Sorry! I lied... this wasn't the chapter! I must admit, I was growing impatient and annoyed, but this part of the story was important. Sorry!
(I do not own this Novela!)
Chapter 25
"I respect myself, Franco."
He couldn't shake those little words from his head as he stood in his shower, allowing the warm gush of water to pelt down his back.
"And I want others to respect me."
Franco ran his fingers through his tousled sandy hair, trying to recollect his small but emotional encounter with Sarita, who kept confusing him even more.
He was beginning to second guess his attraction to her. One minute, she's cold, the next she's warm, hot, and then back to cold. There's so many layers to that small young woman. He was so sure no other woman had rattled his mind like she has.
He felt more of the warm water run down his back and through his hair.
"I respect myself, Franco."
The more he replayed those little lamenting words, the more he thought back how she used to act towards him and his brothers. He remembered her once saying something along those lines. His mind replayed that incident when she first confronted him and his brothers in the middle of the road. He would never forget her fury and the hatred rumbling inside him as she threatened them.
"My sisters may not respect themselves, but I do. I will be watching your every move. I won't take my eyes off you for a second, gentlemen."
Franco sighed, remembering that day so clearly. She was so vicious and riled with incredible hatred and anger. That hatred festered in her until the night of the fashion show.
He cupped his hands under the running water and splashed it over his eyes as he thought about her anger and the reason behind it. He began to feel an anguish burning within him. Especially for her.
That anger and all that hatred was just a mask. A mask she'd been wearing in spite of him for far too long.
No woman he had ever encountered dared to be so honest to admit their faults as Sarita did. He won't ever forget how vulnerable she had been with him. It was as if she'd laid her heart to him and opened it so trustingly.
He swore under his breath, empathy and sincerity brewing in his heart as he thought more about her confession, for he too suffered the way she did with Rosario Montes. He wouldn't wish that heartache on anyone, especially to a woman who he'd just grown to see in a new light.
Sarita deserved better and he was willing to do whatever it takes to get to know her. She confessed to him that she still didn't trust him because she has never had a chance to know him. He was going to make sure he respects her wishes. He was definitely sure he was going to respect her in any way so she could fully trust him.
Franco finishes his shower and steps out of his bathroom to see what awaits him.
And what awaited him wasn't pleasant. To him or his brothers, especially to Juan.
There were rumors that Juan had tried to abuse Dinora Rosales and when her parents tried to defend her "honor" a bomb was set off in their car. This was all very nerve wracking, especially when Franco tried to ask his newest employees, Manolo and Miguel, who had witnessed two strange men making an unwanted delivery of poultry feed bags.
"They were two guys we've never seen before." Monolo informed Franco, who's eyebrow raised in alert. "They said it was their first time coming to this ranch and they only brought two bags."
"What do they look like?" asked Franco, dread eating at him.
"They were uh…" stammered Miguel, Manolo's younger brother. "Tall and umm... medium in height. And had beards and mustaches and they were dressed in overalls."
"Did they at least leave a receipt after their delivery?" questioned Franco, his suspicions rising.
"I did ask for it." said Miguel. "But they never gave it and that's when Dinora's parents came in to speak with Juan."
Franco felt his insides turn cold.
"We kept our attention on Juan and her parents rather than the two other men." confessed Miguel.
"That's when we noticed they disappeared." added Manolo in defense.
"Then let's go check the storage room to see what's in those bags," said Franco.
The two men followed Franco to the storage room by the stables. When Franco spotted the bags, he realized the deception. Instead of poultry and fresh hay the three men found only sawdust and rocks.
Franco came to a realization that the two strange men came to do something more than a simple delivery. They clearly were trying to harm someone. Franco thought hard and came to a conclusion that he was probably who they were trying to harm but failed miserably by targeting the wrong vehicle. The Rosales had a red car similar to Franco's, causing a great misunderstanding.
Franco had enough of this mess, especially when it involved his brother's happiness, especially Juan's. This could put a complete dent in Juan's relationship with Norma, whom he knew Juan would do absolutely anything for.
He was practically fuming on his drive to the dreaded bar Alcala, where he knew that woman and her bastard husband were probably working. He had to confront the two of them, mostly Rosario. How many times does he have to warn her to stay clear out of his life? Because of her, shit was piling up and nearly sabotaged his brother's life.
Enough is enough.
He finally gets there and feels dread tearing up within him. He remembers a time where he used to feel so happy just to see his first love, but all he feels now is disgust. He sees her performing and his demeanor hardened when she catches his eyes as she sings. He tears them from her and hastily stalks to her dressing room, waiting for her.
He hears the door open, but it wasn't Rosario who steps in. It was another performer. Pepita Ronderos, a vivacious and voluptuous woman with bright hazel eyes, glaring straight at him.
"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded. "How could you come here to see Rosario like this? Are you stupid?"
"I need to speak with her." Franco told her, his tone firm.
"You're only looking for trouble with Armando." she warned him. "Go before he sees you! He could kill you!"
Franco only stared at her and analyzed her. He didn't get a bad impersonation from her, but he could tell that Pepita was truthfully a loyal employee. But he had to set her straight to keep her out of his business.
"I'm not scared of him!" he shot at her. "You can go get him if you want! I need to speak with him and Rosario."
Pepita held a worried hand to her temple.
"I don't know what you're up to but you should go." she advised him. "If he sees you, he'll go mad."
"Ms. Pepita…" Franco began to say. "I already had a discussion with him but I need to speak with them. This is urgent."
As soon as he was done talking, Rosario stepped in the dressing room, alarming Pepita who tried to beg her to tell Franco to leave. Instead of complying with her coworker, Rosario simply asks the distressed woman to leave her alone with Franco.
When they were alone, Franco grabbed her by her shoulders, surprising Rosario. He accused her of everything. The kidnapping and the bomb planted in the Rosales' car clearly meant for him. Rosario denied everything, but Franco wasn't convinced.
All she kept doing was trying to feel on him, convincing him that she's innocent in whatever her husband was trying to plot. All Franco could do was leave her with a final warning.
"The police will look into all this." He cautioned her by fighting her off his arms. "Keep your distance. You are nothing but trouble."
Franco left the bar, feeling exonerated and spent. He cursed out loud, wondering when he and his brothers would finally be at peace.
The next day, he and his brothers were training their horses in their open fields. He spotted Juan leaning over the fence, his huge shoulders slumped as his dark eyes wandered over the fields that belonged to the Elizondo's. Franco sighed sadly, knowing that Juan was thinking about Norma. Their love was faltering because of Dinora Rosales, but Franco knew Juan loved Norma with every breath he had.
Juan could be a little rough around the edges but he can be the biggest teddy bear, especially when protecting the ones he loved. His brothers and the woman who bore him a son, who he now couldn't see anymore because of whatever happened with Dinora Rosales, whom they've decided to confront the very next day.
The three brothers stood there, staring at a furious Zacarias Rosales being detained by his wife, Ursula, his daughter and niece.
Dinora had enough of her father's aggression and forced him to sit on the sofa. The brothers were astounded by her strength and Franco came to a realization that this beautiful woman could possibly be as dangerous as he thought.
"We only came to clear some things." He started to say once Zacarias calmed down. "We need to solve our problems as civilized people."
"Of course." agreed Dinora. "I understand."
Franco felt that her agreement was false. There was something about this woman that made him slightly uncomfortable.
"We just want to handle this in peace." She says, looking to both her mother and cousin, who also nodded in agreement.
Zacarias grunted impatiently on the sofa and jumped to his feet, facing his family.
"What peace?" he shouted. "We don't need to talk about peace!"
"Dad!" scolded Dinora.
"That man abused you!" he shot back at Juan, who remained calm at Franco's side. "And then savagely attacked us with a bomb! We shouldn't let them go unpunished!"
"Zacarias!" shouted his wife, Ursula. "Please! We've discussed this! We agreed it wasn't Juan's fault! It was only an accident! Come on!"
"So Dinora's abuse was accidental?" Zacarias argued, glaring at Juan. "I have to punish this bastard!"
"Dad!" shouted Dinora. "Juan never did anything, okay?"
Franco's eyes narrowed at the feigned soft tone in her voice.
"Belinda, " she called to her cousin. "Please take my father to the kitchen and give him a sedative."
Belinda obeyed and dragged her stubborn father out of the living room. As soon as they left, Dinora approached them, offering her apologies for any misunderstanding. Franco and his brothers weren't convinced. Dinora had a strong character and lying didn't suit her. Franco could practically see through her. She reminded him of Rosario. As beautiful and modelesque she appeared to be, Franco could sense that there's something more to her than meets the eye.
During Dinora's feigned apologies, the Rosales' door began to buzz, and much to the brother's surprise, it happened to be Gabriela Elizondo and Norma.
Franco felt Juan freeze where he stood as he stared longingly at the mother of his child. Norma in turn, stared back. Her light brown eyes glistened sadly at the sight of Juan. She announced she will be waiting outside when the brothers leave, but Juan trailed after her. Franco felt his desperation and his own heart shattered when Norma tore her arm away from Juan's grasp.
The Reyes brothers left the Rosales' ranch, all three feeling uneasy. Oscar drove quietly while Juan muttered to himself. Franco could tell that his mind was racing with thoughts of Norma and his son. Dinora had messed up his relationship with her. Franco took pity on him and decided he would do whatever means necessary to fix this. The only way to help was to speak to someone who was close to Norma… that someone was Sarita.
Perhaps she could be the answer to all this chaos, but if only she'd see him again. He sure hoped so.
Okay! On to chapter 26! Thank you for reading!