Enzo
I was propped up against the wall half listening to Santana explain what she was doing on the computer. My mind was too focused on Aleksandra.
The mere thought of her made my blood boil and my heart fall into the pit of my stomach. I had finally decided that it was fear overcoming my body. I was scared.
So fucking scared that the last time I saw the woman I loved, would be the last time. I had replayed our conversation from that night over and over again in my head. Why the fuck did I leave her there?
I sighed and forced the thought out of my head, attempting to pay attention to Santana.
"Well as expected, Aleksandra is in Barcelona. It's the old stone castle that we would vacation in during the summer," Santana said turning to Adalia, "Do you remember it, sister?"
"I remember it very well. It's positioned on a large mountain above the coast of a white sand beach," she smiled to herself, "Father took us every summer," she faced her sister, "Tell me, have they talked to you?"
Santana's eyes darted away from her sisters, "No. Mama has tried but father was very adamant about our excommunication."
Adalia paused then turned to Nikolai and Aiya, "When all of this is over, remind me to get you in touch with your grandmother."
"Speaking of which," Nikolai started, "I think we should hit them as soon as possible. They're planning a wedding in one month and three weeks. Guillermo clearly doesn't have what he needs to marry them. My gut tells me we need to get to Aleks before then."
Aiya nodded, "The question is of course, how do we get Aleks out alive?"
"The last thing we need is a plan that will get Aleks hurt. They need her alive, but that's our only advantage," Dmitri agreed.
"I say we storm the compound with our best men in one swift strategic attack," Nikolai crossed his arms across his chest, "Guillermo doesn't have what he needs to take us on."
"That's a bad move," I said as their heads turned to me, "They might not be expecting us so soon, but Guillermo isn't an idiot. He'll be expecting a full fledged attack, which would in turn leave compounds here unprotected."
They all paused for a moment before Nikolai spoke up, "You're right. He'll probably get Juan Poncé to attack us from here and Rodriguez to attack us in Spain. This should be a mission of stealth," he went on facing his family again, "Two people should break into the compound and get Aleks in and out. Support will be given from the outside but we can't risk alerting anyone."
"Who should we send?" Aiya asked.
"I'm going," I said definitively.
"No one will argue with that Lorenzo," my Nonno started, "You're best equipped to handle this, but who shall we send you with?"
"With me," Adalia said crossing her arms against her chest.
"Adalia, you just woke up from a coma. This isn't a good idea," Santana said.
"I hate to agree, my love, but I don't want you going in the field so soon," Dmitri said stepping towards her.
"I promise you, my love, that there's not a thing a damn soul could do to stop me from going to rescue my daughter," she said sternly, "I trained Enzo, there's no one better matched to carry out this mission with."
"At least let me go with you," Dmitri said cupping her cheek with his hand, "I can't lose you again, Adalia."
She smiled, "You won't lose me," she started to frown, "But you're in no shape to go into the field Dmitri. You're still recovering and you need your physical therapy."
He sighed, "I hate that you're always right."
"This still doesn't cover the matter of getting you in the country," Nonno said, "From the four years in power, I'm sure that Guillermo keeps tabs on every form of import and export into the country."
"They could take a flight to France and commute across the border," Aiya suggested.
"I'm sure that Guillermo has found some sort of way to corrupt the boarder control," Adalia said.
"I think I have a solution," Nikolai turned to me, "But you're not going to like it."
"I'd do anything to get Aleksandra back," I said.
"The only way we're going to get you both into Barcelona undetected is with the help of Ismael Santos," he started, "Aleksandra's future husband."
_______
Alandra
I sat in front of vanity and gently brushed out my hair as I heard the door of my bedroom open in shut. I didn't have to turn around to know that it was my father.
"What are you doing cooped up in your room?" he asked in an aggravated tone.
"Brushing out my hair, father," I set ran the brush threw my hair again, feeling the strands fall down my back, "I have to look nice for my fiancé, no?"
He walked toward me and roughly grabbed my arm forcing me to look at him, "Don't get disrespectful with me, mija. There's something going on with the del Castillo's and I don't like it. Smells like treachery. The last thing I need is you against me."
I set down the brush and glared at him, "So you're perfect solution isn't so perfect," I grinned, "How predictable of you."
I snatched my arm back from his grip and stood up, "You wouldn't want to bruise your daughter. What would my beloved Juan Carlos think of that?"
The anger visibly grew on my fathers face, but nonetheless there was nothing he could do to me.
"Just like your mother," he muttered under his breath, "You best be pleasing him, Alandra. Best you remember the consequences of your actions."
He gave me a smile that made me uneasy smile before leaving my bedroom. I sighed and walked towards the door to find my fiancé.
Best to keep up appearances, until Aleksandra kills him, I thought, smiling to myself.
I found Juan Carlos in a meeting with his most important and trusted men.
I walked into the room and all the heads turned to me, Juan Carlos gave me a look, but I made no effort to leave.
"We'll continue this later. Can we please have the room?" he said shuffling papers.
They all nodded and proceeded to exit the room. Once they were gone I shut the door and walked towards the head of the table, where Juan Carlos was sitting.
"That was an important meeting I was having, Alandra," he said setting down the papers and meeting my eyes, "When we're married you can't do things like that."
I scoffed, "I am not my father, Carlitó. You do not need to lie to me, I know you're marrying the Petrov girl," I shrugged my shoulders, "I couldn't care less."
He stood up and stood in front of me smirking, "That's right. You wouldn't want to marry me, you still have that little play thing."
I felt myself tense.
"Oh yes, beloved. I know all about your fling. Just like I know all about that knife you gave Aleksandra,"
I stepped backwards with a stricken look on my face as he caught my wrist and pulled me towards his face, "You're not as smart as you think you are," he took the familiar dagger out of his suit pocket and held it to my cheek.
"So what are you going to do, Juan Carlos? Are you going to kill me?"
He laughed piercing the dagger deeper into my flesh, "No, I won't kill you Alandra," he let me go and straightened himself out, putting the dagger back into his pocket.
"I won't have to," he said walking back to his chair.
"What are you talking about?" I said, trying to regain my composure and the feeling in my wrist.
"Well as soon as you walked out of her bedroom, a guard immediately came in and took it away from her. At my command of course," a grin crossed his face, "I had to punish her of course. She has her bruises now, everywhere but the face."
"Why would you do that!? You knew it was mine," I yelled at him slamming my hands on the table.
"Oh yes, and so does she," he smiled at me.
"What are you talking about!?"
"Who do you think Aleksandra will blame for this? You gave her the dagger and almost immediately she's caught with it. Instead of restrained to a comfortable bed, I have her suspended from the ceiling in the basement. When she wakes her body will surely ache terribly," he said.
"She's too smart to believe I was responsible for this," I crossed my arms against my chest defensively. I wouldn't let him know anything I was feeling right now.
"She is impressive isn't she?" he said getting that flicker in his eye that he always did when she was the topic of conversation, "But she's a vindictive little bitch. I wouldn't be surprised if you're name was added to the list, beloved...right under mine."
- - End of Chapter - -