When We Met

CH 12 Rosaline

The next morning, Yelena gathered us in the main sitting room to meet her crew of soldiers. A rough-looking bunch filed in - men with shaved heads, tatted-up arms, and the calloused hands of hired muscle. I could feel their eyes lingering a little too long as they checked me out.

"Listen up, cabrones," Yelena's voice cracked like a whip. "These are my nephews, Matias and Alejandro. They'll be working with us for a while after having some issues with a rival gang back home."

She put a protective arm around my shoulders. "And this is Rosaline, a...friend of the family. From now on, she's under my protection, understood? Anyone looks at her the wrong way and they'll be scrubbing the latrines with their tongue."

There were a few nervous laughs from the gathered men, but her point was made. I was off-limits.

Over the next few weeks, Matias and Alejandro were integrated into Yelena's operations, handling security, running protection rackets, and shaking down local businesses for our cut. I hated being left behind for my own "safety", but I knew Yelena was just trying to shield me from being found out after my traumatic loss.

So instead, I became Yelena's eyes and ears for anything happening on the ground. I monitored the communication lines, fed the boys intel, and helped plan every operation from the shadows of the compound. I even started training in the gym alongside Matias and Alejandro whenever they were back, determined not to lose any muscle I built so I'm still up in shape whenever I emerge from the shadows.

At first, the soldiers just saw me as a rich plaything being coddled by Yelena. But after witnessing my skills with firearms and hand-to-hand combat, word started spreading about the "puta con actitud", a little badass bitch with a fiery spirit.

I could feel their respect growing, even as they continued calling me cruel names behind my back. Yelena just smirked knowingly whenever I bristled at the crass comments. "Let the idiotas underestimate you, niña. It will be their fatal mistake."

Four weeks in, it felt like we had settled into a steady rhythm and routine. I was growing more comfortable exercising my influence and decision-making over the crew's dealings. Matias and Alejandro were proving invaluable, fiercely loyal foot soldiers ready to spill blood on my command.

Little did any of us know, we were standing on the precipice of chaos - because the Walshes had finally caught wind of our activity encroaching on their territory. And they weren't the type of outfit to simply issue a warning.

Here is the story in an adult storytelling format from Rosaline's perspective, expanding on the explosion and the Walsh's arrival at the compound:

It was just another seemingly routine morning at the compound. Matias and Alejandro had gone out on a mission with a few trusted soldiers to secure Yelena's latest shipment of weapons and ammunition. Meanwhile, Yelena had meetings scheduled with some potential new buyers looking to get a piece of our growing action.

With the bosses away, I was left behind, though not against my wishes this time. After watching me prove my grit and skills over the past few weeks, the crew had grown accustomed to my presence. They knew Yelena's protective instincts weren't to be trifled with.

We had all agreed it was best if I posed as just another maid whenever there were meetings or visitors to the compound. That way, no one outside our tight inner circle needed to know about my very existence and vital importance to the family revival.

"Oh my god, that was such a hard mission, dios mío!" Alejandro's voice carried through the hallway as he and Matias finally returned.

I rushed over to find them both splattered in blood, Alejandro clutching his bicep where his shirt sleeve was soaked a deep crimson.

"Are you two okay? Is that your blood?" I fretted, eyes wide. "Because if I had been out there with you pendejos, I would have had both your backs!"

Matias shot me a calming look as he steadied his younger cousin. "Relax, Rosaline. We've had much worse back working with your father. These are just a few nicks."

He leaned in close so only I could hear. "I'll tell you about it upstairs while you patch us up, niña."

I huffed out a sigh, trying not to let the worry and adrenaline show. "Fine. Get upstairs then."

As the boys headed for the stairs, Yelena blustered in through the front doors, shoulder pressed to her phone as she rapidly fired off instructions in terse Russian to someone on the other end. Her free hand gestured for me to come closer as our eyes met, expression tense.

Before I could make my way over, an earth-shattering explosion ripped through the kitchen. The deafening boom slammed into me like a cannon, flinging my body backwards. My head smashed against the hardwood floor with a skull-cracking force that sent spirals of black and white bursting across my vision.

Ears ringing, I could barely make out the pandemonium erupting around me amidst the hazy fog. Shouts and stampeding footsteps. Rapid gunfire - the rat-tat-tat of automatic weapons cutting through the chaos.

I shook my head, desperately trying to blink away the disorientation as I forced myself up to my hands and knees. Where was that med kit we kept stashed in the kitchen? Or had the blast incinerated everything?

A beefy forearm clamped around my throat from behind, cutting off my airway with a bone-crushed choke. I instantly saw stars, then black tunnels closing in at the edges of my vision as unconsciousness tried to claim me.

"Well, well...looks like the little Fernandezes aren't so tough after all." The voice was a rough snarl in my ear, thick with a Cockney accent.

Rough hands seized my chin, wrenching my head around as I strained for breath. Through the dimming haze, I could just make out the sneering face of the man restraining me, handsome in a rough, craggy way, with a shaved head, cold blue eyes, and....a distinctive tattoo peeking out from the collar of his shirt.

The Walshes had arrived.