Blood and Sweaters

Chapter 22

Turadh
(n. gaelic) a break in the clouds between showers

Dark, cold, and gloomy. That was the perfect way to describe the day. The wind was icy and withering as heavy rains began to plummet from the dull, sunless sky. Aria stood across the street completely drenched but she didn't notice it as she watched the church with hawk-like eyes.

Veronica, Ransom, and John watched on as the soaked girl stood in a statue-like manner, one dared say a thing to her, they knew better. She was beyond reasoning, a few hours ago Oscar came with the news of a possible sighting, and although it could have been fake news Aria had to check it out personally, it was the first lead in weeks and if it turned out to be true then all that separated her from her final revenge was the walls of the church.

Now Aria and Veronica weren't very religious but it was an unspoken law among the Torretos to never shed blood in the house of God. If Marta was in the church, she was safe until she set foot out of the building.

"Why can't we just go inside and check?" John questioned earning a glare from the trio.

"Cause if we go in there and she is inside then it will alert her and she might find a way to slip out of the building," Veronica explained as if she were talking to a five-year-old.

"Really bro?" Ransom swatted John on the back of his head.

"I just think that it would be easier to actually go into the building and check it out instead of standing out and waiting."

"Actually maybe John is on to something," Aria announced suddenly causing Veronica and Ransom to look at her confused.

"It needs to be someone from our side."

"But not someone who Marta would recognize."

"So someone still in training."

"Not to mention that they have to be loyal."

"Diego!" they both declared at the same time.

Veronica and Ransom's heads whipped back and forth between John and Aria as they brainstormed.

"At this rate, you two are going to get a whiplash," Aria said as she looked at her stunned cousin and stunning boyfriend.

"Whose Diego?" Ransom asked.

"Diego's Oscar's little brother. He's been training with us for a while now but we've been reluctant to put him into the field. He's a good kid, still in high school, gets good grades. We want more for him than to be a part of all of this."

"Veronica and I will go back and talk to Oscar," John said hastily, stalking towards the car with Veronica in tow.

~~~

"One last push," Mother Maria encouraged.

Marta was beyond tired, this was the most pain she had felt in her life. Gathering whatever strength she had left she pushed. And then a loud shriek echoed through the room. Her baby was finally here.

"Congratulations! It's a girl," Sister Margot excitedly announced as she gently placed the baby on Marta's chest.

Marta had always heard about how from the very first time mothers would lay eyes on their babies they would fall in love, how they would be willing to fight against the entire universe to protect them, how they would sacrifice themselves for their babies. As she lay there exhausted, she looked at the little girl with hazel eyes and she felt nothing, all she could see was;
A mistake
A regret.
A Drysdale.

~~~

"Do you understand the plan?" Aria asked Diego for the fourth time.

"Yes," the boy replied excitedly.

This was the opportunity he had been training for his entire life. A chance to prove his loyalty to his family. He and Oscar were orphans when Tio found them, he gave them everything, a home, education, and most importantly family. There was nothing he wouldn't do for his family.

"And remember Diego stick to the plan," Aria warned as the boy made his way to the church.

"Don't worry Manita, he's a clever boy. He'll be fine," Oscar reassured a rather worried Aria.

Ransom gently took hold of Aria's hand pulling her towards him and away from the others.

"Dew-," he spoke softly, "- can I ask you something?"

Aria hummed in response without taking her eyes off the church.

"If Marta isn't in there, are you going to be okay?" he questioned, afraid to hear the answer.

Aria's gaze shifted from the church to Ransom's stormy blue eyes. He could see all the emotions that ran through her chocolate brown ones.

"Honestly, I don't know," she whispered before walking back to the stop where they all impatiently awaited Diego's return.

~~~