Page 9 of El Malo

Rosa

My nerves are on edge. It’s been a week since my run-in with Javier, but I’ve been unsettled ever since. Each time I think he’ll stop me and narrow his gaze on me, he doesn’t. He goes about his very busy days. In and out of the estate. Always on the phone. I’ve learned that he’s beefing up security for his father Yoet and Yoet's wife Tania's arrival, which means they’re bringing more bodyguards into his home. All of them are professional, not like the thugs in the city. There are a few, though, with wandering eyes.

Like the one named Julio. He’s tall and strong like the rest but something in his eyes gives me the creeps. I’ll certainly have my eyes on that one.

Clearing my head, I quickly tie my hair into a bun and look at my reflection. A faint yellow bruise remains on my forehead, but the cut on my lip has since healed. I’m fairly back to normal, which I’m glad for. Tomorrow I’ll see Michael and the last thing I need is for him to worry over my safety and pull me out. I’ve come too far to be pulled out now.

I exit my room and head to meet with my staff to go over some tasks. Our time is running out and we have much to do. In the servant’s quarters, it’s broken into two rooms. Since I am the head maid, I have my own room. The other four share one. Loud music plays on the stereo. Yolanda. I’ve told her a million times to keep it down, but she’s nineteen, beautiful, and has a bit of a rebellious streak. I fear for her future the most. I’m about to get on to her but when I walk in, I can’t help but smile, which is rare these days.

Yolanda has a hold of Leticia’s hands—disfigured from arthritis—and they’re dancing. The nearly eighty-year-old woman whose face is lined with heavy wrinkles and is always frowning is laughing. My heart squeezes in my chest. Silvia and Araceli are also dancing. Both giggling at Yolanda’s over the top theatrics.

These women are the closest thing to family I have. I know I run a tight ship, but the more time I spend here, the more I realize I’ll do whatever it takes to protect them. There have been many sad, lonely nights that Leticia would let me put my head in her lap as she’d stroke my hair. Just like my grandmother used to do. I would silently cry, soaking her lap, and she would just hum unfamiliar songs to me. Those days are fewer the longer I am here, but they still come. Like last Saturday. After my altercation and then subsequent run-in with Javier, I was upset and rattled. Leticia sensed it. Cuddled me and told me to let go of all the pain. Of course I didn’t, but in that moment I was free.

I shake away the feelings in my tender heart and clear my throat. Araceli squeaks and rushes to turn off the radio. They are all dressed in their uniforms, but Yolanda doesn’t have makeup on yet and the two younger women haven’t put up their hair. Leticia is ready, though.

“Buenos días, señoritas,” I say, my voice sharper than I intend.

Araceli flinches at my tone. I know I’ve become hard and sometimes I wish I could be softer for them, but it’s too difficult to be all the parts of me. Some of those gentler aspects of myself are forced into the shadows.

“We have a busy day ahead of us. Arturo wants the second floor fitted with new décor that’s been brought in. As of last night, the boxes were all stacked up in the hallways. I’ve already washed the new bedding for those rooms. We’ll need to put most of our efforts into making those rooms extra special for Señor Estrada’s father.”

“Emiliano will be coming?” Leticia asks, her features warm. “He must be three now?”

I blink at her in confusion. There are a lot of things I may know, but I can’t remember Yoet and Tania’s son’s age. Last time he’d been at the estate, he was an infant. “Um, I’m not sure.”

Leticia beams. “I will make sure I’ve prepared plenty to eat for the little one. I’ll ask Arturo for any dietary restrictions.” A sigh escapes her. “I miss my grandchildren. They’ve moved out of Guerrero and I don’t see them as often. What a joy it will be to have little Emiliano here.”

I force a smile. Having a child in a murderer’s lair isn’t exactly exciting news to me. It makes my already brittle nerves crack and fray. I’d hate to have to call in backup to help a toddler if things go sour. And I know myself, the innocent come first. Over this job, over everything. I let out a heavy sigh. I hope it doesn’t come to that.

“Will Tania be here?” Yolanda asks as she smears on her blood-red lipstick.

I choose my battles carefully with her. Today I’m not going to argue over her outrageous lip shade.

“She is Javier’s stepmother, so I assume so,” I say with a huff.

Silvia snickers. “She’s younger than Javier. Do you think they’ve ever had sex? What if Emiliano is not Yoet’s but his son’s instead. Oh, the drama!”

“¡Cállate!” I hiss. “You have been watching too many telenovelas. And you will address him as Señor Estrada. Señor Estrada loves his father dearly. He would never hurt him.”

The last thing I need is for these young women to gossip themselves into getting hurt. Talk like this, if heard by the wrong person, could end badly.

“You want all of us working on the second floor?” Araceli asks, her voice mousy. Today she’s got her thick hair pulled into a high ponytail that seems to accentuate her big brown eyes. Even with no makeup, she’s the most beautiful woman in the room.

“Leticia will prepare meals per usual and I’ll maintain the rest of the home. But, yes, I want the three of you working up there. Please divide up,” I snip, pointing at Silvia and Yolanda. “We don’t have time for games. There is too much to do.”

Both women nod.

“If you don’t have any questions, you’re free to get to work. Stay away from the men in the house. There are new ones and they don’t appear to be trustworthy,” I warn, my heart rate quickening.

Yolanda and Silvia giggle.

“Especially you two. Tomorrow, on your day off, you can flirt to your heart’s content outside of this estate. Although, I must warn you, the violence is getting to be ridiculous,” I grumble.

Yolanda puffs out her chest and arches a brow. “My brother’s best friend comes and gets us. He has guns, so we’re always safe. We’ve been taking Araceli with us.”

Pride surges through me. For as careless as Yolanda is sometimes, she does take on the big sister role of the other two girls.

“Gracias, cariño,” I tell her honestly.

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