FIVE

FIVE

THIRD PERSON’S POV

Alejandro’s car had just pulled up to the cabin in the middle of nowhere; he had not stopped driving since he got into the car because for some reason, he thought better on the road and this was definitely the time for thinking.

He had come up with the semblance of a sane plan although he did not quite have all the details yet but he knew he needed the one man he could trust the most by his side again.

He stepped out of his black Rover and walked towards the cabin looking around carefully as he did; memories of what had happened there flooding in

This is not the time, he thought

Clearing his head strengthening his resolve, Alejandro got to the door and knocked a couple of times without getting any response; he knew he was inside the house and he was definitely getting ignored.

Finally he heard someone walking towards the door and then a voice he had missed came through

“You really should not be her, man; what do you want from me?”

“We need to talk, right now!” Alejandro snapped

On the drive here, he had kept pondering on how he was going to approach this but then he remembered one of his father’s many teachings.

You need to command authority not plead for it.

A chuckle filtered through again as the door clicked, signifying that it was being opened

“Hello brother, what was that tone just now? I really hope it wasn’t you trying to be intimidating?” the man snickered

Alejandro stared with irritation at his brother; this one had always been one that had problems with authority and did not abide by rules.

“Hey little brother; long time no see” He smiled darkly

Mateo suddenly stopped laughing, staring at his brother and trying to understand why he was there. Alejandro also stared him down; the tension crackling around them could be felt for a thousand miles.

He finally sighed and opening the door slightly to usher his brother in.

Alejandro was overcome by a feeling of dread as he stepped into the cabin; it was exactly the same way as it had been that night.

How can this be, he thought, turning around to stare at his brother in disbelief

Had he really been living out here all these while with everything serving as such an awful reminder

This cabin contained so many memories of their father bringing the whole family here for a vacation in the past and how they would always go camping and fishing. Those were happier times when their dad still smiled and mum was still alive.

This was where he stashed them that day; the day Diego left and everything went sour.

The day their mum had died where Alejandro had watched the life drain out of his mother’s eyes as she took her last breath in his arms.

He could not  help but feel that he was to blame for everything that happened that night; that feeling of hopelessness and uselessness was one he had vowed never to feel again, hence his desperate hunt for power over these years.

Looking around the house he realized Mateo had really not changed anything apart from the fact that it was fairly clean every other thing had remained untouched including the bullet holes in the walls and the furniture.

As Mateo took his seat on the worn out couch in the sitting room Alejandro did not know whether to be impressed or scared of his younger brother.  Their own father could not even bear the sight of this cabin and had wanted to sell it but Mateo had blatantly refused much to the surprise of everyone.

He had been young when everything happened but he definitely knew and had seen enough to be as scared of this place as they all were but for some reason best known to him he had embraced it instead.

“While you all decided to run away from her, I embraced her you know. I walk around this place sometimes and I can swear I feel her presence in here it feels like she is watching over me, guiding me… I find it very calming.” Mateo interrupted.

It was as though he had read his brother’s thoughts and the questions running though his mind.

“There is nothing calming about this Mateo and at this point I do not know if I should leave you be or get you help” Alejandro countered

“Why are you here Alejandro? You have never visited before so it must be really important and before you tell me, you should have in mind that if it involves me coming back to the family business, my answer still remains the same… A big NO”

Alejandro sighed as he neared his brother; he had washed his hands off the family and had packed up one day not telling them why

“This is important brother…I need you; everything we have worked for is about to be taken away and we need to protect this family, we need to protect each other”

“I can protect myself just fine” Mateo announced, pointing to the 12 gauge shotgun that hung on the wall above the fireplace.

“Listen Alejandro, you saw how I got the last time because of the senseless killings all in the name of taking care of business and building something for ourselves; I very nearly went over the edge and I do not want to go through that again. I am happy out here you know, free of the attachment that comes with family for the first time in my life and in a very long time”

Alejandro gazed into his brother's gray eyes; they reminded him so much of their mother’s.

Mateo had taken so much of her physical attributes; her facial structure, eyes and her blond hair. He looked every bit as gorgeous as she did.

He hated having to drag his brother back into the life but he knew he had to be selfish about this one and he needed his blood thirsty, ruthless brother not the mindless peace loving idiot seated before him. A war was coming and one that was going to involve the taking of sides and he wanted to know that his brother was here for him.

He wanted the brother who had helped him secure his place several years ago, whose name instilled fear in the heart of others and he knew exactly how to get him back.

“This isn’t about me Mateo; Diego is coming”

He watched Mateo’s eyes harden in rage at the information

That’s it, brother, he thought