Melina
"Melina! Melina!" come, come with me, Deablo said, roughly pushing my room door.
He woke me up from my deep sleep, pulling me by my arms.
"What the hell is going on?" I asked in concern.
"Not right now Melina!" he said, still pulling me to the safe room.
I knew it had to be something serious; since he was dragging me by my arms.
He no longer had to pull me, I was running towards the safe room like a maniac.
I was the only person in the safe room, but then two guards came in, awkwardly looking at me.
I just sat on the chair, staring at the huge steel door.
I couldn't hear a thing in that room; I was really worried.
I didn't even have time to grab my phone or anything to entertain myself.
I tried getting up to put on the television, but they stopped me; "Sit down, and keep quiet."
I rolled my eyes at how rough they were, I just wanted something to do.
I was in there for about fifteen minutes but it felt like an hour.
I was relieved when my father opened the door.
"Papa!" I exclaimed, running towards him for a hug.
I had never seen my father so distraught.
He held on to my shoulders, he could barely stand to his feet.
"My dear Melina, intruders again; I have no idea what's going on? Where have I gone wrong?" he said, his eyes a bit watery. I felt like I met my breaking point; my father's lifestyle was catching up with him and I was in danger too. I was his closest family member and anyone could easily abduct or hold me accountable for my father's actions if they couldn't get to him. I looked into his eyes I could see the pain; he sat right beside me and pondered on what he'll do next.
"I think we have to move Melina; a lot of my men are dead!" he said in a shaky voice.
I turned over to him, my face dazed; "What, papa who and who?"
I asked trying to see if he would call names; I immediately thought of Deablo.
The steel door was still open, I had no idea what got over me, but I ran outside yelling Deablo's name. When I ran outside, a man was pointing at me with a gun. I stood there speechless, I didn't even budge. My father ran out behind me, and the man shot my father in the chest, just before Deablo could have taken him down. I held my head, I had no idea how to react in the situation; another parent gunned down before my eyes, my eyes became soggy. The guards rushed my father to the safe room, as one of them called the doctor who lived just outside our premises. It was my father's doctor actually; because as you imagine a man like my father had no place in a hospital. While they rushed my father out, I realised Deablo was bleeding from his chest. I ran towards him and he stepped away from me.
"No Melina, stay back, I'm not sure if it's safe yet," he said, panting loudly.
I froze, my eyes were filled with more water. I wanted so badly to hold him and ensure he was okay.
"You need to see a doctor!" I exclaimed.
"Don't worry about me Melina, stay inside," he said, struggling to run to the front.
I felt all alone, as I walked back to the safe room.
I realised that there was no one forcing me back to the safe room, so I decided to wander down to my room.
When I got to my room I was shocked. The walls were covered with bullet holes and my entire room was ransacked. I quickly lifted up my pillow, grabbed my phone and ran back to the safe room.
My first instinct was to text Valentina. It had been a while since we talked; I wasn't sure if she was busy, if she didn't want to talk or if we just grew apart.
I knew I wasn't supposed to tell anyone about these kinds of events at the mansion, but I needed someone to talk to.
I think my long paragraph scared her. She usually replied quickly, but thirty minutes had gone by and still no reply.
I scratched my head, scrolling through my contacts to see who else I could text.
It was in that moment it hit me again, I didn't have many friends or people I could talk to.
I looked long and hard at Rosella's name, but she was only my teacher, we weren't friends.
I decided not to text anyone else, instead, I ended up on twitter and strange enough the news was talking about people who successfully crossed the 'Darien Gap.' They commented on how the people were yet to be found and authorities feared that they might have been long gone.
I smirked at the news and had hope that, that would soon be my portion.
This random guy was commenting below the posts saying, "If you wanna cross contact me." I wasted no time in clicking his profile and to be honest he seemed legit. I was a bit sceptical about texting him; it wouldn't hurt to try.
He replied to me within seconds and he told me all about himself. I wasn't sure if I could believe him, so I asked if it was okay that we talked about it for a while; let me slowly gain his trust.
His response was sweeter than I thought; "Of course, take all the time you need; you'll see with time that I am who I say I am." As I rose up my head from looking at the last message he sent; a guard came in; "Melina, pack a suitcase, we're leaving now."
I looked at him as though he was crazy and then it hit me; we were going to the safe house.
My mind strayed back to my mother's death. We went to the safe house for two months after she died, it took a while before things got back to normal.
I hated it there, it was like a cabin in the woods and it was always so cold.
It was so ancient, outdated; we were limited on water and electricity. I dreaded leaving the mansion, but I feared for my safety and I had more freedom at the safe house anyway.
I stood to my feet and asked; "What about papa? Is he coming along too?"
"Melina, don't ask questions, just move!" one of them told me sharply.
I wasn't even familiar with these guards; I was much more appreciable of the presence of Puntin, Deablo, Demarco or Neil.
I walked quietly out the door, not even looking them in their faces. I know they worked for my father but I didn't trust them; I had no idea what was going through their minds.
I'm so sure my mother would not have liked this situation.
Me having to confide in a bunch of men I didn't know; while my father, my only family, supposedly is fighting for his life.
It was a bittersweet moment. I felt alone and afraid, but it motivated me even more, to get out of this life.
Deablo
The mansion was under attack again. I don't know how to feel.
They didn't give us a chance to recover and I felt as though I 'let down' my boss, even though I just retained my role. I didn't have time to reacquaint myself with the tasks or even give the men different tasks and place them. I was distraught!
I thought long and hard about the situation and who would hit us this hard.
It had to be our biggest opponents, 'Los Zetas.'
They are our longest opponents and they are also very hard to 'rid' in the cartel industry.
Many of our previous opponents were easily abolished by making big deals and negotiation on the territory; but not Los Zetas. They believed that whatever they wanted they would have; no negotiations.
I just assumed it was them, I wasn't sure. I also knew that making allegations against them without proof wasn't a good idea, because the word could get out somehow and they would have my 'head' for it.
This was all that went through my mind as I laid in the nurse's bed with my chest bleeding out.
I didn't know if I was critical, but I felt very drowsy.
I looked over on my side and it was Puntin, he was injured badly too.
I thought to myself; we were two of Zambada's best men, if we should die, he's gonna go through a very long and hard process again, of replacing us.
I looked over to him as he stared back at me, his eyes barely open.
I lip spoke; "hang in there!"
He shook his head; but barely, assuring me that we'll be okay.
I had no idea if the nurses gave me something for the pain, or were trying to put me to sleep, but I just couldn't close my eyes fully.
The room was dark and not in the best of conditions.
Imagine not being able to go to a hospital-like a normal person; the police would be all over our asses.
For years we have been running our operations privately.
The community only assumes that we are in the drug industry, and there is no evidence to tie Zambada to anything.
Zambada was smart and also hired smart and trustworthy men to help him run his operations.
I had no idea while lying in bed, in pain, why all I could think about was the future of the cartel.
I just wanted to be healed immediately and get back to serving the cartel.
In a quick second, my mind immediately shifted to Melina, and if she was safe. I didn't trust the rest of the staff, because some of them are known for their sticky hands.
My mind awkwardly yelled; "I swear if they do anything to Melina, they're dead!"
A few minutes after my loud thoughts, the nurse came over me and injected me with this huge needle; I was knocked out.
