CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 22

ENRICO CASANOSSA

GWEN HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED anything as fantastic as this, seeing and knowing about sex was one thing, but tasting it, especially with the person she loved, was simply divine.

— Glad you liked it, dear.

— You're awesome, I'm sure you've done that with thousands of other girls.

— What nonsense, why do you think that?

— Because it was so good.

— It was good because it was with you.

— So you've had other girls?

— Let's say so, but none as amazing as you.

— Did you pay?

— Everything always has a price, as my brother would say.

— I didn't know you had a brother.

He thought for a moment before saying anything.

— He's the most fantastic guy I've ever met, he really caught on.

— And why is dating so many women fantastic?

— I didn't say that, I said as a person, he's charming, it's natural for him, I've always wanted to be like him...

— I don't know you, but I think you're more fantastic.

She pulled him and they made love again.

ENRICO THOUGHT HIS LIFE would turn to hell after he married Gwen, but little by little Donald just let go of the rope, unlike that night when he saved Gwen, he just thought he would die, because as soon as they slept, Donald sneaked into the room and took him to a shed and beat him like he had never been beaten in his life.

As soon as he recovered, Gwen found him in one of the bars in town.

— Gwen? But...

She sat on his lap and kissed him, simply ignoring the girl he was with at the table.

— I ran away from home.

— You are crazy?

— Ahammmm — The girl at the table cleared her throat.

— Oh! Sorry, Gwen, this is Carol, Carol, this is Gwen.

Gwen smiled and pulled him onto the dance floor.

— Your father will kill me if he sees you here.

— So, I myself have died, or rather, I never had a life, always trapped in that hellish room, I just want to know the world by your side, that's all.

She snuggled into his chest as she danced, but in that instant she felt the cold point of a weapon at her back.

— You better be quiet, the boss wants to have a word with you.

Gwen was about to protest, but Enrico pulled her away and motioned for her to be quiet.

WHEN THE TWO GET IN THE limousine, Donald was inside smoking a Cuban cigar.

— Dad I can explain.

He was about to slap him, but Enrico stepped in front and took the blow instead.

— Dad!!! — Gwen shouted.

— I'm really disappointed in you, sweetheart, I gave you everything you ever dreamed of and you betray me like that, dating an employee?

— He's the man I love, Dad.

— He's a kid who wants my money.

— Just don't give us a penny — Enrico intervened — let us live our lives away from you, I'll give her everything she ever dreamed of.

— You can't even take care of yourself, kid.

— But I can give what no one else can.

Donald chuckled.

— Do you think life is made of love, boy?

— Without it (love) there is no life, so I believe so.

— You know I'll kill you if you step out of line.

— I intend to be the best I can for your daughter.

— Extend your hand.

Immediately Enrico did so knowing what he would have to put up with. Donald Dunhil took a huge drag and stubbed out the cigar in the palm of Enrico's hand, which he held on tight and hard, didn't seem to blink in pain.

— Do you know what that means?

— Yes sir.

— Every time you think about stepping out of line, look at the palm of your hand, it will refresh your memory.

***

DONALD ALWAYS CHOOSE his interns by their body, if they were good in bed they were good lawyers, administrators, nannies, secretaries etc., the ball of the time was a brunette named Alicia C. Becker, the most attractive and hot girl he had ever had at his disposal, and the best, it was as if nothing had happened, the girl was cold as ice during working hours, she was the only one that no one ever suspected anything, and the girl he slept with the most after his interview, was just impossible for him to get it out of his head.

Carlos Ortiega, always by his side, never said anything about his boss's relationships, but the few times he opened his mouth, he had a clear sense of mind.

— If I were you, I'd do without that cow.

— You are crazy? She's amazing, plus she's the most amazing girl I've had sex with, and it's free.

— You're the one who knows, you'll regret it.

Donald got a flea behind his ear, but the days passed and he never questioned Alicia's competence again, but every time she passed Ortiega, they both felt that their universes collided.

Alicia ended up becoming the strong link in her relationship with the Johnson's, which coincidentally also fell in their favor, the problem was that her daughter had caused her a big problem, but Ted asked for some time for everything to be resolved, no one wanted to say much., they only said that Enrico Fuerte was Johnson's protege because of his brother, Juanes, who ended up clashing with Victor.

Donald was looking around the city, thinking about everything that was going on.

— Thinking about me? — Said Alicia.

— Also.

She hugged him from behind and rested her head on his back.

— A dollar for your thoughts.

— Just a few problems to solve.

— Don't you have any simple ones to start with?

— Some that look simple.

— Something I can fix?

— Perhaps your approach to Ted will be of great help.

— All to please you.

He turned, tenderly cupped her chin and kissed her.

— If it weren't for you, I would have gone mad by now.

— But all I want is to drive you crazy.

And they had sex on her living room table.

ALICIA LEFT THE ROOM and saw Ortiega glaring at her and ignored him.

Carlos Ortiega entered the boss's office.

— I think I have the solution to the problem, Carlos.

— If you get rid of her, you're halfway there.

— Do you really think she would betray me?

— I'm sure, even more after you befriended your daughter, she has all the ingredients to betray you.

— Just like you.

— Like me.

— You mean you would betray me?

— There is that possibility, what I don't want is for you to rule out all possibilities for thinking with your head down instead of being rational and thinking of all possibilities.

Donald Dunhill lit a cigar and was thoughtful for a moment.

— I remember very well how we met.

He looked at his security guard who was listening silently.

— You were without a doubt the best person I've ever known, the most loyal and the most efficient in everything, but I want you to know that there is a limit you cannot cross.

Donald noticed that Ortiega was slightly nervous.

— Then know that I greatly respect your advice, but only give it when I ask for it.

Ortiega turned to leave the room.

— I didn't say I could go out.

— Know that just like you have limits, I have mine, so don't bother me.

ORTIEGA WENT TO THE DINER across the street and saw that Alicia was sitting alone and sat opposite her.

— Don't you have someone else to piss off? — She started indifferently.

— I'm just going to give you one last warning.

— Then don't even give the first one, I'm not interested.

He started to speak, but realized that the heel of his shoe was strategically pressed against his nether parts.

— Know that you're not the only one who cares about enemies, I also know how to do my part well, so if you want to say something, there will be a price you may not be ready to pay.

He swallowed hard that insult, got up and left.

***

Donald Dunhill's TEMPERAMENT changed completely when he discovered that his daughter was going to church with Enrico's mother. Donald even threatened Enrico if he didn't fix that situation — after all, no one is strong on their own if they depend on a God who worships the poor, weak and oppressed.

Donald was the most atheist man Enrico knew, even though he wasn't a Christian himself, he went to church with his mother, it did him more good than harm, and Enrico liked to see the joy on his mother's face in his company, if that simple attitude made such a difference to her, why not accompany her?

She deserved it after all her father had made her suffer...

ENRICO ALWAYS REMEMBERED his past in Puerto Rico with bitterness. They lived in a small favela — it looked more like a poor community — and had to work very early — since his father was arrested every time he committed a crime, and it wasn't a few times. Enrico lost count of how many times he saw his father arrested in front of him, and each time he was completely drunk or drugged.

While he loved being with his father — he also hated it — since he — his father — always said that he never had the money to buy him even a soda, but every night he came home completely drunk and beat his poor girl. mother — and in him too.

Enrico remembered perfectly well that he never had a moment alone with his father, he was always running to get up to something, and always getting it wrong. Enrico doesn't even have a good memory of his father, not that he was the worst of men, that's what he was convinced of that, despite the clumsy, ugly, bad— looking and unlucky man, deep down — deep inside — there was someone who cared about his family, who was loving, who brought him chocolate at the end of the day, who played ball with him on the weekends, who treated his mother like the best woman—and she was.

Your mother is tired of being the family's shame for being married to the most worthless man in all of Puerto Rico, after all...

What about a man who bet his own daughter on a gaming table?

Enrico doesn't remember much about her, but his mother always spoke her name while he slept — Alejandra... shame on her if she found out about her secret life in the mafia world.

Her father was so drunk that day — when he lost his own daughter — that he said he didn't even remember a thing...

Enrico didn't consider those men friends either here or in China — they said his father bet his daughter on a game, others say he threw his daughter out of the window to prove his masculinity, but to Enrico, his father hated the fact that he had a daughter. and knowing that one day she would be married to someone, he didn't mind doing that with someone else's daughter...

But not with your daughter... — he would say sometimes while snoring.

Enrico didn't see his father for almost seven years.

On the day of their reunion, he was fleeing to America — to try a new life alongside his eldest son, Juanes.

In spite of everything, Enrico loved his father, had always wanted him to have another chance, but every time he had it, the drink spoiled everything. It was exactly at those times that no one knows how he got himself a gun and got himself into the worst trouble a human being could get into.

DURING THE TRIP, ENRICO was hidden in the lifeboat, but he was soon discovered and almost got a beating from his father, but he was so drunk he couldn't even stand up.

The next day it was as if nothing had happened, but this time there was no next day.

Enrico managed to send a letter to his mother almost a month after the event. He told her everything that had happened to him — he lied blatantly, saying he was in an excellent job, and at the first opportunity he would bring her to the United States to live with him — he also talked about the death of his father, but how she reacted, that Enrico never knew...

***

GWEN KNEW BY THE SHAKE of everyone around her something very important, but until now she still hadn't found the perfect mood to tell her father and husband the big news.

Enrico hadn't come home for a few days and it was bothering her, he said that her father had given an important mission that could not be told to anyone, but she found out she was pregnant and needed to tell someone the good news.

The doctor came to her and said:

— I believe you know I'm Gwen.

She nodded.

— I need you to come with me, I can help you.

— I don't know what to do, doctor.

— Your son will be a great man in the future, we need to take care of him so that he does what he must do.

She caressed her belly.

— We only have a few hours before the plan to annihilate the world as we know it comes to light, it's now or never.

— And Enrico?

— He's fine, but he's not ready to step into his role yet.

She accompanied him.