Chapter 4.

Mateo

I was at a loss for words when Zia asked me that question; I cocked my head slightly to the side and took a deep breath in.

"Uh. No," I chuckled. Why did this feel so awkward to answer? "I gave you your own room so that you could be comfortable in your own space," I said, and she slowly nodded. "Do you have a problem with that?" She shook her head and tilted downwards. 

Why does she always do that?

"No, if that's what you want, then I have no reason to oppose," she said, and as much as she looked relieved, it also looked like it disturbed her.

"Why do you—" My phone rang in my pocket, and I took it out, seeing Luis' name written across the screen. "Please excuse me," I told her as I raised my phone.

"We found 'em," he said, and I clenched my jaw.

"On my way," I hung up the phone. "I have some business to take care of," I told her, and she raised her head. That really had to be a conversation we had when I got back. Why does she always have her head cast down?

"What about the food?" She whispered in the end and bit her lip as if she regretted asking.

"Don't worry about it; you should eat and rest."

I left her standing in the kitchen as I grabbed my jacket from the chair; I walked to the garage where my car was parked. I checked my phone for the address Luis had sent me and drove there.

"Yo, what took you so long?" Luis asked as he threw away his cigarette butt, walking towards me.

"I was on a call with Tania; she needs to get some stuff for Zia," I said as I threw my key to him, and he caught it.

"Ah, the wife," he looked amused with the situation, and I glared at him. "She's pretty," he said, and I shrugged.

"She is," I agreed as I entered the warehouse with Luis chuckling behind me. Of course, he would find this funny. "Nobody touched them, right?"

"Nah, they're as clean as you like them," he said, and I nodded as I pushed open the rusted metallic doors. There sat the two men who were starting to get on my nerves; they were tied down to the chairs and had fearful expressions embedded on their faces, their sweat trickling down their faces as their eyes widened once they saw me. Beautiful.

"Why are you guys treating our guests like this? Take off their gags," I sighed as I pulled the chair in front of them and sat down, unbuttoning my jacket. "Hi, George," I greeted, smiling, and he sneered.

"You're dead wrong for this, Mateo!" I crossed my leg over the other, pursing my lips as I pretended to be interested in what he was bitching about. "You know we belong to the Martinez, so you can't touch us!" He spat out, and I nodded, smiling. "They'll kill you just for having us tied up." Ooh, I'm so scared.

"The Martinez, you say?" I asked as I leaned back with a smile. "You know what? Before we talk about them, would you care to tell me why you didn't sign over your rights to us?" I asked, cocking my head to the side, and he chuckled. It's real funny, isn't it?

"That fuck over of a contract?!" He cackled as he looked over to his tied-up partner as if he couldn't believe what I just asked. "Sign it over to you? NEVER!" He spat on the ground, and I clenched my jaw. "You're just like your father, who got fucked in the ass by your grandfather! You think that won't happen to you! And your mother? She wa—"

"Either you sign that fuck over of a contract or die," I sat up straight in my chair.

"As if you'd have the balls to ever fu—" I shot his companion in the head, and George screamed. Slightly jumping out of his chair, staring at his dead friend, whose head hung low. Only if George had done the same. "What the fuck is wrong with you!"

"Will you sign the contract?" I asked him calmly, and he looked at his companion trembling; his teeth clattered together, and he gulped. "George?" He whispered words of profanity as he stared at the blood dripping from his friend's head. Yeah, I would be nervous too. That is disgusting! 

"Promise you won't kill me, and that you'll protect me from Martinez," he said, and I cocked my head to the side and sighed. "Please, man!" He cried out, and I honestly found it amusing. He would rather beg for mercy here than at the Martinez.

That's insulting.

"I'll think about it if you sign it," I said as I received the contract and pen from Luis.

"Fine, fine!" I nodded in his direction, and they untied his hands. I passed him the contract and pen. He quickly skimmed through the pages looking for the dotted line and signed. He passed me the contract, and I looked through it, to see if he had signed every slot. "Do we have a deal?"

"You still need to sign one more," I raised my index finger, giving him the most genuine smile I had as I passed him the tablet. He looked at the title and cursed, groaning as he raised his head to look at me.

"Come on, man, this will leave me with nothing!" He said, and I got up from my chair.

"Then have fun with Martinez," I said, and he yelped.

"Okay, fine! I'll sign it, fuck," he cursed as he quickly signed the document, and Luis took the tablet from him. "So, where will you stash me?" He asked, and I nodded, licking my lips.

That went fairly quickly.

"Oh yes, I almost forgot about that," I passed Luis the contract and took out my gun. "You were going to live until you talked about my parents," I pointed the gun to his head, and he raised his hands.

"M-Mateo," he stuttered, and I breathed in deeply.

"Don't you just love the smell of fear?" I asked him, and he closed his eyes, mumbling to himself. "I know my grandfather will want to fuck me in the ass as well—" I said as I pressed the gun harder. "—that's why I'll kill him before he does," I pulled the trigger and his blood splattered all over my face and neck. "Ugh," I grimaced in disgust, and Luis clicked his tongue as he shook his head.

"I told you, in order to not have all that blood all over you, you have to stand a few feet away as you did with the first gilipollas!" He said, and I wiped my face.

"M****a," I muttered. "He pissed me off," I said as I put my gun behind me.

"Yeah yeah, he talked about your parents. You really should talk to somebody about that; it really makes you act weird," he said, and I glared at him.

"Do you want me to put one in your head, too?" I asked, and he laughed, throwing his head back.

"You could never kill me, and that's a fact. Who else will you talk to?"

"I have Tania," I said as I walked to my car with him following behind me.

"Yeah, right, but I'm your cousin. The only one you like and is down for you," he said, and I opened my door and stared at him.

"And she doesn't talk as much as you do," I said as I closed my door, drowning out his laughter.

"I'll come to see you and your wife soon!" He said, and I raised my middle finger.

"Please don't," I said, driving away, and he laughed even harder. I drove home with the contracts while Luis stayed behind and cleaned the mess.

When I arrived home, I found all the lights were off. I walked to my room and removed my suit; this wasn't something dry cleaning would eliminate. I held my shirt in my hands as I examined the bloodstains, this was a Brioni suit, and it was all messed up because of that idiot. 

I should have shot him twice. Fucking bastard!

"Mateo?" Her soft voice called out my name, and I turned around, still holding my bloody shirt. 

What is she doing in my room? 

She dropped her towel, and I was surprised to see her naked. 

"Oh, my!"