Chapter 10 #2
“I was eight years old and leaving the movies with my father and brothers when I watched a man murder my father. I understand all too well.”
That lands like a ton of bricks. I didn’t expect it to go over well.
My father’s execution-style murder is no secret since it happened in broad daylight on a street in Bogotá.
My brothers and I begged our dad to take us to a movie.
We really wanted to see it, and we knew he’d let us have all the snacks Mamá wouldn’t.
We had stomachaches by the time we left, but it was—at that point—one of the best days ever.
Papá and our guards sensed something was wrong when my brothers and I couldn’t.
I was only eight. Javier was nine, and Joaquin was ten.
What did we know back then? Papá herded us into an alley so we could have our backs to a wall, and no one could sneak up on us.
There were two snipers and a guy on the ground.
The snipers picked off our men, but one of our guards shot the man on the street and a sniper on a rooftop.
When our armored SUV pulled up, Papá shielded us as we ran to the vehicle. I was the closest to him and the lightest. He practically threw me inside. I scrambled across the seat as Joaquin crawled in behind me. Papá had just slammed the door shut behind Javier when blood splattered the window.
Neither my brothers nor I remember much of what happened after that.
We remember Mamá somehow managed to have all three of us on her lap when we got home.
She couldn’t speak. She just rocked us and kept kissing our heads.
I remember we all cried a lot. The next thing I remember clearly was the funeral.
The next day my brothers and I went to New Jersey to stay with Tía Margherita, Pablo, and Juan. Tío Luis stayed in Bogotá.
It wasn’t until years later that Joaquin, Javier, and I learned what Mamá did to avenge Papá. Heads for soccer balls. After all I’ve seen and done as a Cartel member, in a fucked-up kind of way, I couldn’t be prouder of Mamá.
“I—I never imagined. I’m sorry.” Mrs. Schlossberg can’t meet my gaze.
“I didn’t tell you that to make you feel worse.
I want you to know I understand what it’s like to wake up to a normal day only to have it turn into the worst one of your life.
My family is exceptionally wealthy, so we’ve faced many threats over the years.
We have safety protocols in place. We did the day my dad died, and it still happened.
It wouldn’t have if we hadn’t been out in the open.
The men who killed my father knew the only way to succeed was to attack when he was with my brothers and me.
That he would protect us before himself.
I don’t want anyone to use you to inflict more suffering.
I need you to stay here for now. It’s a place my men and I can protect.
No one can get up to this floor without us knowing about it first. We can control what comes in and out of this suite. I can’t promise the same if you leave.”
“Why did that happen?” I can barely hear Heidi’s question, but I expected it.
“My family is just as ruthless as your uncle. We’ve burned as many bridges as we’ve built. Not everyone has the patience to wait for a rival to retire. Not everyone works harder to make up for money lost during a bad deal. Some people want retribution and have the means to get it.”
By some people, I mean us. My family. We’ve made careers out of retribution.
“Does that mean you do illegal things too? That’s what you said about Onkel Clyde.”
If you only knew a sliver of it, Heidi.
“I’ve done things others don’t approve of.” Like law enforcement and most countries’ judicial systems.
“Can you do things to get my husband back?”
I look Mrs. Schlossberg in the eye when I answer. “I will do everything possible to get him back.”
I can’t promise I will. He could be dead. I don’t want to promise to get his body back dead or alive. That wouldn’t inspire confidence. I give them the best I can offer.
“Mutti, Heidi, do you want any dinner? I already ate.”
“That was your food? You ate?” Heidi’s nothing short of accusatory.
“You know how I handle stress and fear.” Liesel’s defensive, but when she looks at me, I see her embarrassment.
“Not right now, mein Püppchen.” Little doll.
Her mother offers her a weak smile, turning the attention away from the argument that’s about to erupt between Liesel and Heidi. I can imagine what Liesel probably looked like as a young child. It’s a common enough endearment, but I bet it fit.
I watch Liesel’s body relax when her mother calls her that.
She steps forward, and her mother hugs her.
Silent tears trail down Liesel’s cheeks, and her mother’s eyes water.
I wish I were the one holding Liesel. I glance at Heidi who looks left out.
Their mother must sense it because she opens her arms to her other daughter.
The three of them cry, leaving me feeling useless but determined.