Freedom Fighters

8. Beautiful

The fresh night air of Miami hit Dario's nostrils as he inhaled, filling it with the tangy smell of the sea. His shoulders relaxed for a moment, before his heart filled up with anxiety again. He had never felt this way before. His cheeks felt hot. His legs felt numb. His mind did not seem to be functioning. Even with the loud jazz music playing in the background, he could hear his heart beating in his eardrums.

Bars and nightclubs littered the side of the road, with drunken laughter and wild cheers providing a jarring accompaniment to the tranquil sea breeze.

Dario felt a little queasy in the stomach. The street reminded him of the Mafia-run entertainment districts in Havana, though certainly not nearly as grand.

Juanita looked radiant with the bright neon lights shining upon her. She walked quietly, with a smile that exuded confidence. It did not feel like a confidence that bordered on arrogance, but a calm and quiet self-assuredness.

"You are being awfully quiet," she said. Her honeyed voice reminded him of one of those hot buns Mama used to bake. Warming and comforting on the outside, airy and pillowy inside.

"Sorry... I am just a little nervous," he managed not to stammer.

"Don't be nervous. Do I seem unfriendly to you?"

"No. But..." Dario spared a glance to his back, where the brooding Almeidas tailed them from a distance. He could sense their dark eyes glaring into the small of his back.

"Oh," she said, "Don't worry about them. Lionel and Marco are very nice."

"Nice?"

Juanita looked at Dario's incredulous expression and laughed, leaving him scratching his head, baffled.

"Yes," she said once she regained her composure. "You can say they are gentle giants."

"I really doubt so. At least, that's not the impression they give me," he replied immediately.

"What's your impression of them then?"

"Er..."

"You can whisper it so they do not hear you," she added playfully.

"I am pretty sure you can guess it."

"Is that so?" She stopped in her tracks, a coy smile on her face. Dario stopped as well.

"It's good," she murmured.

"Good?" Dario furrowed his eyebrows. "What's good?"

"You, Dario Ruiz. You are not as nervous anymore."

It was then he noticed. The laden weight in his heart had disappeared. He could feel the blood flowing his legs now. His breathing slowly became normal.

"Yeah... I guess," he mumbled, blushing.

"I'm glad," she said, before resuming her walk. Dario followed suit.

Looking at her smile, he felt a surge of warmth ripple through his body, reaching his fingertips. He could not help but smile back.

Feeling bolder, he tried to continue the conversation.

"So, why are they following you around?" he asked with a discreet finger pointing backwards.

"It's for my protection," she answered coolly. "It all started when my brothers were in prison."

"Right... I almost forgot you are a Castro.."

"I am their sister, but don't treat me any differently because of that."

"I will try not to."

She eyed him with a piercing gaze. For a second, Dario could feel a semblance of unease radiating out of her before it disappeared with the relaxation of her gaze.