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Grateful, I take one of the cups and inhale the rich smell. The warmth spreads through me as I take a sip of the bitter liquid, waking up my senses.
"Thanks," I mumble gratefully.
Rico joins me in the room and sits down on one of the chairs. He takes a sip from his own cup before speaking again.
"Don't worry, Boss. We'll find her," he reassures me in a hushed tone, conviction in his voice.
I study his face and see the flicker of doubt in his eyes. I’ve been there. But we both understand that we can't allow ourselves to let the unknown get to us.
"Fuck yeah, we will," I reaffirm resolutely. "Natalia’s a fighter. She proved that back in Colorado. We just have to keep searching."
Rico nods slowly, finding comfort in my words. "We do. That’s the job we signed up for. "
We sip our coffee in silence, lost in deep thought. Outside, the gentle sounds of the town seep through the windowpane.
After a moment, Rico speaks up. "We should check for any local events happening tomorrow. Maybe someone has spotted or knows something about Natalia."
I agree, knowing that if she is here, loitering around town may increase our chances of finding her. "Just make sure to keep a low profile."
Rico nods in understanding. "That's the plan. The guys will get after it."
Together, we finish our coffees and he heads back to his room. We all need rest after the exhausting day of traveling. I finally settle into my room and begin to unwind. I’m glad it’s clean enough to not feel the ick factor when relaxing in bed. The sheets are white and the slight smell of bleach gives me some reassurance.
Rico sends me a message a few minutes later, letting me know that some of the men will be scouting out the local nightlife for whatever leads they can hunt down. It’s quitter, and that gives me time to process what we’ve been through for the past few days and all the things we should be doing next. I sit on the edge of the bed, feeling drained. There’s a chance that Natalia may not be in New Mexico at all. All we know is she got away from whoever took her, and took some cash to try to get even more distance between herself and those people. My guess about Taos could be completely off, and if that's the case, we run the risk of our lead going even colder. But I have to start somewhere, and this is my best guess.
The sudden blaring of my phone with my younger twin brothers’ ring tone shatters the quiet stillness around me, jolting me back to reality. With a heavy sigh, I pick up the call from Joseph and Joshua. Their voices echo a bit through the phone and I can tell they’re in their college dorm room dorm in Florida. Excited chatter fills the room as they launch into their usual routine of talking to me together on speakerphone.
They’re concerned about Natalia. "Where are you right now? When can we come down to help?" they ask almost simultaneously, so ready and eager to join the search.
I run a hand over my face before answering, trying to hide the worry in my voice. "I'm in New Mexico at the moment, but no... you guys need to focus on your studies. I have things under control," I insist.
"But we want to help! We fucking need to be there!" Joey protests, his determination evident in every word.
Sighing heavily, I rub my forehead, feeling drained from all that has transpired. "Listen, when the time is right, I'll call on you two. For now, it's best for you both to stay safe and far away from this dangerous situation," I say firmly, aware of the weight of responsibility as their older brother. "This is not something you should be involved in. Not yet."
A heavy silence falls on the line. They know it’s true. "Shit man, okay. Just...be careful," Josh finally relents, his voice filled with genuine concern. "But let us know anytime. We'll come." They really think they’ll make a difference. I smile. Anything is possible but I don’t want them involved. They’re not supposed to be a part of this hunt.
I promise to keep them updated and the tension in my shoulders starts to ease just hearing their voices. It's a nice break from our recent routine. "Thanks, guys. Hey, tell me about college. How's everything going?" They quickly shift gears and share stories of campus life - new friends, challenging courses, wild parties, and of course, the ladies.
After a while, I end the call, grateful that they didn't just impulsively jump in their truck and rush up to join me. My brothers are level-headed and responsible, but no one can dodge bullets. I need to protect them, to spare them from any potential harm.
I've fucking lost enough.
13
Natalia
I slipthrough the front door of the community center and make my way to the gymnasium where the self-defense class is normally held. As I step across the threshold, the soles of my sneakers squeak against the smooth surface. A familiar scent of sweat and rubber mats fills the air, mingling with a hint of stale coffee from the nearby meeting room. I take comfort in being surrounded by some familiar faces.
As I enter, nods and soft smiles greet me from the regular attendees. After that recent confrontation at a bar, I've become acutely aware of my own vulnerability and am committed to show up for these self-defense classes. Each session is helping to shift my mindset from potential victim to someone who’s prepared to defend themselves.
The center buzzes with lively energy, a welcoming atmosphere that’s a refreshing change from my lonely life outside of work. For these classes, I wear simple workout clothes, different from my usual attire at the motel. My hair is tied in a practical ponytail, swaying with each movement I make.
Our instructor, a woman of medium height with an air of authority and a black belt visible around her waist, calls the class to attention. She has a stern face, softened by friendly eyes that have seen many come through her classes, each with their own story. We begin with a warm-up, the room echoing with the sound of synchronized stretches and deep breaths.
As the class starts, I find myself paired up with a middle-aged man named Mark. He's tall and broad-shouldered, giving off his strong persona. We exchange nods before settling into our defensive stances.
"So, how long have you been coming to these classes?" I ask, breaking the silence between us.
