The guard comes into the room. “Visiting time is over, y’all. Sorry.” He lifts the handcuffs and dangles them. “We need to put these back on, Alejandro. Rules are rules. Let me see your wrists.”
This is always the hardest part.
I glance away and bite the insides of my cheeks to stifle a sob. I hate seeing my brother dragged away, those rings tightened around his wrists.
Nathan’s warm palm lands on my back once again and this time he rubs me gently. “Stay strong, Eva,” he whispers.
His touch is soothing, and his words give me the courage I need to blink at Ale.
Nathan ruffles my brother’s hair that for some reason seems shinier than ever. “Be good, Ale,” he says.
I pull my brother into a hug. “Just a few more days, little brother. Soon you’re coming home.”
The guard clears his throat. “Sorry, Miss Flores. We really need to go back.”
“Don’t worry, Eva.” Ale winks at me. “I’ll be fine. Will you bring Nathan to pick me up?”
I don’t know how to answer. Would Nathan want to come? “Ale, we’ll have to see. Nathan is a busy businessman.”
The corners of Ale’s lips turn down. He must have enjoyed Nathan’s company more than I thought.
Nathan pats my brother’s arm. “I’ll do my best to come. But In any case, once you’re out, I’m taking you to see the new Avengers movie. What do you say?”
“In a cinema just for us?” my brother asks with puppy eyes.
“Sure thing.” Nathan grins, then turns to me. “I think we need to leave now, Eva.” He cocks his head to the guard who is drumming his fingers on his belt.
“See you soon, Ale.” I wave to my brother.
As we walk out of the visitor area, Ale yells behind us. “Any last advice, Nate?”
Nathan glances back and points a finger to the ceiling. “Just one. Never forget—‘With great power comes great responsibility.’”
I see the guard rolling his eyes, and I grab Nathan’s elbow. This time I’m the one pulling him toward the exit. “All right, Stan Lee, let’s move.”
We go to collect our belongings we’ve left at the gate, and in a few minutes, we’re outside, sitting in Nathan’s Jaguar.
I lean back on the comfy seats and let the tension dissipate from my muscles. I’m so grateful to have come with Nathan. I won’t have to endure the journey back alone. It’s a time when I always feel emotionally vulnerable. His presence envelops me in a warm sense of protection, which is relaxing and confusing at the same time.
Nathan’s smooth baritone wakes me from my contemplation. “You look more at ease now. It must be tough to carry so much responsibility for your family.” He shakes his head. “Honestly, I don’t even know how you do it.”
“You work for your family’s company, right? You’re responsible for them, too.”
“Not in the same way as you. I make money for them. But it’s the satisfaction of succeeding at my own goals that drives me. I’m not altruistic like you are. Or this caring. Facts that have turned against me and…I’ve been considering changing lately.” There’s an odd edge to his voice.
“What do you mean ‘turned against you’?” I ask.
His chin hardens. “Let’s not speak about this. Do you come every week to see your brother?”
“I tried. At first, I missed my visiting times, because I was busy with settling back in San Sebastian. But, lately, I’ve paid attention not to go a week without dropping by. Even if he’ll be released soon, he still needs to know we haven’t forgotten about him and are waiting for him. This sense of family should help him stay away from the bad people in the future, I hope.”
Fernando’s sly smirk flashes into my mind and I shiver. If only I could find Alejandro a suitable job once he is out…
As if Nathan can read my thoughts, he furrows his brows and asks, “Are you afraid Alejandro will fall back in with your ex?”
“No, I doubt that. But Ale is a busy bee. He needs constant action and wants to feel useful. I guess that’s how he ended up seeing Fernando and his pals in the first place. Ale was looking for a job and being a well-paid delivery guy to a friend sounded like a dream. If he doesn’t get employed soon after he’s released, he might decide to search for something in the wrong circles. Believe it or not, our barrio is pretty full of those…”
My lips twitch as I recall my talk with Abuelita this morning. She urged me to ask Nathan if he knew someone who might hire. I told her I didn’t know how Nathan would react when he discovered our family’s situation so she couldn’t expect me to beg him for favors after I dropped a my jail/dealer-ex bomb on him.
“Doesn’t the correction facility have a reintegration program?” Nathan says.
“Yes, but not for detainees with such short sentences as Ale’s. My brother will get a parole officer, but I doubt he’ll have much help with finding employment. Ale’s a smart kid, he always had good grades. But that doesn’t mean much with a criminal record. I doubt any good employer would take a gamble on him. I’d hate to see my brother’s talents wasted, but it’s a risk…” I stare at my hands.
Nathan’s breathing grows heavier. “Eva, listen to me. I won’t allow anything to happen to your brother. I’ll see to it that he stays out of trouble. My aunt is well connected. She knows countless humanitarian organizations. We can surely find him a decent job.”
“No, Nathan…I couldn’t ask this of you…” I don’t want Nathan to think that I would use him or his connections in any way. It’s not what I like in him or want from him.
Then what do you want from him? A small cheeky voice in my head asks as
