Cherished (Adam & Ella) (17 page)

“You were hoping I could reform Claudio?”

“No, that’s not going to happen. He’s not open to reform—not now, anyway. But I could provide you with details of his unsavory activities, including his threats to the church. Surely, with your connections, you could spread the word. People listen to you. They respect you. And I know many in the drug trade seek a different path. They would be
against
Claudio and his methods, not with him.”

“True. Not all want to turn away from crime. But even those that continue their illegal path don’t support destruction of the church, or harming women and children, innocently in the path of personal greed. I see where you are going with this. The man has gone too far. Claudio has even strayed from the group ethic of his criminal gang.”

“And there is more.”

“Yes?”

“He has huge gambling debts, which puts him in an awkward position.”

“Who does he owe?”

“Taiz Mezzanetti, likely someone you know.”

“And
Taiz wouldn’t be pleased that Claudio threatens the church in order to pay his debts.”

“That’s what I’m hoping.”

“If opinion swayed against him, Claudio Bianci would find himself alone, or with so few allies that he’d be in an untenable position.”

“Exactly.
He cannot be reasoned with. Claudio only understands force.”

Gustavo looked at Ella. He didn’t say anything more. She waited, hoping. One of his guards tapped him on the shoulder and nodded, indicating it was time to go.

“Ella, you have done the right thing to come to me. Most would not be brave enough to do what you have. My dream is to see crime averted in this region, and give others a chance to experience the freedom I now have. If I can do something to thwart Claudio’s efforts to terrorize, I will do so. I will put the word out. I hope it is enough,” Gustavo said.

Overcome with relief, Ella took the two steps separating them and gave him a grateful hug before the guards could stop her. When she let go, Gustavo’s eyes glistened. “
Vamos,” he said sternly to his guards. As he walked away, he looked back toward Ella and held up his palm in a goodbye gesture. There was hope.

The tourists were moving down the hill in a tight group, led by the tour guide. Joseph motioned toward them, letting Ella know it was time to leave. She’d done what she came to do, but she wasn’t looking forward to the ride back. Adam would be waiting, and he wouldn’t be in a good mood. Hopefully, when she explained everything he’d understand.

Making her way down the steep concrete steps with Joseph close behind, she glanced up and saw something that made her stop. There was
Nico, standing at the bottom of the steps. He nodded at her, neither smiling nor frowning. Beside him was someone she never expected to see in the favela. “Adam,” she said, negotiating the last step without falling.

“Ella.” With open arms, Adam waited for her to come to him, which she willingly did. She was so relieved to see him. He was hugging her—that had to be a good sign.

“I thought you’d be mad,” she said.

“I’m furious. Don’t think I’m not. You took a risk coming here. You endangered yourself. You can be sure I’m mad.”

Looking into his amber eyes, Ella didn’t see the fury he claimed. “You don’t look mad.”

“Oh, I’m mad all right. But I’m just so relieved to see you, and know you’re okay, that I’m inclined to forgive you.”

“You should forgive me. I didn’t mean to upset you. That was the hardest part. There was something I had to do; it was for us. If there had been a choice, I wouldn’t have come.”

“Well, you’ll have time to tell me all about it.”

Nico lifted his hand and pointed down the hill. “It would be wise for us to leave with the group. Strangers are not welcome in the favela. The tour has a special arrangement, which wouldn’t extend to us.”

Adam put his arm tightly around Ella, as if needing confirmation that she was
truely there. Together they walked back to the vehicles with Nico behind, alert to any threat.

Ella got Joseph’s attention. “I’m leaving with them,” she said, pointing to the Chrysler. Waving, Joseph got in the van with the others.

Adam helped Ella into the backseat and slid in beside her. Before she could put on her seatbelt, he lifted her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. “This is a dangerous place. I can’t believe you came here alone.”

“I knew what I was doing.”

“Oh, really? Well, we are safe in here. I’m sure it’s secure even against machine guns, of which there are many in these areas.”

“Why do you say it like that—‘we are safe in
here
’ I feel like there’s something you know that I don’t.”

“I just mean we are in an armored car with bullet-proof windows, so I can relax.”

“We are? You never told me the Chrysler was an armored car.”

“It never came up. All my vehicles are. Actually, many cars are—and most transportation offered to tourists.”

“Bullet-proof?”

“Yes. Don’t forget you are in Rio, and as friendly as it seems in the areas you frequent, you are never far from crime.”

Ella looked at the sprawling favela; then looked past the tumble of makeshift homes toward the city butted against the crowded slums. It was true. Crime was never far away. Meeting Gustavo had been an experience she’d never forget. To be as deeply immersed in the drug gangs as he had been, and rise above it, was something not many men could do. And he’d said she was wise to come to him for help. She hoped so.

“So, how did you find me?”

Adam held her on his lap even as the car curved along the narrow roads leading back to the city. She didn’t think he was going to let her go for a while. “You didn’t make it easy. I happened to see your tablet, and I read your diary entry.”

“You read my diary?” Ella wasn’t annoyed, just surprised.

“I was dying inside. I didn’t know what had happened to you. At first I thought Claudio had taken you, after all. I just wanted to be close to you, and didn’t know if I’d ever be able to again.”

“I’m sorry, Adam.” Ella put her palm on his cheek and kissed his soft lips. The tender kiss lingered, and Ella realized how much she’d missed him. His deadly calm, cold attitude was gone, and for that she was grateful.

“Anyway, you wrote about a plan, but you didn’t give any details.”

“You interrupted me yesterday. I never got to finish it.”

“Well, it occurred to me that you would do research before proceeding with any plan, no matter what it was. So I checked the laptop. I tried to follow your trail.”

“That was intuitive of you. I would have never thought of that.”

“When I saw that Vinicius Gustavo Cardosa was making a special appearance today, I just knew it was connected. He used to be one of the most notorious drug lords. You’d just looked up a bunch of stuff about cocaine and the drug trade, so one thing led to the other. But I still don’t know what you hoped to achieve.”

“I asked Gustavo for help.”

“Gustavo?”

“Yes, I met him. In fact I made a donation to his projects.”

“You did, huh?”

“Well, it wasn’t much. I’m not wealthy like you are.”

Adam smiled and kissed her cheek. “Okay, go on. I can’t wait to hear this story.”

“We just needed a way to get the advantage on Claudio. And I read how Gustavo is committed to helping others take a better path. He’d never support the type of things Claudio has done, or will do.”

“Uh huh.”

“So, it seemed to me that Gustavo was the perfect man to help us. He is on the right side of the law now, but has connections within the criminal community. And he’d heard the name Claudio
Bianci. What he didn’t know is what your father has been up to. Claudio’s threats to your family, and most of all to the church, do not sit well with him.”

“He told you that?”

“Pretty much. Even criminals have a moral code. Maybe some are as ruthless as your father. But many don’t think much of a man who hurts women and children, or who would threaten the church. They’d see him for the coward and despicable man he is. Even criminals wouldn’t want to associate with him.”

“You think so, huh?”

“Yes, I do. And Gustavo seemed to agree. He said he would look into it, that he would spread the word about Claudio’s threats. The drug lords have enough on their hands; I don’t think they need to have an attack against the church pinned on them. And if Claudio carries through with whatever he has in mind, I know the public will react violently. After all, Claudio would never confess to the crime. But he’d conveniently allow the terrorist act to be linked to the underworld.”

“You are probably right.”

“I know Gustavo will do what he can.”

Ella looked out the window. If they were on the way back to Adam’s beach home, they were certainly taking an unusual route. “Where are we going?”

“Botafogo Bay.”

“What for?”

Adam caressed her back, and touched her jaw with his fingertips. “Because you scared me to death, and I want to be alone with you. I feel like being at the beach where it’s safer. I’m taking you away from here.”

Ella was glad they were together again, relieved that the need for deception was over. “Okay, then. We will go to the beach. It’s probably a good idea. As you say, Claudio hates the water. And we still have a few days before you get his email with his ridiculous demands.”

“Yes, we do,” Adam said, and pulled her against him. She nuzzled her head against his jaw. They stayed like that until they reached the beach.

Ella didn’t ask questions. As long as Adam had stopped acting strangely, she was happy to go anywhere with him. Her story about Gustavo and her plan had seemed to please him, and she hoped it gave him confidence that his father could be stopped.

Being in Adam’s arms wonderful; the last few hours had been difficult. Now that it was over, she wondered how she’d carried through with her plan. But then she knew. No risk was too much if it meant saving Adam, and the possibility that they could live their life, unharassed.

“Are you going to let me out of your arms?”

“Probably not. I don’t want you to disappear like so much dandelion fluff.”

Ella kissed his cheeks, and then his forehead. “I won’t.”

“You don’t have any other
plans
, do you?”

“No, no other plans. Just to be with you, that’s my only plan.”

Botafogo was a sheltered beach on Guanabara Bay. It curved around a small harbor, a sandy white beach, with panoramic views of Corcovado Mountain and the city skyline. The area had a peaceful ambiance, although close to what Adam called “the city’s popular south zone.” He thought she might enjoy shopping with him at one of the chic stores in a beautiful shopping complex.

“You’re going shopping with me?” Ella said as they walked to the entrance of a lovely hotel.

“Absolutely. I’m not letting you out of my sight. Also, there’s a local cinema, and even a farmer’s market.”

The hotel was white stucco on the outside, and the name “Rio
Bota Hostel” was in huge black letters over the entrance. The lobby had parquet flooring and brightly colored walls. The green, gold, and purple color scheme was festive.

As they walked up to the desk, a clerk looked up from his computer. “
Senhor Bianci, good to see you again,” he said, pulling a key from his drawer and handing it to Adam. “Will you need help with your luggage?”

“We don’t have luggage, but we will need assistance. Have
Lina ring me in a few minutes. I’ll need for her to acquire some items of clothing for us.”

“Certainly.”

Ella looked at Adam, intentionally smirking. “He knows you by name?”

“Seems to.”
Adam grinned.

“Don’t tell me, you own this place, too?”

Adam shrugged. He put his arm around her to guide her to the elevator. “Let me show you to your room, amore mia.”

The room was just as charming as the lobby, with tile floors and mint-green walls. It had a wet bar, a sitting room, and a balcony with a view of the bay. It had fans in every room,
recessed ceilings, and a full-size dining room. Colorful artwork decorated the walls, and indoor plants gave it a homey feeling. There was even a real palm tree in a huge clay pot on the balcony.

Adam had an office, complete with desk, computer, and bookshelves. The bedroom was as large as the one at home. It was decorated in beige and chocolate brown, with a gold satin love seat at the foot of the bed. “Who have you brought here before?”

“No one. There was no one to bring. There was no one before you. I don’t come here often. Joel uses it for clients. I’m glad I’m not the one who has to wine and dine them. He’s good at it, though.”

Ella looked out the window. “The view is fantastic.”

Adam stood behind her, wrapping her in his embrace, and pressing his cheek against her head. “I’m still mad at you. Do you know what you put me through?”

“I think I have some idea. But I went on an official tour, that shouldn’t be dangerous.”

“You have no idea. Look at this,” he said, and walked to his desk to boot up his computer. “I saw this when I was working in my office this morning. It’s not something I wanted to mention. We had enough going on.”

Finding what he was looking for, he angled the computer toward Ella so she could see. The headline “Drug War
In Favela” got her attention. Scanning down, she read:
City thrown into a panic by a growing wave of robberies…gunmen stopped cars on major thoroughfares, robbing the occupants, and setting the vehicles ablaze.
A photo of a burning bus was prominently placed.

“And this,” Adam said, clicking to another page. The new headline was just as alarming: “Armed Gangs Fighting
In The Streets.” The article covered recent events:
Bullets keep flying…residents fear for their lives…wave of violence…orchestrated by drug gang members.
There were photos of a suspected trafficker who had been shot, of a man riding a motorcycle carrying a gun, and a police booth riddled with bullet holes.

Ella gripped the desk. “Adam,” she said, looking at him.

“Yes, now you see. Once violence breaks out, it’s not easily subdued. This has been going on for days. And you just walked into one of the notorious slums of Rio. I realize Gustavo was speaking, and the tour escorted you. Still, you have no idea of the danger you put yourself in.”

“Wouldn’t the tour have canceled if it was dangerous?”

“Not necessarily. This is Brazil; things are different here. And the tour companies have commitments to the gang leaders, plus Gustavo was speaking. The point is that anytime you are in the slums, it’s not safe. With the drug war going on, even more so.”

Ella shuddered. Pulling her into his arms, Adam stroked her hair. “I can’t stay mad at you.
Just don’t do it again. If you have a plan, tell me, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Now, enough of that. Let’s go sailing.”

“You have a sailboat?”

“Of course I have a sailboat. Why bring clients here and have them stare at the boats in the marina without being able to take one out? But I admit, I really bought the boat because I like to go out. We’ll go over to the yacht club as soon as we change—well, as soon as we have something to change into.”