— Sir, we don't want any trouble with you. We're just following orders — says D'mitri — We don't know what's going to happen when the boss recovers and…
— I don't give a fuck. Just let me go once that witch goes to sleep — says Tadeus.
— We can't let you go, sir — says D'mitri.
— Yes, you can. That's an order. Sleeping with that harpy doesn't make you any better than the other men who work for my father.
D'mitri slams his fist into Tadeus' face, sending him stumbling a few steps backward. He punches him in the face again, and two other men join in the beating, which ends with their boss lying unconscious on the floor.
<><><> 26 hours earlier <><><>
Yenedith stops by the nursing home to pick up a few things from her grandmother. — This is Mrs. Daisy's room — says the nurse.
— Thank you very much — Yenedith replies. She places her carry-on bag on the bed and begins taking clothes out of her grandmother's closet to pack them into the bag. Once she's packed enough clothes for a week, she heads to the dresser to put away her toiletries. When she opens one of the drawers, she sees a photo of her mother in a wedding dress. The enormous bouquet of flowers covers her belly; despite her efforts to hide it, her advanced pregnancy is evident. Next to her, with an equally expressionless look, stands Edwin in a tailored suit. She can't believe how much they both look like their parents, except that she inherited Edwin's forehead and chin, while her brother is the spitting image of that man.
She turns the photo over to see if there's anything written on it and reads "Singer Polanco Family - Edith & Edwin 1989." Her mother must have been about 21 in that photo.
Yenedith finishes gathering her things and heads to the clinic — I'm here — she says, placing both hands on her grandmother's.
— My sweet girl, have you had breakfast yet?
— Of course you're worried about me, Grandma — Yenedith replies — How's the pain?
— All I do is sleep and eat, dear. I can't complain.
Yenedith smiles and kisses her on the forehead — Two more weeks and you'll be with us for Christmas.
— No, I'm not going to that house.
— It'll just be the three of us, Grandma. We're going to Switzerland — says Yenedith — Tadeus managed to…
— No, just leave me here. I've told you many times to just worry about yourselves, and you won't listen to me.
— But how can we leave you here without knowing what might happen to you?
— I can't go through the same thing again; I can't keep worrying like this. I'm too old for all that hustle.
— But Grandma.
Daisy closes her eyes and falls silent. Yenedith doesn't know what else to say to convince her.
Suddenly, she feels a light pressure on her arm — Charles! — She stands up and hugs him — Oh, I'm so sorry, your face… — she says, caressing his cheek. The man pushes away her hand and takes a step back.
— I came to take you to the airport on Elena's orders.
— But why the airport? — Yenedith asks.
— It's an emergency. Mr. Windmill is missing.
— What has that boy gotten himself into? — Daisy asks.
— Come with me; you're in danger — Charles says, taking her hand.
— I can't. If I'm in danger, then my grandmother is too.
— Go on, dear. I'll be fine here — says Daisy — In any case, it's better if they don't see us together.
Yenedith kisses her grandmother on the hands and cheeks and walks with Charles to the clinic's exit, where Elena is waiting for them in a car.
— I'm so glad you're okay — Elena says. The two hug — Let's go; we don't want to miss our flight — she tells D'mitri.
— What's going on? — Yenedith asks.
— Something terrible has happened.
— What about my grandmother? — she asks.
— Don't worry. We're going to transfer her to another private clinic where she'll be safer. Her primary care doctor is one of ours; he'll be taking care of her — Elena says — I packed a suitcase for you. I know your size; don't worry, you'll have everything you need.
— What? But where am I going? Tell me what's happening! Where's my brother?
— Yesterday, Edwin, your brother, and Gustaph were having dinner and discussing your brother's trip to Greece when they broke into the mansion, attacked your father, who is now seriously injured, and we don't know where your brother is — Elena says.
— What!
— That's why we're not going to the mansion, and I need you to leave the country as soon as possible. I don't want to risk anything bad happening to you while we try to find your brother — Elena says.
— But why do I have to leave? Where is Edwin?
— His men took him to a trusted doctor so he could have surgery. Not even I know where he is — Elena says.
Yenedith tries to figure out what to do. It all seems too sudden —But Tadeus was with Alexander yesterday.
— It's possible he discovered your brother's plans.
Yenedith feels a visceral terror beyond the chills at that moment. A lump forms in her throat, and she starts calling her brother, but he doesn't answer. — The flight leaves in two hours. Charles, you're going to make sure he gets on that plane — Elena orders.
— Why don't you come with me?
— I'll take the night flight. I need to make sure your grandmother is okay. Plus, I'll try to find out if there's any news about your father — Elena says. She steps closer to Yenedith and takes her hands to reassure her — This isn't the first time something like this has happened. Everything will be fine if you listen to everything I tell you. Okay?
Yenedith nods, but bursts into tears right then, so Elena hugs her before leaving.
— Passengers on flight one, zero, zero, five, please board at gate 6A.
— That's your call — says Charles.
They both head toward the gate holding hands until it's their turn in line — Aren't you coming with me either? — Yenedith asks when he lets go of her hand.
— I'm in charge of finding your brother, miss.
Yenedith can't help but make a tearful face when she hears him speak, but she composes herself so as not to cry. Unable to hide his fear, Charles decides to kiss her on the lips one last time before letting her go.
Once on the plane, Yenedith goes to the restroom to wash her face while the others board. When she returns to her seat, there's a man next to her who gives her a look, but she decides to ignore it.
After several hours, she looks out the window at the night sky and watches as the flight attendants walk by offering meals in first class.
— Chicken or beef? — asks the flight attendant in the aisle.
— Beef, please — says the man.
— Chicken for me, thank you — says Yenedith.
— All right, beef for you — says the flight attendant, handing a tray to the man — And chicken for you — but in this case, the man takes the tray and places it in front of her
— Thank you — says Yenedith, feeling a little uncomfortable as she tries to avoid him, she admits that it's only possible to a certain extent.
As the flight attendant walks away, she watches the man slip a piece of paper under her plate. This makes her heart start racing and refuses to look at what the note says until she finishes eating. Yenedith watches him out of the corner of her eye and notices that he's enjoying a game on the small screen in the seat across from her and is eating calmly. "What could it say? Maybe he doesn't even know who I am and is just trying to flirt" she thinks as she slowly slides the little note toward her and unfolds it with trembling hands. "When we get off the plane, I'll help you with your luggage, but you'll be carrying a different bag where you'll find money, clothes, and documents for a new identity. Remember, you must not speak to anyone until you pass through checkpoint number five. Don't forget, checkpoint #5."
Yenedith casts a fleeting glance at the man, who nods as soon as their eyes meet. She nods back and continues eating with difficulty.
That same morning, Alexander heads to the clinic to say hello to Mrs. Daisy and check on Tadeus, who hasn't answered his calls since the night before. As he steps out of the elevator, he sees two men in suits down the hall blocking the entrance to the woman's room. A few seconds later, Yenedith comes out with a man in a suit whom he had seen earlier with the girl. He had always assumed he must be her boyfriend until he sees them get into a van with other men in black inside. — Keep up with them — he orders his bodyguard, who quickly follows them at a safe distance.
Alexander decides to call Yenedith, but the call doesn't go through. He stays to watch Daisy from a distance. A few hours later, a team of nurses enters the room — What are you doing? — she asks after greeting them.
— Your grandson ordered your transfer — says a nurse.
— Where?
— We can't give you that information.
He accompanies Daisy, staying by her stretcher in the elevator until they load her into an ambulance.
Alexander receives a text message that reads "They're leaving the city; they might be heading to the airport" So he decides to call — How many people?
— Another woman was with the young one, but we couldn't get a picture of her, sir. They seemed very close — his bodyguard replies.
— That must be the stepmother — Alexander remarks.
— The young woman just boarded a plane, sir.
— What about the other man?
— He didn't board the plane.
After hanging up, he receives a few photos of the young man in the suit standing next to his sister-in-law "So he really is her boyfriend" — You fucker. Are you doing all this to get away from me? — he thinks aloud.
With no idea of Tadeus' whereabouts, Alexander returns home where he meets with Claire — I need you to find out which hospital Daisy is in — he orders, showing her a photo of himself with the woman and giving her some information about Tadeus to make her job a little easier — Do everything possible to find him.
— Yes, sir — Claire replies and leaves the office.
Shortly afterward, Alexander receives a call — Sir, we're tracking the vehicle of the man who was escorting the young lady.
— Let me know if you find the journalist — Alexander says.
<><><>
Tadeus wakes up to the sound of murmurs; his vision is blurred red in the dim light he can make out with one eye, while the other seems not to be working. When he tries to move, he realizes that his wrists and ankles are bound, severely limiting his ability to get up — Hurry up, you heard the order — says a male voice that sounds familiar to him. He feels a pair of hands helping him to his feet.
— What are you doing? — Tadeus asks as he recognizes the men of his father.
— Yenedith is safe, sir — says a voice in his ear. Then he feels a shove from the back of his arms, causing him to fall into a hole.
At that moment, Tadeus is aware of what awaits him. He begins to feel the tingling and the cold of the earth piling up over his clothes until it starts to cover his chest and face. He can't help but struggle against the suffocating sensation, but he refuses to scream or beg for his life.
<><><>
A couple of hours before sunset, the Animal storms out of his house like a raging typhoon, escorted by another handful of his men. When they reach the vacant lot, he signals his men to sneak into that warehouse in the middle of nowhere.
A couple of men standing next to a concrete mixer that's dumping dirt into a hole are the first to fall, followed by those outside who rush into the warehouse after hearing the gunfire.
In the midst of the shootout, Botero stops the machine — Hurry up! — he warns the others, and runs alongside the Animal to finish off the rest.
— Thank you — Alexander says to the man once they're sure there are only bodies left on the ground.
— Here it is, sir! — he hears another say.
Alexander looks into the pit and feels his heart tear from within. He drops to his knees, distraught, trying to come to terms with what he's seeing.
Suddenly, he feels a sharp pain in his chest that snaps him out of his trance as the men place Tadeus' body in front of him, at the edge of the pit. Alexander rests Tadeus' back against his lap and shoves his fingers into his mouth, trying to get as much dirt out as possible, until he vomits more dirt and blood, coughing so hard that he clings tightly to the warmth he feels at his side.