Cardo
The whole house was in chaos. Nobody knew where Enzo was. Where had he gone? Had he actually been kidnapped? Maybe he was angry with all of us and had gone somewhere to get revenge. But where could he go? He didn't even know any place around here. He didn't have friends. And he wasn't even with his bodyguards.
His bodyguard had come to Tio Javier's house, and now everyone was discussing what to do. They'd already sent some guards out to search for him, and they'd even called a few of their thugs to look for him. I hoped Enzo was alright. He was my best friend now. I really liked him, even though he was a bit strange.
My Papa was also acting strangely; he'd already come to check on me more than ten times, as if I might disappear too. Sure, I went here and there often, but when Papa called me, I made sure to answer the damn phone.
"Any idea where he could be?" Papa asked, coming up to me.
"Nope, we only go to the club and the beach," I replied.
"I'll go look for him with the others. You stay home. Don't go anywhere, okay? And no clubbing," Papa said, his voice tense as he looked directly into my eyes.
"I want to come too. I want to help find him," I insisted.
"No, you stay here. But don't go anywhere, alright?" he repeated, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.
"Okay, if you're that worried," I said, trying to ease his mind.
"I can't believe how calm Gerardo is right now. Enzo's bodyguard looks more concerned about him than Gerardo does. If something like this happened to you, I wouldn't stay in the house for a single second—I'd already be out there looking for you," Papa said, meeting my eyes with a serious expression.
Now I understood why he was so upset. Enzo and I were close in age and spent a lot of time together, so it hit him a bit harder.
"I'm not going anywhere without telling you," I said, hoping to reassure him. He gave me a small smile, but I could still see the worry etched on his face.
As for Tio Gerardo, yes, he still looked as cool as a cucumber. But I could see the startle in his eyes—he looked vulnerable. When he saw Enzo's bodyguard, his face changed, like he suddenly had hope. Did he trust him that much? Then why on earth did they want him to stay away from Enzo? I didn't understand this family sometimes.
Only Papa and I were the normal ones in the family, I thought.
Every man in the family took their vehicles and guards and left the house. Even Raphy went with them. I hoped they'd find Enzo soon. I hoped he was alright.
Being stuck in the house was both boring and stressful. I wasn't allowed to go out, and there wasn't much to talk about with the women and girls around. The only other boy in the house was Tio Jandro's youngest son, the high-and-mighty Daniel. He was just thirteen but already as big headed as his brothers.
"Hey, hoity-toity! What's up?" I called out to him.
"What did you say to me?" he snapped, glaring at me.
"Calm down, man. It was just a joke," I said.
"A joke—just like you," he shot back.
"Oh, really? I was just trying to talk to you," I replied.
"About what? I don't actually like talking to losers," this thirteen-year-old mouse sneered.
"I'm smarter than you, idiot," I said, feeling my patience wear thin.
"Oh yeah? Is that why you drive drunk?" he retorted.
"Hey, you're just a kid. You don't know anything about drinking or driving. You'll probably do the same when you turn eighteen," I said, looking at this arrogant little piece of work. "And you think your hoity-toity brothers don't drink and drive?"
"They don't," Daniel said proudly.
"Why are you so prideful, man? What's wrong with you?" I asked, shaking my head.
"Mama says it's okay to be proud of who you are," he replied, his tone smug. His Mama was American, just like Enzo's Mama—well, Enzo's was half American.
"Are you sure that's what she actually meant, though? Like, maybe you don't have to be a jerk?" I said.
"You think I'm a jerk because you're a loser. Your Papa is a loser, too," he suddenly spat.
"He's not," I snapped, anger flaring up inside me.
"Of course he is. I heard my Mama say that your Papa cheated on your Mama several times, and that's why she left him. My Mama said he 'lost a good woman because he's stupid.'"
I felt like a lump had formed in my throat.
"You have nothing to say, right? You're a loser, too, because you don't have a Mama. You grew up without one, and your Papa is a loser. So you're going to be a loser, too," he sneered before running off. Great. That's what I got for trying to make friends with a hoity-toity.
I was sitting on the couch when I noticed Pedro's wife, Elena, crying over Enzo's disappearance. She was talking with Camille, and I couldn't help but overhear.
"He's so annoying. Always bothering everyone. I think he does it just to get attention," Camille was saying to Elena.
"Why are you talking like that about him? He's a nice kid," Elena replied, her voice defensive.
"He doesn't know how to respect adults. He treats Louis terribly. And he even made Tino say bad words," Camille muttered, her tone dripping with disdain.
Elena looked at her with anger. "Are you serious right now? He's missing, and no one knows where he is, and here you are talking badly about him?" she said, moving away in disgust.
—--
Everyone came back around 9 PM, looking exhausted and defeated, especially Tio Gerardo and Enzo's bodyguard. Louis looked guilty. Good—because this was his fault. But did this mean they hadn't found him? I felt a painful knot in my stomach.
"Papa, you didn't find him?" I asked, going over to him. He looked so frustrated and sad.
"No," he replied, pulling me into a tight hug. "You didn't go anywhere, right?" he whispered in my ear, his voice filled with worry.
"I didn't. You asked me not to," I said.
"We didn't find him," Papa said, looking at me with deep sadness in his eyes. "Don't ever leave the house like he did, okay? Don't ever do something like that. You're the only one I have. Don't ever do such a thing," he said, cupping my face in his hands.
"I won't, Papa. Why are you so worried? Do you think Enzo is in danger?" I asked, feeling a shock run through me. Papa nodded slightly, confirming my fears.
"Why are you so scared about me? I'm not going to do anything like that. You know that," I said, trying to reassure him.
"I... I love you, okay? If I ever blame you or hurt your feelings, I'm sorry. Just don't ever go out without telling me," he said again, though he'd never once blamed me or hurt my feelings. He'd never even hit me, not even when I probably deserved it sometimes.
"I won't. I promise," I said, hoping to comfort him.
