to attack him from behind.
Right there, I decide: Heads will roll for crossing our turf! My heart pounds loudly as I military crawl and ambush a man. He's not expecting me, and surprise is on my side as I put a bullet through his forehead. Brain matter splatters and blood flows freely. My breathing comes out labored, but adrenaline keeps me going even though I know I’m injured. I pull a switchblade from my holster. My next victim fights back, but my height and relentless drive help me slash through his throat. The gurgling doesn’t even make me cringe as I drop him to his knees without a second thought. The sound of gunfire slows down as pain sears through my abdomen. My lungs burn, probably from the chemical exposure. My body’s on the verge of giving up.
Then, Luis grabs onto my arm and pulls us both forward. “Let’s go,” he says urgently.
My mind snaps back into focus; I have a purpose—a child. My child is soon to be born, and Luciana, my beloved wife needs me. Racing adrenaline fuels each movement as I allow Luis to lead me.
We fight like never before, using whatever weapons we find against the enemy in pursuit. We block their passage. We battle fiercely, fire repeatedly, and exchange blows without relent until it's over.
Roberto surfaces and tries to catch his breath. "We need to get el jefe to the doctor, STAT!" he yells, kicking away whatever litters our path—bodies, boxes—to him, it's all inconsequential.
