Agustin

Vincent's Intel was helpful. At least, we were able to locate Nico's last known location. The way things were slowing down, I was glad to have any news on Sofia, let alone be her kidnapper.

Thanks to Vincent and his overwhelming generosity, I was able to fly back to Mexico in no time. The New York Capo did have his hand over some of the most influential politicians, who danced to his tunes. And one such senator's Intel helped in getting what I came to New York for.

Although I came with Gemma, I left without her.

Since her arrival in New York, her behavior seemed frazzled. She seemed to not be her true self. Heck, what would I know about her anymore?

~

As soon as I landed, Gabriel drove me home.

Val, who waited outside the entrance, saw the approaching car. Her steps sped, and her hair fluttered in the air. She didn't even wait for Gabriel to pump the brakes, already having opened the back door.

"Did you get what we need?" she asked, her chest rising up and down.

"Careful, Val." Gabriel cried out as he applied the brakes. "You'd hurt yourself."

"I'm fine," she nodded at him, pursing her lips before gluing her gaze at me. "Tell me, Agustin."

"We got the intel, Val," I said and saw color return to her pale face.

She leaned away from the car, her arms crossed across her chest. Looking up at the sky, she breathed through her mouth.

I knew how much Sofia's disappearance had affected each of us. Especially Valentina, for whom, our newest member was like her baby sister.

Sliding off the seat, I exited the car.

Val, who always seemed composed, today was scattered all over the place.

Her neatly kept hair was in a mess. Kohl spread around her eyes and her reddened nose confirmed the sleepless nights she had spent.

Antonio was the alpha in our group. No matter how tough the situation, he knew how to maintain his calm. Valentina was the same. But since she gave birth to the twins, something changed.

She worried more. Even behaved like a woman more than before.

"We'll find her, Val." Wrapping my arm around her, I pulled her close. "We'll get Sofia back in no time."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am. I know in my heart that she's safe and she'll return home sooner than you think."

There were some lies we'd say to ourselves to comfort our rising anxiety. And some lies, we'd say for others' comfort.

I had no clue in what condition Sofia was. I barely knew the last known location of Nico.

He may have moved. He was an agent. Cleaning his footprints, and knowing how to hide so nobody could find him - it was all part of the tactical training he underwent.

But for Valentina and her sanity, I had to lie.

"Where's Gemma?" Val asked, breaking our embrace and bending into the car to verify. "She's coming behind you?"

"She's not coming."

Not as of now.

"Why?"

"How would I know, Val? Maybe she wants to spend some time with her husband. Or maybe, she's planning to stay there forever."

"Are you serious right now, Agustin?"

Val's voice tipped. Her pupils dilated and she took one step closer to me, squaring my face.

"You don't know what you're talking about. Gemma won't stay with Vinny. She's done there..."

"How about you call her up and ask why she didn't return."

Anger seared through my skin. My heart pounded heavily.

"Agustin, you were supposed to go together so that she'd come back with you." Val pulled me inside, dragging me to the seating area near the stairs.

Although she was whispering, her voice rebounded inside the mansion.

"You were supposed to bring Gemma with you," she said, her index finger digging into my chest.

Maybe it was the exhaustion from travelling. Or the fact that my brother's wife was missing and it seemed like nobody cared. Or maybe, it was Gemma - the trigger point for me - whose thoughts angered me further.

"Don't blame me for her decisions, Val." My voice tipped up, and my breaths staggered. "She decided to stay. And I'm done being responsible for taking care of people and being in charge of their happiness."

I left Valentina, fuming and tossing in her anger.

Although I walked away before she could bring any justification, I could feel her intense gaze set on my back.

Mama's room was the closest escape for me.

As soon as I entered, she sat up on the bed.

Her arms rose in the air, awaiting me to embrace her.

"How are you, mama?" I asked, falling into her arms and holding onto her as if my life depended on it. As if she would bring back joy into my life.

"How are you, son?"

Her question pricked something in my chest. A simple question had the power to make me wonder, how I was.

I was worried for Alejandro. For Sofia too. I was mad at Antonio for letting Sofia leave without protection. Like Val, I was blaming myself for leaving Gemma with Vincent.

"I am..." Seated next to her on the bed, I held her cold palms over my face. "I truly don't know what to answer for that."

"I know." She kissed my forehead and wiped the corners of my eyes. "I know it's tough for you, of all the people."

What was that supposed to mean?

"Agustin," Mama looked up at me. "I want you to understand that we're all worried about Sofia. Alejandro hasn't returned home since we got to know of her disappearance."

"Kidnapping, mama." I pushed off the bed. Walking around the room gave me a sliver of relief. "She didn't disappear into thin air. She was kidnapped."

"By Nico, I know."

Mama got off the bed and walked closer to me. Like Val, her swollen eyes and quivering lips confirmed further, how the Moralez household took the news.

"My child. I ask that you don't blame anyone in this family for what the outsiders have done."

"Who did I blame?"

Mama's silence said it - Valentina.

Though indirectly, I implied Valentina was partly responsible for Sofia's kidnapping. After all, it was her brother.

In my fit of rage, I hurt the woman who was trying to be strong for the entire family.

"I'll ensure Val knows that I'm not mad at her."

"That's all I'm asking."

~

Antonio was in his study when I walked in.

His head was lowered on something he was reading. His glasses over the nose bridge didn't sit well - like he was placing and removing them over and over again.

"Anto..." I called him.

He looked up, shutting close the ledger in his hand. A smile appeared on his face.

"Agustin..." He walked across the desk and embraced me. A pat on my back, a squeeze on my arms - Antonio's way of showing love for me and Alejandro - a display of affection he never modified in ages. "I heard you'd got the Intel."

"I did." Hopefully, Sofia will be back without a scratch. Hopefully, she'll be safe while we do something to find her.

"Were you able to convince the allies..."

Antonio's head dipped over his chest. He stayed back to ensure our allies helped when we needed them.

After Mateo's incident, and Jose's punishment, our allies tried staying neutral in our business - especially if it involved family.

I wasn't surprised that they didn't want to lose their precious men in aiding a rescue mission for Sofia.

"I'm trying," Antonio said. "I'll get people who are willing to die for us."

"Nobody would, Anto." The truth was harsh. Trust was the bitter medicine that he needed to swallow. "It's not their business. And even though you are their boss, they'd rather be forced in helping us than do it willingly."

"I can't force them."

Like all good leaders, Antonio's hands were tied. If he forced the allies to help, they would turn on him. If he didn't, we'd need to seek others - mercenaries - willing to help us at cost.

Sadly, the cost wasn't money.

Money, for cartels and syndicates, was never the problem.

We'd seen how the mercenaries - a group of powerful and skilled men trained to extract people or hunt men down - took over the Iranian cartels. They were like snakes, stayed in hiding till the attack.

After that, there was no telling what they would need in return.

"Anto..." It was time I stepped in. I was resourceful. I knew what could be done. "Sofia's in Colombia. Nico's last digital footprints were of his nuclear bunker outside the city. The Sat images confirm he's still somewhere around."

Antonio's eyes widened. He held my shoulders, tightening his grip. "And..."

"Vincent will confirm the actual location as soon as something reliable comes in..."

"My brother...." Antonio crushed me over his chest, patting the back of my head. "You've made me proud. You've..."

He couldn't complete the rest.

Sofia Salazar-Morales, the girl whom Alejandro was forced to marry, had become an integral part of our family. For Val and Antonio, she was their baby sister.

Even for Gemma...

Fuck.

"Let's get her out, Anto."

"We will." Parting, Anto moved towards his desk and called for Alejandro. "We all need to hear what you think can be done."

This wasn't what I had planned. Like always, I assumed Antonio had a plan.

He always had a plan.

"I haven't devised any plan, Anto. I thought you would."

"This is more important to you and Al. Bringing Sofia back." Antonio tightened his grip over the sides of his desk, leaning forward. "You came up with the idea of asking for Vincent's help."

"It was Gemma. It was all her."

For the briefest of moments, Antonio's mouth unhinged. He nodded to me, rubbing his hands together.

"In that case, I'll take the lead for this..."

"No, you're right. It's my idea to get things in motion. Mine and Gemma's."

"And..."

I was standing in my brother's study and deciding on my fate.

"If the allies don't help, I have someone who would."

"Who?" Antonio asked, his steps closing in on me. "Who would risk everything to help us?"

"Someone who wants to get their daughter married into this family." With those words, I was sealing my fate. "I'm willing to accept the Brazilian Cartel's proposal for marriage."

"Agustin..."

My brother's mouth was drying up for words. He knew what I was doing.

Perhaps, everyone around me knew what I was doing except for myself.

"The Brazilians have been rivals of the Columbians." I began the plan which was set in motion before I arrived in Mexico. "They will help Moralez if we're willing to take up their offer."

Some part of me wanted Antonio to have a plan so that I wouldn't need to give myself up as a sacrifice. I was selfish to think one could gain everything without being selfless. Without any sacrifice.

"Sofia's return will be aided by the Brazilians," I said, the bitter tang of my next words souring my mouth. "Call up the head of Macedo Cartel and tell him. Agustin Moralez is ready to marry Renata Macedo."

~

Why do I always write men who would listen to everything and anyone but their hearts?

Maybe, because I love torturing you people ;)