AN - This chapter is again, pure angst! Enjoy!

Once Oscar and Felipe sat down inside a cantina with Coco, she managed to do her best to describe to them what happened to her and her papa on their trip.

Oscar placed Coco on his lap, gently massaging her wrists.

"Ese hijo de puta!", yelled Felipe, outraged. He slammed the table with his fist causing some of the glasses to tremble.

Oscar covered Coco's ears. "Felipe!", he scolded. Granted he too thought the same but he still had some sense not to curse in front of children.

"We can't let him get away with this! Come on", said Felipe, motioning towards the door. The three exited the cantina on a mission of their own as they made their way down the street. "That loco baboon won't know what hit him!", he slurred.

Balancing Coco on his shoulders, Oscar thought about what he just said. "Baboon? You're drunk aren't you?"

"A little... oh shut up!"

And there it was. Sure, it was a plain house, but for Hector it was paradise. He quickly ascended the few stairs that reached the door and knocked. "Imelda!", he shouted. Wait... why was he knocking? Opening the door, he entered shutting it again.

From the few lights that were lit he could see the contents of the living room were askew. A photo had been smashed, chairs had been toppled over, and Pepita was hissing in the corner.

Hector took a couple of steps forward, immediately turning around the minute he heard the door lock.

Ernesto looked like he's been through Hell. There were scratch marks all over his face that drew some blood. His hair was untamed. The wild look in his eyes made him unrecognizable.

Though Hector was surprised to see him in this state, he was even more focused on Imelda. Ernesto had her restrained in front of him; using her as a shield. He had his one arm around her neck, the other holding the gun to her temple.

It was clear Imelda had tried to put up a fight, but his strength was too much for her. Stray tears begun to slide down her face. Oh, how Hector hated seeing her like this. She usually never cried. Ever. Whatever Ernesto had done to her resulted in a small cut on her lip that was bleeding.

Taking a small step forward, Ernesto forced Imelda forward as well. She gasped after holding her breath for a minute. "Told you he'd come", he whispered in her ear. "He's always been such a good guy...", he mocked.

Hector took a step back. Arms slightly up in the air. He wondered just when this would all be over. As much as he wanted to get angry, he had to try and remain calm. He couldn't risk any of his actions that could bring Imelda to harm. "Ernesto-"

"Shut up! I'm sick of listening to you! Now you must listen to what I want!", shouted Ernesto.

"What's going on, Hector? Where's Coco?", pleaded Imelda. Her nails digging into the arm Ernesto held her with.

His eyes softened as he stared at his wife. "She's safe, mi amor." His ice cold glare turning back to her captor. "Ernesto-"

"I said shut up!", he hollered, clicking the gun, shoving it a little harder to Imelda's head. She refused to make any noises. More tears ran down her cheek.

"Ernesto, she has nothing to do with this! This is between you and me. It always has been...", Hector said trying to sound convincing; convincing enough to make his voice less shaky and more brave. "There's nothing more I can do for you. If you want the fame, the glory... my guitar and songs, I'll willingly give it up. I only ask one thing of you, and that's to leave me and my family in peace. So please, just let her go..."

For whatever reason, a bit of humanity that remained in Ernesto had come back. He wasn't sure where it came from or why, but his crazy expression changed to a calm one. Taking his arm back from around Imelda, he pushed her roughly into Hector's arms.

The moment he held her, Hector was full of happiness and relief. "Imelda-", he began but he couldn't finish. More so than ever before, he cherished holding her close and seeing her smile at him. He smiled back. Bringing up both his hands to her face, he used his thumbs to wipe her tears away.

"I know, Hector, me too...", she whispered as she looked up at him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

With one hand still on her cheek, he used his other arm to wrap it around her waist, pulling her closer to him, (if that was even possible), and kissed her passionately.

A few minutes had passed before they realized Ernesto was still with them. He looked unsure of what to do next.

Nevertheless, Hector released Imelda, pushing her behind him. If someone was going to be killed, it sure as Hell wasn't going to be the love of his life.

From the outside, people stood in shock as a single gunshot could be heard from inside the Rivera household...