My Enemy’s Daughter

HENRICO ZATTANI

I kept my distance for an entire month, waited patiently for Aurora to recover, and watched Amelia walk away in the meantime, as if she had a choice. I thought and thought, devoted all my time to making a deep assessment of my revenge plan and realized, with some reluctance, that I had deviated from the objective by bringing the newest Leal into the game.

She is not a predator, but a dangerous distraction. And I need to put it all back together.

“Captain?” I say, hearing the man on the other end of the line chuckle excitedly.

“Don’t tell me you miss me.” he teases, causing me to pull my lips together in a tight smile. No, I was not. Leaving prison was like being reborn and given a second chance and I definitely, without a doubt, miss that place. However, I made contacts in jail that are needed here, like the Captain, for example. Juan Fernandez is a Peruvian, naturalized Brazilian and with a great sense of humor for someone who had a difficult childhood and the misfortune of having been adopted by abusers, nowadays he is a well-known drug dealer in the criminal underworld, but extremely respected and that’s why that I need your help.

“I want you to find out something for me.” I speak bluntly. Hearing him blow what I believe is the smoke from his Cuban cigar.

“You know I respect you and I owe you one, just tell me. His voice is slurred.

“I would like to know which is the biggest dealer in New York, who circulates the drug. In fact, I’m going to give you a name and I want to know if he has any ties to drug trafficking in the state.” I say, figuring that if my theory is right, I’ll not only get revenge but also get justice.

“Who is the guy? Question, I don’t give him all the details, just a summary of everything he doesn’t already know.

“What are you going to do if you find out about his involvement?” he asks again, making me go silent for the first time during our conversation.

What I’ll do?

“Regain my freedom.” I say without hesitation.

For many, freedom means coming and going whenever you want, but for me, it’s different. Freedom means resting in my bed in peace, knowing that my name and that of my family are not harmed.

“Right.” He says, seeming to understand my few words without asking for a prolonged explanation, after all I’m already out of jail. He could say that I am free already, but no, the word freedom also has another meaning for him.

“I’ll be in touch when I find out what you want.” He says.

I nod that he can’t see me.

“Thanks.” Whisper.

He snorts.

“Don’t ask for thanks, Henrico. I’m repaying your help, but remember…” He said, pausing. “I’m a drug dealer and in this business there are no favors, only debt payments. When I give you what you’re looking for, don’t call back, freedom is harder to get on this side and you almost fell over once.

I nod again, dismissive that he can’t see me nodding, and hang up the phone. Remembering the exact moment I almost fell.

I had been imprisoned for a year and my hope dwindled as the anger grew, each day trapped in that cage increased my indignation and resentment.

I hated every second of the day, but one afternoon Saul was put in the same cell as me, a man in his forties and looking so out of place I thought he was like me and had taken a beating too. We approached and I let my guard down, let him into mine.

Mind and manipulate my actions, all because I thought we were equals, wronged by the system. Saul knew how to persuade me and without realizing it, I did everything he said, until one day I was influenced to take Juan to his death, Saul wanted to finish off the competitor and was using me to get his wish. Luckily, I noticed the trap in time and managed to avoid the worst, I would be an accomplice to an unintentional murder.

Unfortunately or fortunately Saul was killed hours later, and despite suspecting who ordered it, it was a death without blame.

My fingers take on a life of their own and I type Augusto Leal’s name on the keyboard of my notebook, look up and check that the door is locked, as if I was going to do something wrong. I feel my brow furrow and my face pucker as I read the news.

“Governor Augusto Leal informs that the eldest daughter and her first grandchild are in good health. The businessman visited his daughter several times during the short interval in which she was hospitalized. He informs that the family always comes first.”

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This old man is a first-class liar and is taking advantage of his daughter’s discomfort to regain his prestige, but I’m not surprised. the head of the Leal family always prioritized power above all else, as his favoritism had waned in the polls and he was no longer being such a well-spoken governor, due to his relationship with Alencar, he used Aurora to create an image of a loving father and helpful, so he came back. be seen as a man of integrity and dear. The population buys everything, as if a man was good just for being a father. Shitty conservatives, shitty sperm doesn’t make you worthy, a mediocre pension doesn’t make you any better and certainly a picture smiling next to your kids means nothing.

I close the laptop screen, irritated, at risk of breaking the device, and jump out of my chair, feeling my skin heat up with anger.

I run my fingers through the strands of my hair, messing up the fucking hairstyle I didn’t even do. I walk restless, knowing that my enemy has regained his strength and is at his peak.

Okay, taking down Alencar wasn’t enough. So let’s get to your Achilles heel.

Family.

A smile forms on my face and I pull my cell phone out of my left pocket, dialing the detective I hired directly.

“Tell me there’s something for me.” I speak, right after he answers.

“Nothing concrete. Just suspects.” He says, enigmatic.

I press the phone to my face, feeling my chest tighten and my breathing hitch. damn it! Here is hot.

“I don’t pay you to be suspicious, I want real information on my desk. I growl, having to unbutton the top buttons of my shirt with my free hand.

A few seconds of silence pass.

“Henrico … listen. I’m having a good hunch, something big. However, I need time.”

“How long are we talking?”

“If I’m right, I’ll have something for you Monday morning.

I look at the calendar on my desk, next to the closed notebook, and see that today is Thursday.

I sigh and without much choice I agree with the deadline.

“It’s good to be something great. I indicate, sounding menacing. He laughs, as if he knows something I don’t.

“Go for me, my friend. You will want to kiss me on the mouth.

“Do not let me down.” I say, hanging up the phone and tossing it onto the small dark leather couch I keep in the office.

[•••]

The strong wind whips against my face, making Lexus appreciate our ride even more and accelerate. I suspect that the horse was a savage and that is why it is just aloof. We understand each other well in this regard, we both like the feeling of freedom.

I abandon the animal as soon as we make the way back to the farm and take it to the stall, surprised to find Amelia distracted caressing Cristal, the mare she rode the last time we were here. I cough, getting his attention.

“Hey.” Say, shy. I follow Lexus to them, unsure about their visit. She kept me informed about her sister during the days that Aurora was hospitalized, but stopped responding to me two days after the woman was sent home.

“I leave my horse in its stall and approach the girl.” I liked the hairstyle.

I hold the small black braid and rock it, feeling the soft texture of its strands. I control the urge to bring my nose to her hair and breathe in her scent.

“Did you go horseback riding?” he says, pulling away from my touch and refusing to look me in the eye.

Sigh.

“What are you doing here?” I say, ignoring her question. Annoyed that she left.

His fists clench at my question, drawing some wrong conclusion from my tone.

Damn.

The green eyes shine brightly, warming me to the core.

“Anything.” She stomps her foot, turning to leave. My heart races, suddenly desperate at the thought of losing her.

Lose.

Fuck, I didn’t see the girl’s shadow for a month and I didn’t die, I lived as if her presence didn’t make the slightest difference, but now I’m thinking of tying her arms and leaving her trapped in my room just so I can look a little closer. in those eyes.

I rush in and step in front of him, blocking his path.

“Get out of the way.” he growls angrily, trying to get around me and getting frustrated every time I change position and stop in front of him.

Anyone looking in from the outside will believe we’re playing a silly, childish game, but I know that’s just giving me away.

“I lost.” I say, not controlling my own fucking tongue, watching her eyes change to an even lighter shade and grow in size.

We’re close, looking into each other’s faces. His chest rises and falls in rapid breaths. I bring my hand up to her bare left arm and touch her skin, feeling my entire body tingle with an electric current, stroking her skin with my fingertips. She shudders and gasps, but doesn’t falter. I shudder and sigh, but continue.

“Shall we ride?” His voice is low and needy, almost pleading.

“Let’s go.” I say without leaving the place. Looking deep into her eyes.