Chapter 5 Disaster El- Patricio

Mia could hear him hum in the bathroom, and she couldn’t help but scoff. It has been a long time since he was that excited. That last time was when he just found out she was pregnant.

It was a magical moment for them both. She remembered right there in the kitchen, he would hug her from behind, planting steamy kisses on her neck and rubbing her tummy. That’s why it was very saddening when the doctor told them the bad news after she saw the blood stains on the bed.

She’d always thought that was the reason he changed towards her, always so engrossed in his work. It was like it was his medication to stay sane. But now, after the sex they just had, she felt he had found another medication, and she was going to hate it. She was ready to endure the disrespect. So far it’s going to save their marriage.

With a forced smile, she carried the plates to the dining table, arranging it all for the perfect look.

“Good morning from News At Dawn. My name is Andrea Machenez, and this is the latest news.”

News in the morning. It wasn’t Mia’s cup of tea. So it wasn’t surprising when she left to change the station. But she stopped. Something caught her attention. Or rather. A photo.

“El Patricio has escaped the Federal Detention Center where he was being held. His escape occurred early this morning at dawn, where some armed men in trucks and a black van threw explosives, causing his escape. More updates will be provided soon.”

Black Van

Mia rushed to pick up her phone from the study where she had left it the night before and scrolled to the photo her ex updated on his social media. It looked exactly like the black van from the news.

“Mia!” She jumped at the sound of her name. “What are you looking at?”

“Nothing.”

“You look scared. Like you have seen a ghost. What’s wrong?”

“I’m…. I’m fine. It’s nothing. You are dressed!”

“Yes. I am excited for the big day today. El Patricio is finally going to be sentenced to prison. But I think he’ll be killed. He has done a lot of bad things, and I’m the prosecutor that has finally caught the criminal.”

He proudly adjusted his tie, tucking his already tucked-in shirt. “I’m so excited for the party tonight.”

“Er- about that. Rick. I think we should call it off.”

Rick looked disgusted. “And why should I?”

“El Patricio…”

The loud thud at the door cut her off.

“That must be the paperboy. I’ve secretly been waiting for him. Rumor has it that my name will appear on the headlines and that I am the one that found the evidence to finally put the ‘El Patricio’ in his place.”

Mia tried to stop him, but the self-confident Rick left already for the door. She turned to face her phone, zooming in on the plate number and any other details about the van she could find.

Then she heard a screech. It sounded like it was from a car. Without thinking, she rushed outside to look for Rick. But he was gone.

The only thing she saw was a note on the ground. She picked it up, looked around for anyone that maybe could have dropped the note, but she saw no one.

She looked at the note; all it read was:

“E’P cannot be caged”

Like a revelation, she immediately knew E’P stood for El Patricio. Her husband had been kidnapped by El Patricio and she knew just who to meet.

In the next few hours, she’s at the front of a door, her heart beating very fast. Before she could knock again, the door opened. Her mouth open instinctively to the sight in front of her.

“Claus!”

Oops!

He was the same as she had always seen in his post, but this view? It was ten times better.

His hairy chest was visible from the tank top he wore, which looked like it was about to rip at the seams from his wide, hard, toned chest. She could also see the tattoos he had always had on his right breast stretch up to his shoulders and down to his wrists. It was the same writing: Blood.

“Claus,” she repeated, this time swallowing hard.

He didn’t say a word; instead, he just stared at her as if he was looking into her soul.

“I…” Mia tried to explain herself but was caught short by Claus.

“Save your breath!”

He opened the door even wider, looked around and let her in before closing the door shut.

“Did you come with anyone? Were you followed? Or does anyone know that you’re here? He questioned her, hovering around her like a police officer to a suspect.

Mia ignored his questions. “Claus, something happened and I think…”

“Jeez!” Claus snapped at her.

“I know what happened. I know exactly why you’re here. And that is why I’m asking you. How the fuck did you get here?”