Page 33 of Cartel Cobra

We finish dressing and step into the hallway. Only our three boys are standing in front of our door. Jorge reaches for me, and I lift the four-year-old into my arms. His slobbery thumb presses against my neck as he rests his head on my shoulder.

“I think someone needs a siesta more than a snack.”

“No,mamá. Hungry.”

I look down the hall as Margherita and Luis speak to Pablo and Juan. Catalina and Matáis walk past them, but I don’t see Alejandro. The child is a Houdini. I bet he’s already found a snack and is out on the swings in the backyard. He can disappear before anyone notices. Scares the shit out of my sister and brother-in-law. They swear it’s why they stopped at one.

“Niños, come feed mynietos.”

“Yes,mamá.”

Six adult voices answer my mother as we guide most of our brood downstairs. It doesn’t matter how old any of us get, she still calls us children as she tells us to feed her grandchildren. Unsurprising to anyone, Alejandro’s dashing out of the kitchen with a handful of guava asmamátries to catch him before he makes it to the backyard. It only takes a few minutes to get the six kids their snacks and outside to play with Enrique who was trying to read beside the pool.

I seemamá’swistful expression. It’s been nearly ten years sincepapápassed away. We’re all here to commemorate theanniversary. Only Este and I and our boys still live in Colombia. We’re a few blocks frommamá, but the others all live in New York or New Jersey. Este sees the other men frequently for business. Catalina and Margherita bring their sons down here to visit every couple of months if we aren’t up there, too. But it’s not the same as having everyone together for holidays or the anniversary.

The only one not married is Enrique. He’ll have to one day, but for now, he’s committed to being as good ajefede jefesaspapáwas. He’s also the overindulgent one with the boys. He spoils them rotten. I suspect he’s the one who sent the boys upstairs to get all of us. When he glances over at us and grins, I’m certain of it.

“Should we rescue him?” Este nudges me as all six boys crawl onto the lounger Enrique’s lying on.

“Nope.”

I grin as Enrique pretends to grunt as he takes a bony elbow to the belly. I shift to look up at my husband who’s still the most attractive man I’ve ever seen. Little did I know that day in the cafe that as he watched me, he was coiled up, ready to strike. He’s a lethal man who’s done things I’ll never know to protect our family. He’s earned the nickname Cobra because he’s tall and proud, but he’s also fast and deadly.

To me, he’s the man who rescued me and has loved me unconditionally ever since we met. He’s never stopped taking care of me, and I pray we have a lifetime together. Only God can save anyone foolish enough to take him from me. Perhaps I’m a cobra too because once I sink my fangs in, I won’t let go.

“Te amo, mi amor.”

He glances down at me, surprised by my sudden declaration.

“Te amo, mi amorcito.” He’s called me his little love since the first time we said it to each other.

He wraps his arms around me, and I lean against him as we watch our family. I misspapáevery day, but I know he’s watching us. We’ve built our lives around our family coming before all else. It’s how we survive, but it also makes us complete. Nothing will ever be more important.

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