Chapter Seventeen
Selena
We all headed past the water pool with its metal dolphins.
There seemed to be other fountains lining the entire front of all the stores here.
The place really was beautiful for a shopping mall.
With a huge Sicilian dome on top of three stories, it looked like some huge expensive European plaza or something.
The stores had outside entrances with many trendy brand names. But it also had an indoor area.
Unlike most women, none of it excited me much.
My life wasn’t about being seen in trendy clothes or areas.
It was about NOT being seen and staying alive.
What you wore had better have pockets or areas to hide weapons too.
You’d better be concerned with protecting yourself or your group.
A great outfit would not matter if it was covered in your own blood.
Yes, I liked my rather expensive jeans, mainly because I could move easily in them and they lasted a while.
But I wore t-shirts and tennies with them.
Anything else would be foolish in my line of work.
It had to be unassuming and easy to move in.
Unless I needed a disguise. I paused. Then again, that was what we had told Rain and Sir Henry as I thought of him.
Being in disguise would be paramount to success while searching for the kids in a place like Catemaco.
Carlos held my hand as we walked along.
“Oooh, look!” Henry exclaimed in a high pitched voice. “A Victoria’s Secret.”
We did look over to the store. But we then moved our gazes directly to Henry as we wondered what he was really up to with that voice. No doubt he wanted to tease Rain.
Henry looked over at Rain. “Honey buns, do you want us to get something from there?” He motioned to the storefront again. “That babydoll negligee would be hot!”
Rain blinked at him and his effeminate voice then he did something entirely shocking. He paused to cock his hip and then placed his hand on it to reply, “Da, baby…I think that would be sexy.”
Carlos and I stopped to stare at him. Maybe gape would be a better description of our staring.
“And make it a bright pink with lots of lace,” Rain added. “I know how much you love that lacey stuff.”
Henry waved his hands around in a fussy manner, remaining in character. Then he whined, “The last time I did that you said it made me look fat.”
Carlos broke from his shock and burst into laughter.
I bit at my lip to keep my laugh in. It was difficult to do however.
Rain shrugged. “So? You have lost some pounds since then. I bet it'll look swell on you now.”
“Swell?” Carlos literally choked the word out on a laugh.
Rain waved his hand at Carlos. “Stop being jelly, Pedro. Just because Silvia here refuses to wear pink.” He tossed his thumb at me.
We both blinked at him now.
Henry looked over at our stunned expressions, then he howled with laughter.
Rain now glanced back over at him. “And what is so funny, Agnus?”
He froze now and swung his gaze over at Rain again.
Rain nodded as he motioned to an Abercrombie & Fitch store. “Let’s all head in there.”
“What a funny name,” Carlos said.
“The store? Or Agnus?” I asked him as I shook my head.
“So are you going to buy some dresses, Silvia?” Carlos asked me.
We both kept laughing.
“I don’t know Pedro, maybe Agnus will buy a couple,” I replied as that name just made me want to grin.
Rain kept smiling too. “Blin. You all think it’s a joke, but those are your new names.”
We all halted and turned around to stare at him.
He shrugged and explained, “Plane tickets, new ID and hotel reservations. I worked on it till the wee hours of the morning.”
“And that was what you came up with? Agnus?” Henry scoffed even as he kept his eyes on the immediate surroundings. “And what is your name?”
“Maximillion Kolbe,” Rain replied.
“Bien, that is a very specific name,” Carlos commented as he and I were looking over the racks of clothing.
“I imagine it has this elaborate story behind it,” Henry suggested as he rolled his eyes then looked around. “It always does.”
“A single act of love makes the soul return to life,” Rain said.
Again, we all looked over at him.
“This whole trip is based on that premise,” he added.
“Orale!” Carlos stared at him as he looked surprised.
I nodded in agreement as I picked out a couple of outfits for Carlos/Pedro. But I understood the concept immediately. “This Maximillion guy was a saint.”
Rain/Maximillion looked over at me. “Let us remember that love lives through sacrifice and is nourished by giving.”
Henry stepped up to a rack near us to grab a shirt and a pair of casual pants. “Of course, he would choose a saint. Since he believes he is righteous.”
“You are simply jealous of my better qualities, Agnus Nosegarten.” Rain smirked at him.
Carlos and I snort-laughed at the horrible name.
Henry shook his head. “You chose the ugliest name you could for me, didn’t you?”
“You cannot help that you were born with that,” Rain said as he waved his hand up and down indicating that he meant Henry’s body. Perhaps Henry’s everything. He then went to another rack and chose a couple of outfits.
Carlos and I tried to hold our laughter in but we couldn’t.
Henry rolled his eyes, then as if he needed to remain on guard, he scanned around again as he spoke, “You two didn’t get awful names. So, pipe down.”
Carlos smiled as he went over across the aisle and looked through outfits on the women’s racks. “That is because there are only so many last names he could give us and they are all in beautiful Spanish, Agnus.”
“Ha-ha.” Henry scoffed. “Goody for you.”
We all went and moved through the store, adding various items to our possible purchase.
“Do not pick out any undergarments unless it is for yourself,” I warned them. “The jokes can only go so far. Then they might cross the line.”
“Line? What line?” Carlos asked. “These two have erased all the lines.” He motioned to our guards. “Besides, I really like what I saw in the window of Victoria's Secret.” He jiggled his brows at me.
I shook my head and forced myself to not crack a smile. “You know I detest pink, Pedro. So what are those?” I motioned to the outfits in his hands. “They aren’t your size.”
He smirked. “I picked them out for you, sweet Silvia.”
I knew this already, I just wanted to see them.
He extended one out toward me and said, “This is a jumpsuit type outfit. I think the color will compliment that beautiful hair and skin you have.”
I stared at it and felt surprised. I really liked it. It was cute, a deep blue and not too revealing. “Maldito, I like this.” I checked the tag and saw it was my size.
He nodded and then showed me the other one. “This is a summer dress. Now I know you probably don’t wear dresses much but it is for going out to dinner.”
I looked it over. It was yellow and white, subtle but classy. Again, my size as well. “Wow, Carlos,” I said as I couldn’t hide the shock in my voice. “I like that one too. I am surprised at your expertise in women’s fashion.” I chuckled.
Nodding, he stepped closer and looked into my mirth filled eyes as he spoke softly to me, “When you were a child, I did notice you. The yellow and white sundress brought it all back.”
I blinked at him as I never knew that. I had seen him just a few times then I was sent to my Nana. I had never forgotten the visits though. I think I had a girl crush on him even when I was very young.
He went on with what he remembered, “You had a dress in those colors back then. I got a visual of that dress and I suddenly remembered you very well. You loved to twirl around in it. You were bright eyed and laughed so much. Such a happy little girl. Always with a smile. And Alex loved you for it. He would grab you up and have you ride on his back as he rushed around in the yard. You would squeal and giggle while hanging on. I think I can still hear that blessed sound in my mind sometimes. So pure and so warm. Alex told me one time, if anyone ever takes that joy from her…I will inflict pain upon them.”
I stared at him in shock. Alex never laid a fist on anyone that I ever knew of. I never remember any anger, violence or sadness in him either.
“I am telling you this because I have decided that I will take up that torch,” Carlos stated as he didn’t take his eyes off my face. “I want to spend my life keeping that joy in your eyes.”
My heart nearly stopped in my chest as my breath wouldn’t come.
Grabbing me up, he wrapped his arms around me with the outfits in hand and kissed me sweetly.
I slowly reached up and put my arms around his neck.
The kiss was sweet, not full of sexy intentions. It seemed to be a silent assurance of a promise made. A solemn vow. To speak in soft words just what Rain had said a few minutes ago… A single act of love makes the soul return to life.
Finally, breaking the kiss, Carlos took a step back.
I reached up with my fingers and brushed them across my just kissed lips.
I couldn’t think as I had no logical response to what he just did and said.
For the first time in my life I felt something shift inside me.
And it wasn’t what I was used to feeling.
Something warm and resolute resonated through me.
I stared at him. For years, this man had been the devil himself in my mind.
I blamed him for taking my brother away.
I had traced him and tracked him. All I thought about was revenge.
I even fantasized about killing him. Now here he stood in front of me after turning me inside out and changing my entire perspective.
My hands shook and I clasped them in front of me.
Silence seemed to reign around us.
I blinked rapidly and looked around for Henry and Rain.
They were both two racks away and seemed to be studying some outfits. They looked distracted and they were entirely too quiet as compared to their constant banter and noise. They did however, keep an eye on us, ever being the guards.
Finally, they wandered back over and they had various outfits on their arms now too.
“Khorosho, Pedro and Silvia,” Rain said. “Are we ready to check out?”
I had to remain mute as I gave him a firm nod. I simply didn’t trust my voice to sound normal right this minute. Then I looked over at Henry.
His eyes looked moist as he avoided meeting my gaze. He even sniffled a little as if he might cry. Ever with his head on a swivel, he kept looking around.
Yes, I now knew that they had seen and heard what just happened.
I suppose I did not care. They had been standing with us when Carlos made his declaration.
How can someone just change your whole life with a vow? I might never know. But I did know that Selena Gomez would never be the same again.