Page 33 of Stolen Dove
We’re taking a helicopter out to visit my half sister and her little one for his birthday. I made a promise that I would, plus I’m supposed to pick up a special item I had her make for Dove. Her husband worked for me, but he died last year in an accident at one of the vineyards. He’d been drinking too much and fell off the side of a cliff driving home. It was devastating to my sister because he hadn’t been alone. He was with his mistress, embarrassing her one more time.
“The copter will be ready to take off in ten minutes,” Marcelino says. I nod and return to thoughts about my wife. She hates me, even if her body disagrees. Her body sings with rapture as I fill her with my seed, but there is no love. I live for her and don’t know how to change her heart. She can’t forgive me for the past, and maybe I can’t forgive myself.
Fernando takes the present and a bottle of wine as a gift to our hostess and then we board the helicopter. I wonder if Dove has ever been on one. Will she be too afraid to go on one? Damn, I’m fucking obsessed with her. It’s only a twenty-minute flight, but the entire time my thoughts are on seeing my sister quickly, giving my nephew his present, and getting back to Dove so I can show her I’m not a total bastard.
“Fernando, I hate to do this, but I want to make the trip a quick one. I can’t leave Dove for a long time.”
“She can’t get out anyway. How about you send Hector over to check on her?”
“I don’t want another man around her. One she can actually get along with. One who didn’t treat her like a whore.”
“Maybe a divorce is for the best.”
“Heaven fucking help me. If you ever say that shit again, I’ll forget we’re friends. There will be no divorce.”
My half sister comes running over. “You made it,” she says, looking around. “I hoped you would have brought her.”
“Where’s the birthday boy?”
“He’s coming.” My nephew comes running, and I wrap him up in a hug and pick him up. “Happy Birthday, mijo!”
“I’m so happy you came.”
“I’m sorry, buddy, but I can’t stay.”
“No?”
“Primo, come on—the pool’s calling our name.”
“Go have fun. We’ll see each other soon.”
“You promise?”
“Yes. Oh, and before I forget. Here’s your present.” He takes it from me as his cousins call out for him. Luisa has two siblings who have four kids each, all around his age.
“Thank you, Tio Victor.” He wraps his arms around my waist and squeezes hard before running back to the house with his present.
“Luisa. Can you please get me that box?” I question and she nods, knowing what I’m talking about.
“It’s already ready.” She pulls it out of her pocket. I open the small box and examine the pieces.
“Your work is masterful.” I slide on the one that belongs on my finger.
“Thank you.” She blushes with happiness. Luisa’s super talented and needs her own shop to sell jewelry. “It’s just as you requested. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Soon.” I give her a hug. “I have to go and get this on her before she runs off.”
We turn back and walk to the helipad. As soon as we’re up in the air, Fernando says, “If you don’t want her to run, you better get that ring on her finger and take time off to spend with her that doesn’t include fucking her brains out. Take her on a vacation.”
“How can I when everything is a mess? Julio picked a hell of a time to fuck with us. I should have put a bullet in his head all those years ago. His men know exactly where to attack without being seen.” It strikes me that he must have someone working from the inside of my organization. “Son of a bitch.”
“Someone’s helping him, aren’t they?”
“Yes, but who would be stupid enough to go against us, and why?”
“Let’s think about it. There are about fifty men on your payroll from the vineyard through the family, and only a half-dozen women.” So many of them wouldn’t think twice of crossing me.
“Dove,” I cry out.