Guillermo figured he might as well get busy while he waited so he went around the pen examining the horses. There were some very expensive and high value breeds. Among them was a black Friesian and a tan Arabian Horse.
Probably the best among the lot. They all seemed well tended to and for a moment Guillermo smiled, wishing he could spend more time in the barn.
The sudden thought of Caroline made his smile disappear. Of course his dad had read her letter, said she was fine but deep down he felt like he could only be reassured if he could see her himself.
Soon enough, Guillermo arrived. Behind him was Caroline, looking beautiful as ever. Her face immediately morphed into surprise
"Guillermo…what are you doing here?"
"I came to see you", he replied in the most nonchalant voice Caroline had ever heard.
"Why?", she asked in confusion
"Because you disappeared for at least a day and sent a weird letter about being fine and ok. You wouldn't tell us anything other than where you were. As if that wasn't bad enough, you're on the land of the infamous Rodney Eugene Casimero"
"Listen Guillermo, I appreciate the concern but if I needed help, I would have stated it in the letter. I have some business here with Rodney Casimero. And why's he called Eugene?"
Rodrigo burst into a sudden laugh at the question.
"Well my mother was a woman of many talents and apparently the one thing she wasn't great at was giving us middle names"
Caroline nodded, a mischievous smile forming on her lips.
"Anyway, Guillermo, I need you to tell Franko to keep the ranch going till my return. We have a few horse buyers from Utah coming in a few days. And if everything pulls throw we should be all ready for the bull race by the end of the month"
"Speaking of that, Cassie left for the city. She said she needed to make some final arrangements with the florist. She should be back in 3weeks tops"
Caroline nodded
"Thank you, I completely forgot about that. Also since you successfully snuck in, could you do me a favor and pack me some fresh set of clothes. We can meet back here later tonight or perhaps you can drop them in the pen and I'll grab them later when Rodney is not patrolling the grounds"
"I am not sure about meeting but I can certainly make a quick stop to drop a bag off before Dad becomes suspicious about my whereabouts", he replied instead
"Sounds good to me. Thanks Guillermo, you're a lifesaver"
The boy blushed slightly at the compliment. Perhaps because it was not a common thing to be praised by his crush.
That said, Rodrigo snuck Guillermo out of the premises before returning to the house for dinner.
When he gif into the dinning room, he found Caroline smiling down at her plate.
Vanessa was looking at Rodney with a lustful look that made Rigo cringe a little.
Rigo sat by Caroline and smiled at her with a nod. Caroline smiled back with one brow quirked up.
Rodney nodded again. It was code for a successful mission. Guillermo had got out.
Meanwhile, Rodney looked between his brother and his prisoner with distaste. She defined seemed way too comfortable, to his surprise. This was obviously far from his initial plan, which had been to kidnap and torture her into selling him her land. Somehow, the part where he was supposed to torture her and instill fear into her had taken a nose dive.
For a reason he couldn't explain, he had completely skipped it.
An anomaly for a man like him. Hardly did his victims receive any mercy from him.
"Tell me, did you at least make yourself useful around the house", he asked while staring at Caroline.
"If you mean by doing chores…then no. Seeing how paranoid you are, I didn't want to overstep your limits. The last I would want is to get scolded by you"
"Ah yes, ever so considerate of you to eat my food and make yourself at home in my house and lazy about all day"
"Rodney, if it bothers you so much, maybe you could draw up a chore schedule and put me to work officially as an unpaid worker on the ranch!"
"Ah yes, you should work for your upkeep. For the food and the freedom you're enjoying! You're lucky I'm not chaining you to the damned bedpost!"
"I never asked to be here. You dragged me here and now I have to work to eat and walk about freely? Those are basic human rights, in case you conveniently forgot!"
Rights I never intended to give you under my roof. You do as I say especially if you have energy to flirt with my younger brother! Sleeping with him will not elevate your status. You're just a prisoner. Mine"
"I'm not a prisoner. And I don't belong to anyone. Most certainly not you!"
The table went silent and awkward real quick. Vanessa and Rigo exchanged a look of discomfort seeing Rodney's face morph into an annoyed one.
"You obey my rules whilst you're under my roof. The consequences will be fatal if you disobey me. And no, I will know exactly how to break you. You think you're tough, maybe but those poor naive people you love will be the ones I will target. I will drag everyone you love to the depths of hell and back, make you suffer as you watch them suffer till you have no where left under the sun to hide. Till you have no spirit left to fight. So don't tempt me Caroline!"
"Eugene!"
That one word unraveled something in Rodney. I could feel Rigo stiffen beside me and Vanessa's jaw drop. It was almost as if I'd committed a serious crime. Rodney's sparked with rage. And pulling my ace card, I said the very thing that will become the start of my epic downfall.
"Not so gangster anymore right?"