chapter 2:
Sergeant Mendoza and two soldiers entered the busy tavern, cleary on duty because they were wearing their swords.
"Mendoza, I told you a million times, no weapons in my tavern!" Victoria said irritated.
"I am sorry, senorita Victoria but we are here for official business, there will be a curfew, all local businesses need to be closed at midnight and this until the capture of the outlaw going by the name Zorro," Mendoza said trying to hide his insecurities by using what he called an authority voice.
"Not again, Sergeant. We had this before. Do you want me in the poorhouse?" Victoria said starting to get angry.
"I am sorry, senorita but that was Alcalde Ramone, this is Alcalde Desoto. I have strict orders to see that everything is closed. All people who break the curfew will pay a fine of 500 pesos and the owners whose business is still open will be thrown in jail for at least a week.
Victoria turned to Diego who was standing behind her. He was reading the paper that was pinned to a pole in the middle of the tavern. She was obviously looking for support.
"I will tell the governor about this, Sergeant," Diego said before walking out. Victoria groaned, why didn't he stand up for once. Sometimes Diego could be so hopeless, while other times Diego was the first one to react, Victoria knew he had a temper but why did he hide that side of him so much.
Don Domingo had followed everything from out of a corner of the tavern. He had taken the opportunity that the chaos presented to walk down the stairs and place himself in a dark corner.
"This is outrageous. I want to talk to the Alcalde about this." Don Domingo said with authority.
"Senor, please, you don't want to do that." Sergeant Mendoza said clearly afraid for his Alcalde.
"What isn't a good idea, Sergeant?" Desoto asked behind him.
Sergeant Mendoza startled at the hearing the voice of Desoto, "They are not reacting well to your curfew; mi Alcalde."
"What's the reason for all this? Why ruin this lovely Senorita's business?" Don Domingo asked a bit irritated.
"Who are you, senor?" Desoto asked a little pissed.
"My name is Don Domingo Mariano. I am here on a trip to meet my friend Don Diego De La Vega." The young don announced.
"I will give you one good advice senor, stay out of my way or I will make you," Desoto warned the man.
"You are a liar and a cheater Don Ignacio Desoto. I still know who you are and I never believed the fact that you studied hard." Don Domingo smirked.
"Zorro will not stand for this, Alcalde," Victoria said fiercely.
"Well, Senorita I am counting on it. I know he won't let you end up in the poorhouse." Desoto smirked.
"I can't disappoint you now can I!" sounded from behind him.
Zorro stood behind Alcalde Desoto with his sword poking in the Alcalde's back.
"Zorro!' Victoria cheered happily.
"At your service, Senorita." Zorro smiled charmingly.
Don Domingo made sure that he blended in the crowd. Now he was 100 percent sure that the legendary fox of the night was the one and only Don Diego De La Vega.
Zorro poked a little harder with his sword, just not hard enough to draw blood, "Alcalde, this is one of your weakest plans to capture me since your arrival. Now you have a choice take the curfew back or I will push a little harder."
"You never kill, Zorro. You are weak." Desoto smirked.
Zorro pulled the tip of his sword from the Alcalde's back and placed it at the man's throat, "Don't think for one minute I am weak, Alcalde. Don't mistake my choice of life for weakness because you don't know what I will do when you push me too far. Now take that curfew back!"
Desoto swallowed. This was the first time that the fox sounded so cold. He was sure that he meant what he said.
"I am waiting, Alcalde," Zorro smirked holding his sword even closer to his throat.
"Alright, alright. I hereby declare that there is no curfew anymore." Desoto said irritation in his voice.
Zorro slashed a Z in the back of the Alcalde's coat while letting out his famous whistle. Don Domingo was amazed when a coal-black stallion appeared. Zorro pushed the Alcalde towards the soldiers before jumping on Toronado's back, galloping away with soldiers shooting at him and bullets whistling beside him. Like always Zorro escaped but now there was a new threat. Don Domingo knew who he was although he didn't know that at this moment.
Don Domingo saw the love in Victoria's eyes when she looked at the dust cloud left by Toronado and the horses chasing him. She was madly in love with him and he knew now that seducing her wouldn't help at all. So it was time for plan B.
Victoria sighed and got back to work. This was a typical day in Los Angeles and she wasn't even one step closer to becoming Zorro's wife but she made a promise to wait for him and she had every intention of doing so.
Victoria was drying her glasses behind her bar when Don Domingo walked up to her.
"Don Domingo, what can I do for you?" Victoria asked politely
"Could I have a glass of your finest wine senorita?" The Don asked charmingly.
Victoria nodded and poured him a glass of one of her better bottles. It was nothing compared to what he was used to drinking in Madrid but it would have to do. Before he returned this woman would be his, the easy way or the hard way.
"I am sorry to hear you were looking for Don Diego, you just missed him he will out of town for the next few days." Victoria smiled.
"That's too bad because I forgot all about my appointment in San Pedro in a few days so I am going to leave tomorrow. Why don't you leave this little wasteland aside and come with me back to Spain as my wife? Such beauty should see the world and live in wealth." Don Domingo said charmingly.
"I'm flattered, Don Domingo but I love it here, this is my home. I don't need wealth to be happy. Besides I made a promise to wait for Zorro and I intend to hold my word. I only want a family with him and with nobody else." Victoria tried to stay professional this wasn't the first time that a traveler asked for her hand. She almost made the mistake once with an old friend and she wouldn't do that ever again. She wasn't going to betray Zorro.
"I would reconsider my offer, senorita. If you want your lover to live because word of his identity got to me. I will be leaving tomorrow you have until then to give me your answer." Don Domingo said. He kept his plans vague. He wasn't going to betray him to the Alcalde that would be too easy, no he wanted to beat Diego himself for all he went through. He wants to see the fear in his eyes. He knew the perfect way to lure him out.
"I don't need to reconsider, senor. Nobody knows who Zorro is. I will not go with you. If you will excuse me I have a lot of work to do." Victoria said irritated. He wasn't the first one to try and blackmail her with her love for Zorro but she had faith. She left the bar and went to her kitchen where she tried to calm down again.
Meanwhile, in the tavern, Don Domingo sat himself at a table and nodded to a man who just had entered the tavern. The man was bald and looked like he hadn't washed himself in months, the gray beard made him look like a vaquero coming from a long trip but nothing was what it seemed.
"You are Isaac Sanz's friend?" The bald man asked carefully.
Don Domingo nodded, "Si, I am. You are his contact person?"
The bald man nodded in return, "What can I do for you?"
"I don't go on a trip without enough plans to get what I want but are you willing to go against a man named Zorro? The bounty for his head is yours if you can defeat him." Don Domingo whispered.
"What do you want us to do and what's in it for us? Zorro's bounty isn't a guarantee you know." The bald man asked with an evil tone in his voice.
"Double the bounty on his head, 6000 pesos now and 6000 if you deliver what I want. Think about it 18000 pesos 12000 from me and 6000 for the bounty. I always get what I want if you don't do it then I find someone else to do it for me." Don Domingo said.
"What do you want us to do?" The man going by the name Lucho Gallo asked with a smirk on his face.
Don Domingo smirked, "I want her!" he said while looking towards the beautiful tavern owner but I want her reputation intact."
"That will cost another 2000 pesos." Lucho grinned. He knew he was one of the few gang leaders who would risk Zorro's wrath for money.
Don Domingo sighed, "Alright, but I pay it when you deliver. This is how what you will do."
Don Domingo had already planned to meet this guy in case his charms or blackmail didn't work. The only thing that had changed was that he would love to be married to the senorita. Of course, he hadn't known for sure that he would be attracted to the lady but there was one thing he knew about Diego. He loved the same type of woman as he did. If it hadn't been the case he would have still married her and see what he would have done afterward. He would probably hire someone to kill her and be the grieving husband.
Lucho didn't stay to hang out. He left the moment everything had been planned. Don Domingo stayed in the tavern though. He kept watching Victoria all evening but she let Maria or Pilar serve the man. Victoria on her turn was glad he wasn't the only overnight guest in her in, she didn't trust the man. She even got a creepy feeling but shrugged it off as a result of her talk with the man earlier today, sometimes even doubting if what he told her was true, that he really knew the identity of Zorro.
The tavern owner closed her tavern like she always did and went to bed she has still had a feeling that bad things were about to happen and it made her sleep restless. It was something she hadn't had before.
The next morning started like every morning with baking bread and preparing breakfast for her customers and overnight guest. Don Domingo left soon after breakfast with the coach of San Pedro. She was all too glad that he was gone but it still didn't ease her mind. She was still worried, she only didn't know why that was and was confused.
The day went by without the need for Zorro, which was good. Knowing Diego would only be home tomorrow evening.
Victoria closed her tavern again for the night but this time she wouldn't see her bed. Lucho and his right hand, Lorenzo Tamayo stood behind her. Lorenzo smashed one of her pots at her back. Victoria was knocked out before she even had the chance to see who had taken her.
"Come on princess, you have an appointment with your prince." Lucho laughed while Lorenzo took her off the ground and placed her on his horse which was waiting at her backdoor not to raise any suspicions. They left deep into the night without leaving a trail.
TBC in Chapter 3 ….
