Chapter 33

Time for the Truth

The sounds on the room were very loud and nothing pleasant to Caterina Toretto's sensible ears. It had been a while that she hasn't heard that fun and melodic voice that made her feel so safe; she also didn't have that cozy bosom where she enjoyed falling asleep on after feeding. Hungry. Little Nina was always starving now and in her few months of life she couldn't understand why that feeling wouldn't go away.

Agitated, the baby girl moved her arms and legs up in the air, her face red and lips pouting. It started as a "humph."

Gisele that was standing right beside Nina's carry on heard her little mumble and felt sorry for the baby.

"Hey baby, don't cry…"

However, Gisele's plea only made her angrier and a sequence of shrill screams started. Braga came inside the room and frowned when he heard the baby crying.

"Gisele, do something, mi hija!"- He complained covering his ears. "You know I can't stand crying babies."

"Like if I was an expert on babies."- Gisele said taking the baby in her arms and rocking her while whispering kind words.

"It's alright…shhhh…all good, little one."

Nina started calming down little by little but continued on mumbling in her baby language despite Gisele's efforts to make her more comfortable.

"Why is this baby here?"- Gisele asked while Campos served himself some whiskey from the mini bar.

"She's part of our insurance."- He told her.

"Insurance for what?"- She inquired. "Who this child belongs to?"

Campos replied without hesitation.

"Her name is Anna Caterina Toretto."

"Toretto?"- repeated Gisele.

"I suppose you're not fully aware of what happened hours ago. You should know what is going on chica, even on your time off."

"I didn't know Toretto had a baby."

"Neither did him, hija mia."- Campos told her with a smirk. "Mira…he said approaching them and getting really close from Nina. Her dark eyes widened for him. "She is a cutie, isn't she? The muchachita."

"What happened?"- Gisele questioned her Godfather.

Campos walked to the other side of the room and said:

"Toretto started a rebellion on the desert. He caused everyone to get shot including him.

Gisele's heart raced inside her chest; for some reason the idea that Dominic Toretto could be dead bothered her.

"But the coño didn't die. Someone rescued him and that playboy friend of his. You know the cabrón took our product with him. Millions of dollars! Nobody messes with Braga like that!"

"You going to exchange Toretto's baby daughter for the product."- Gisele concluded.

"That's what I want them to think but in fact I have other plans for the Chiquita.

"Oye Campos!"- Someone called for him on the other side of the door.

"I'm coming, cabrón!

Before leaving, he turned to Gisele and said:

"Take good care of this princesita, Gisele because she is made of gold!"

Gisele looked at Nina and said in a whisper:

"I'm so sorry, Caterina.

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"Dom, calm down!"- Mia asked him when he got out of the hospital bed and plucked the needle that was keeping fluids going into his veins out of his arm; a small quantity of blood stained the white sheets.

"Where's Letty?"

"She's on the way to the hospital."- Mia told him. "But you have to rest, Dom. You just went through a surgery…"

"Letty needs me…"- He said pushing his sister aside and walking towards the door but before he could reach the knob, he felt dizzy. Mia rushed to help him but Dom was way too heavy and she almost fell with him.

"Brian!"- Mia cried for help and Brian came to the room immediately followed by the doctor who had operated on Dom.

"He's still under the effect of the anesthesia."- The doctor explained.

With Brian and Mia's help he was able to put Dominic back to bed. When the needle was put back into his arm, Dom complained.

"I don't need this…I need to find Letty…"

"Dom…"

Her voice sounded in the room.

"Letty!"- Mia exclaimed rushing to her. "What happened?"- She asked when she saw Letty had a strain on her face and a few scratches on her arms.

Letty didn't answer her question because all her attention right now was focused on Dom.

"How is he?"

"He's alright. He just need to rest."- Mia told Letty.

"No, I don't…"- Dom said with a groggy voice.

Letty went closer to him and sat on the edge of the bed. The doctor finished with the needle on Dom's arm and left the room with Mia and Brian. Now the couple was all alone.

"Ay, papi…"- She whispered.

"I'm fine…Letty. I was worried about you."- Dom said trying to keep his eyes open. "Those son of a bitches started shooting everyone…"

"Just like they did when I was there the first time."- Letty told him. "How many people did they kill?"

"I can't tell for sure."- Dom said. "But you must be sure that we're going to track any of the survivors to testify against Braga when time comes. That's why I can't be laying here while…"- His eyes finally closed.

Letty heard his soft breathe and caressed his face, smiling.

"Duerme mi amor, just for now."

She felt something wet on her blouse and touched her breasts over the fabric. She frowned understanding exactly what that meant; that she had been too long away from her baby.

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"But what Letty is going to say when she finds out…"- Vince was saying in the waiting room when Letty showed up saying:

"Roman, how's my baby? I imagine that Pitty is with her in your house, right?"

Roman hold his breath.

"Letty…"- Mia started.

"Where's my daughter?"- Letty asked the question slowly, emphasizing syllable by syllable of her words.

"Braga has her."- Brian said with a sad face.

For a few seconds the expression on Letty's face didn't change what left the group intrigued but soon she jumped on Roman in a rage pushing him down the floor with a muffled sound.

"Somebody save me, please!"- Roman screamed trying to get away from Letty's wrists. "I swear it wasn't my fault!"

"Calm down, Letty!"- Mia asked her, moving her body away from Roman's with Brian's ad Leon's help.

"How did Braga put his dirty hands on my daughter, Roman?"- She yelled.

"The same way he has been getting away with everything from the beginning."- Monica said appearing in the waiting room, breaking the tension a little.

Roman sighed relieved and stood up. He went to find refuge near the FBI agent.

"Letty, I know how you feel at this moment."- Monica told her cautiously.

"Do you?"- Letty aggressively replied. "One of the biggest criminals in the US is using my daughter that is not even four months old as a hostage to get back to us!"

"I know!"- Monica said. "That's why he isn't going to hurt her."- She came closer to Letty. "Letty, Braga has the most precious thing in the world for you and Dom in his hands, but we have his product that is worth millions of dollars. He won't risk to lose it now."

"Letty shook her head and said:

"You might be right but who can guarantee that he's even going to give my baby back when he gets what he wants? I know what Braga is capable of! Ahora mi hijita esta en sus manos…(Now my baby girl is in his hands…)- Letty whispered the last sentence.

"Letty we're going to negotiate with Braga and bring Nina back!"- Brian promised her.

"Braga gave us two hours to call him back to start the negotiation."- Monica revealed. "I was just talking to Penning on the phone and he wants to know what exactly Braga has to blackmail us. I didn't tell him the truth yet because Penning doesn't know that Letty is alive.

"Now he's going to know."- Letty affirmed.

"Letty, maybe this is not the best moment to…"- Brian started.

"The son of a bitch has my baby, Brian!"- Letty yelled. "I'm going with you to the FBI to speak to Penning. After everything I have been through he can't deny help to get my daughter back!"

To be continued…