Happy Sunday, all!

This is just a reminder that this story is going to become darker as it continues. So buckle up your seatbelts. We've passed the halfway mark and we are going to be riding at full speed.

As always, thank you for reading. And I hope you enjoy!

Linny

Chapter Twenty-Four

After a wash and a quick, yet unsatisfying nap, Diego was prepared to face what was left of the day. As he dressed in his burgundy suit, he thought over his long night. His father had been impatiently waiting in the garrison when he and Olivia had returned in the company of the soldiers. He'd been almost frantic to see his son pull up in such a state, but he was also relieved when he realized he'd been mostly unharmed.

Diego had been surprised by the bone-crunching hug he'd received but was thankful for it at the same time. He hadn't realized how much the events had taken their toll on him. He'd been exhausted; physically, mentally, and emotionally.

As his father hugged him, he had instantly been transported back to when he was a boy. It had been comforting after such an ordeal.

If only Olivia had someone like him to care for her as well. She'd tried to pretend that she didn't need anyone so she could seem brave, but Diego had seen the truth. She was scared with no one to turn to; no one to trust.

Well, she could trust him and he was going to prove it to her.

Tying off his cravat, he checked the mirror one last time. The man reflecting back at him was not the same man he always saw. This man looked tired and bruised. The back of his head still throbbed, though at least now it wasn't to the rhythm of a tambor(1). It had significantly dulled, but it was still noticeable. He touched his swollen lip with a finger and winced.

If his actions of the night before hadn't proved to her that he was trustworthy, he didn't know what would. Still, even if it took forever, he would prove it to her.

His bedroom door opened and Bernardo entered. He looked almost as tired as Diego. "Is everything set?" he asked, turning to his mozo.

Bernardo didn't fight back his yawn before nodding.

"Good." He began to head to the door but paused as he looked at his friend. "I never got the chance to thank you, Bernardo." His words were sincere, which surprised his servant. "You've always been there to look after me. There would be no Zorro without you."

Bernardo pretended to dab at a falling tear with his handkerchief.

Diego chuckled, "Too much?"

The mute shrugged as if to say a little.

"I am serious though. It was quick thinking getting Ramon and trying to find us. But, how did you know we'd been captured?" It was one thing that had confused him all morning. Bernardo hadn't been anywhere around the night before.

Bernardo motioned toward the bed, then underneath it.

"Under?" It took a moment before Diego truly understood. His eyes went wide in horrified shock. "You were hiding under Olivia's bed? Why?"

At least his servant managed to look sheepish as he tried to explain.

Diego wanted to chastise him for going after his wild ideas of Olivia and la Sombra being the same person. But, not only had it been true but it had been useful. "I should be angry with you, you know?"

Bernardo remained sheepish, knowing that Diego wouldn't say any more about it.

"I suppose we both found out the truth, then. That should make things a bit easier when our guest arrives."

The sound of horses approaching the hacienda told them that their guest had arrived and with an escort. Bernardo opened the bedroom door and peered over the wall. Ramon led the escort, flanked only by Sergeant Garcia and Corporal Reyes. He told Diego so.

"Well, this isn't going to go well," he muttered as he took a step outside just as the gate was opened.

He and Ramon had discussed this plan at length once they'd returned to the cuartel. Ramon would be the one to explain to her that the inn was no longer a safe place for her to reside while Diego would arrange for a room at the hacienda to be prepared for her. While initially, Ramon would have the difficult task of telling her, Diego would be the one who would have to deal with the aftermath.

"I wish you would allow me to post my soldiers around the perimeter of the hacienda," Ramon was trying to convince Olivia as he trailed behind her while she stormed through the main gate.

"You should be happy that I have agreed to this at all. It is both insulting and embarrassing that you felt the need to strong-arm me into agreeing to this." Even from where he stood, Diego could see that her cheeks were flushed with anger. He watched her swivel on her heel to glare at Ramon as she stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest.

Ramon looked just as angry as he stood toe-to-toe with her. This argument had clearly been going on for some time and both seemed to have reached their wit's end. And still, he looked like he was not going to back down. "If I had strong-armed you, you wouldn't have just walked through that gate."

"Oh really? And what would you have done, then? Thrown me over your shoulder like a sack of grain and carry me inside?" She wasn't going to back down either, it seemed. She was very angry.

She would probably be even more so when Diego told her it had actually been his idea. Not Ramon's.

"If I needed to," the Captain fired back. "Staying here is in your best interest, Olivia."

"You don't get to decide that," she countered.

"Please, señorita," Sergeant Garcia's plea interrupted their argument as he tailed behind them a few paces, "The Capitán only meant-"

"I know very well what he meant, but that does not mean that I have to be treated like a petulant child."

Ramon's anger looked to be getting the better of him as his face turned an uncomfortable shade of red. It was a stark contrast against the deep blue of his uniform. "If you wouldn't act like one, then you wouldn't be treated as such."

"What makes you think this would be any safer than the posada? They were already prepared to kill Diego alongside me. What makes you think they won't make another attempt on him? Or Don Alejandro for that matter? Or any of the servants?" Of course, it was a good argument; even while she was in danger, she was still thinking of others.

Diego had to commend her for that.

"That is why I wanted my men posted nearby," he told her, talking slowly to make it seem like he was calming. It wasn't working, though. His posture was still too rigid and his jaw was clenched in aggravation.

"And I already told you that I will not be a prisoner simply because someone wants me dead."

That was the moment they could all see the Captain internally explode. His face turned practically purple as he opened his mouth to release his tirade. "You are the most stubborn-"

"Buenas tardes, Capitán," Diego interrupted Ramon before he could say something he would regret.

The soldiers looked up to find Diego coming down the stairs to the patio. "Diego," he greeted with frustration as he tugged at the lapels of his uniform jacket in a way to expel his anger. His feathers had been ruffled by their argument. It seemed that Diego had chosen to end it at the proper time.

"What is all of this about?"

"The señorita has refused a proper guard while she is staying here." But the sound of his voice, he was hoping that Diego would be able to talk some sense into her.

Diego saw things differently, though. "Perhaps it would be for the best. After all, we don't want to draw attention to the fact that she is no longer at the inn."

The expression on Ramon's face told Diego that he was ready to argue. But, that was supposed to be the plan. No one was supposed to know that she had abandoned her room at the inn For all the rest of the pueblo knew, that was where she still resided. And only those who resided within the hacienda and these three soldiers were supposed to know her real location.

"He does have a point, Comandante," Garcia tried to be the voice of reason.

"I can see that, Sergeant," Ramon conceded with a sigh of defeat. "Very well. But, Garcia and Reyes will check in every morning and report back to me." He was leaving no more room for argument this time. He even followed her lead and crossed his own arms over his chest, challenging her.

"I suppose I can accept that," she responded after taking a moment to think it over.

"Also, you never go anywhere alone. Either Don Diego or Don Alejandro goes with you. Understood?"

Diego noticed the way the fire in her eyes raged back to life at his command and quickly stepped in to defuse the situation. "We will make certain that she stays safe, Ramon."

"Yes, I go from being kidnapped and held hostage in a tiny prison only be to locked up in another."

"At least it's a nice prison," Diego joked.

She rolled her eyes and turned to go inside, muttering a few unladylike phrases under her breath before slamming the door.

The two men shared exhausted expressions as they looked at one another.

Hands on his hips, Ramon rolled his neck back and forth to ease the tension she'd caused. "I would just like to remind you that this was all your idea."

"As if I could forget," Diego shook his head.

"Try to get some information out of her if you can."

"What? You don't think she told us everything?" He was already aware of that, but he wasn't so certain how much Ramon knew of her life back in Virginia.

The officer shook his head. "I don't know for certain. I just think she keeps too much bottled inside. Perhaps if you get her to open up, she might be willing to talk."

"What makes you think she'll tell me anything?"

"I know the two of you have grown close in the time she's been here. I consider her a friend, but the way she looks at you..." he trailed off without finishing his thought. "Just see what you can find out." Had that been the hint of jealousy in Ramon's eyes? Possibly, but Diego didn't think it had anything to do with him.

"I shall try my best, my friend."

"Good. My men and I will take our leave now. Keep us informed if you notice anything suspicious."

"Not to worry. She is in good hands." Diego showed the soldiers out just as his father was returning to the house after a ride through the pasture with his caporal. (2)

Don Alejandro quickly greeted the soldiers and bid them farewell in the same sentence as he made his way toward his son. "What is going on, Diego? I could hear arguing all the way to the stables." They waited for the soldiers to ride away before they walked inside.

"I'm afraid our house guest is not in the best of moods." Diego chuckled softly as his father began to look affronted.

Don Alejandro pulled off his gloves and clenched them together in a single fist. "Perhaps I should speak to her and tell her that she should be more respectful. She should be grateful that we have agreed to take her in after what happened."

Diego tried to reason with him that she had every reason to be angry, but his elder wouldn't hear it. He could only watch as the man who raised him stormed into the sala, his hot temper raging. He could hear him muttering under his breath about respect as he followed him inside. Why had he thought this was such a great idea again?

Olivia sat at the dining table where a light lunch had been set out for them to enjoy while she got settled. Emily—who had been at the hacienda all morning helping to get her room prepared—sat beside her with a stern expression in her eyes.

Diego waited for the explosion of his father's anger, but it didn't come. Instead, his temper deflated when he caught sight of her.

He peered around his father's shoulders to see for himself. She didn't look as angry anymore. She even looked a little embarrassed. But mostly, she just looked tired. She was certainly paler than she had been earlier that morning. He could imagine that she hadn't had the chance to rest at all.

"Forgive me, Don Alejandro. I did not mean the things I've said." She paused and was greeted with a sharp elbow jab from her maid. "I'm very grateful that you have taken us in." Though the words had certainly been coaxed out of her from Emily, there was little doubt that they were sincere.

Don Alejandro floundered with forming a response, which made his son chuckle.

"I think she might have heard what you said," Diego patted his father on the back with pity. While embarrassment was a rare feeling for the older man to experience, it was clear on his features.

Straightening himself, he regained his familiar sturdy composure. "Apology accepted. And we are happy to have you." He motioned at the food that had been set out. "Please, let us eat lunch and talk." He pulled out his usual chair at the head of the table and joined them.

Diego took his place across from her, ladling up a bowl of vegetable soup for his father, and then began another. "Olivia?" She had been eyeing the soup with want as it poured into the ceramic bowl.

"I would love some," she replied, accepting the bowl gratefully when he handed it to her.

He poured another for Emily as well and then poured one for himself. "Now, before we delve into anything serious, why don't we just eat lunch and you can rest for a bit?" Anything she had to tell them could wait.

"It's not like I'm going anywhere anyway," she commented sarcastically which made her receive another sharp jab of Emily's elbow. "I mean, I would appreciate that. Very much." She scowled at the woman beside her, though Diego could see there was very little malice behind it.

He chuckled to himself as he sipped his soup, while his father began to tell her about the household and to just ask if she needed anything.

Incompetent. All of them. She was only one woman and nearly a dozen of the most ruthless and cruel men in the district couldn't dispose of her? Absolutely useless, the lot of them.

He glared at those that remained with his good eye as they drank from a bottle of brandy that had probably been stolen from the tavern. The group chatted jovially, ignorant of the anger boiling up inside of him.

He picked up the still full glass of amber liquid they had poured for him and took a second to watch it swirl within. He cradled the weight of it in his palm right before throwing it across the room of the small cabaña—the same one where he should have found that woman's head.

The loud crash of broken glass brought silence to the room. Again, he glared at him, this time his eye focused on each of them in turn.

"Idiots," he growled. "I give you one duty and you cannot even do that right." No one responded or even attempted to. "How difficult is it to kill one woman?"

"From my understanding, she was not alone," Borromeo spoke up when the rest of the men refused to. He wasn't looking in Allende's direction as he leaned back in his chair and drank deeply from his glass. The fool should be more concerned.

"It is inexcusable. I don't care if she was alone or if she had an entire army protecting her. I want her dead."

"What is she to you anyway?"

Allende was beginning to regret hiring this oaf and his stupid group of bandits. "That is of no importance to you. If you want to be paid the rest of your money, you will do as you are told."

"That's just it, isn't it? You would do anything to get what you want. Wouldn't you?"

Was this idiot trying to blackmail him and try to get more money? Did he think he was smart enough to try such a thing with him? There was only one way to find out. "Just what is on your mind?"

"See, now that Zorro is aware that the señorita is a target, that puts my men in more danger." He motioned to the group around them with nonchalance.

Allende rolled his eyes at the audacity of this fool. "Go on." He would let him talk. He just didn't know that every syllable he uttered would bring him another step toward his own grave.

"We have to wonder just how much you'd be willing to pay for her head." The smirk he wore would be chilling to someone who hadn't seen this coming.

And he wasn't a man that could be intimidated so easily. "How much are you asking for?"

"Double. Up front. And you'll have her body on your doorstep by morning."

He couldn't resist. He had to laugh. That, in turn, made Borromeo and his men laugh. Good. That meant that they believed that he would pay. His expression instantly turned cold, his pupils turning to ice. "How stupid do you think I am?" He asked before drawing his pistol and shooting Borromeo in the head.

His men fell silent as Allende turned to face them. None of them were laughing now.

"Understand this," he addressed them, his eyes scanning their faces and taking in the shocked and terrified expressions they now wore. "I will not hesitate to shoot you all dead. Unless you want to end up like Gilberto or him," he pointed to their now dead former leader, "you will do as I say. Am I clear?"

There was a murmur of "Sí, señor" from the men as they all looked on in horror. They were afraid of him now. Good.

(1) tambor- drum- cylindrical shaped and closed on one or both sides with a stretched leather head; played with drumsticks, a mallet or the hands

(2) caporal- foreman- man in charge of cattle on a farm