No Regrets

Angelina

"Dios Mio! What happened, Angelina?" Tia's frantic voice made her feel guilty.

But only a little bit. It was 2 AM and she had to disturb their sleep. That was her only regret.

The man sprawled on the kitchen floor was unconscious. Her doing. And she was glad. He deserved it.

"His fault, tia. He attacked me and threatened to lock me in a cell. I mean, I already told him you will speak to El Patron about me in the morning but he wouldn't listen. I did what I had to do...." Angelina stopped. Everyone was looking at her in shock. Another lady, a carbon copy of tia Juanita was smiling from ear to ear. Tio Ramon was struggling not to laugh. "What?"

Tia clucked her tongue. "As if she needs more encouragement, hermana. Ramon, get some of our men so we can transfer Rafael to his quarters. And prepare a bath. He stinks of tequila." Her nose wrinkled.

At times like this, Angelina had to repeat tia's words in her head to interpret them in English. Tia was inclined to speak too fast for her to follow.

That beautiful man was named after an archangel. Rafael. Nice. If only he was not an asshole. But then he was drunk. Maybe he was more amenable when he's sober?

"Have you told El Patron about me, tia?" Unsure of her status in the household that took her in. She just rendered one of their guards unconscious.

"I can't, hija," Tia answered. Guilt was written on her face.

"Why?" Now, Angelina was getting worried.

"Because he retired early and drunk himself to stupor and now you knocked him unconscious." Tia Juanita glanced down, concerned.

"What? That's El Patron?" Pointing at the man snoring on the floor.

Again, tia's carbon copy laughed. "It's not funny, señora." Angelina addressed the woman. "He is going to kill me when he wakes up." 

"My name is Lucinda, hija. Call me tia, too. And no, he is not going to kill you. We will make sure of that. Come, here." Without waiting for her to move, the lady pulled her in a welcoming embrace.

"I'm Angelina." She closed her eyes and savored her warmth. Lucinda felt like tia Juanita. So comforting. "I'm still hungry. The boss interrupted my dinner." She grumbled.

Chuckling, tia Lucinda guided her to the kitchen aisle. While they waited for some of the men to help them transfer El Patron, the lady watched the young angel-like beauty ate with enthusiasm. No artifice. No care in the world. Her brown eyes glowed with approval.

Angelina remained thoughtful while she finished off the food on her basket. Her gaze again drifted to the floor. A young and very very attractive boss. Hmmm... And she'd bet her blue-violet eyes, he was a mafia leader, too. She was very sure. It was too easy to recognize.

Why? Angelina had no idea. Her lack of recollection of her old self was a nuisance. The odd thing was, she knew how to fight. She was very good at it. Taking down a man twice her size. Wow. And rendering him unconscious in a second with just a press of her thumb on a pressure point on his neck. Amazing. -Thank you, maman.-

-Where could I find, maman?- Perhaps she'd gain more recollection soon. With the way things were, she didn't think she would be welcome in this household much longer.

"Stop mulling over from what happened tonight, Angelina. It was just a misunderstanding. All will be straightened out when El Patron wakes up." Tia Lucinda patted her hand and her sister Juanita nodded in agreement.

Tio Ramon returned with some of the men and they watched as they carried their boss to his quarters.

The women stayed in the kitchen. Angelina helped them cleaned the mess she had made during the tiny winy fight. "He doesn't like me." She murmured after some time. Why it bothered her, she had no idea.

Tia Juanita snorted while scrubbing the floor. "He doesn't like anyone. But that will change. I promise you. Don't worry about it, mi hija."

She hoped so. She rather liked the grumpy extremely handsome El Patron. They could be friends and she could teach him how to fight.

"Get some rest now, Angelina. All will be well in the morning." She nodded absentmindedly, heeding Tia Lucinda's advice.

Nodding sleepily, she bid the two ladies goodnight and retired to her room at the back of the mansion.

She was tired and the excitement caused her a bit of a headache. Slumping on her downy soft bed, she gave a deep sigh and surrendered.

-See you later, El Patron.-

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Tia Juanita

"She is perfect for Rafael, hermana," Lucinda exclaimed. Her soft brown eyes following Angelica's retreating steps.

"Shhhh...someone might hear you," Juanita warned. Though she couldn't help but nod in agreement. They had accomplished a lot tonight. She was glad. Rafael and Angelina had a lot in common. They'd both find out soon enough. "Let's check on Ramon and make sure El Patron is comfortable. Are you okay with carrying those?"

Her sister, Lucinda shook her head yes. She was carrying a tray of hot coffee and pastries. Just in case Rafael had woken up.

He must be hungry to venture out in the kitchen in the middle of the night despite being drunk. But then he found something else instead of food.

Just perfect.

Entering El Patron's private quarters, they found him thrashing in his massive four-poster bed while Ramon tried to bathe him with a warm wet cloth. Rafael kept on muttering his sisters' names then he stopped and he whispered. "Angel."

One word from his lips and it helped ease his nightmares. Tio and Tia looked at each other and Lucinda exhaled in relief. "You are right, Juanita. She will give him life again."

***

Two hours later, after reheating Rafael's brewed coffee several times, he came back to the world of the living. She and her sister had always disapproved of him drinking himself to a stupor.

They watched him groaned in pain and he slowly reclined on his bed. "Where is she?" He looked around him trying to find HER. They knew who he was looking for. But first...

"Here, mijo. Drink your coffee first. It's black with two sugars. Careful now." Tio handed him the drink.

Rafael murmured his thanks and took a grateful gulp. Lucinda winced. He always drank his coffee very hot. Like a punishment. This should stop. He should stop punishing himself for the things he had no control over. Especially with what happened in the past.

After two cups of hot beverage and five chocolate croissants, his attention was back on them. "Where is she?" El Patron's deep gravelly voice filled the room. The shadows outside the open windows filled the room, giving their hijo a menacing aura making him formidable and dangerous. But not to them. They were family.

Juanita stood gracefully and joined her husband near Rafael's bed. She hated what she had to do but needs must.

"She is my niece Rafael. Her name is Angelina. I meant to inform you about her yesterday but you were busy." Juanita prayed her lies were convincing enough. Her husband squeezed her hand warning her.

Rafael's piercing black eyes scrutinized her face. It took all her trained composure not to squirm. She lifted her chin. "I don't know you have relatives elsewhere." He drawled.

They felt the doubts laced his words. "I do. In San Francisco. Her mother, bless her soul, is from my mother's side of the family. Angelina is an orphan. She doesn't have anyone else. We took her in from our last voyage" She explained. -Please believe me. I am doing this for you, hijo.-

Watching El Patron mull over her pleas was nerve-racking. He was their boss for a reason. He was clever and astute. Just like his father and mother.

Rafael was the leader of the Mexican Mafia. One of the most powerful in the world. And he was very difficult to deal with but not to them. Not to family. They were all he had. For now.

"And you want her to stay here?" Rafael asked softly.

"Yes, señor. For the time being." This time it was Ramon who answered.

Again, silence. They waited with bated breath. "Three months. Then she has to go. She might know too much and as of now, quite frankly, I don't trust your niece, tia. And tio, I want a background check on her." -Three months? A few weeks is all we need, hijo.-

"Of course, señor. We will help her relocate somewhere else. Gracias, Rafael."

El Patron nodded skeptically. A few minutes later he asked them to leave him alone.

Bowing their heads, Ramon closed the heavy doors behind them.

"Three months?" Lucinda hissed. "He is very suspicious and he is a very difficult man to please."

"We have our work cut out for us, hermana. Let's make each day count." Ugh! How to play matchmaker?

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