The Bandido's wife

Four - The Bandido takes charge

Afterwards, everything became somewhat of a blur for Alise.

When she reached her father, she realised with some relief that he was still breathing. She had felt hands grab her, trying to pull her away, but she had struggled wildly and screeched, refusing to let herself be taken away from him. Men appeared, she wasn't even sure who they were, but they carried her father's limp body into the drawing room lying him on the couch.

Most of the shooting had stopped now, but there were still the sounds of men shouting and horses' hooves from outside the house. But Alise's only concern was for her father as she knelt on the floor beside the couch, clutching his hand whilst trying to hold back the tears, and praying that he would not die.

Then Marie, and the other women entered the room, tearful as they gathered around Alise, "Please Mistress you must come away, just for a little while, and let the surgeon attend to your father" Marie spoke up, putting her hand on Alise's shoulder. Dazedly, realising this was what her father needed, she finally acquiesced to her maid's plea, letting Marie take her hand and lead her away to the other side of the drawing room, whilst two men entered the room to tend to her father.

It was only now she noticed and became aware that the rebels had gathered whatever was left of her father's men in the hallway, making them sit on the ground minus their weapons. It made her realise with a sense of despair that they had been defeated and no help or aid seem to be forthcoming anytime soon.

It was then that Diego Marquez made an appearance, standing at the threshold of the broken drawing room door, and addressing the defeated men sitting on the floor. 

"Your Government has been overthrown at long last, and now I claim this property in the name of the new People's revolutionary Government" he declared in triumph, which was greeted with whoops and cheers from his comrades who stood around

Incensed that her bullet had missed him. and to find him now standing there crowing about their victory, whilst her father was fighting for his life, Alise broke free from Marie's comforting hold, to throw herself at the hated mercenary, responsible for her father's downfall

"You are nothing but a filthy outlaw, you cannot claim anything!" she snarled attempting to beat him with her fists in defiant frustration, now she had no gun.

But he swiftly caught her wrists, holding them in an iron tight grip, pulling her towards him a harden look in his eyes, and his mouth set in a grim line that told everyone he would take none of her abuse or hysterics "Enough!" he snapped sharply. his eyes now boring into hers warningly

"Think yourself lucky, that I am letting you and your father live for the moment, or do you want me to call the surgeon who is tending your father away, to deal with one of my own injured men?" he then queried threateningly in a clipped tone

It had the desired effect, Alise found herself forced to swallow down her anger, and her body sagged as she reluctantly stopped in her attempt to struggle free to have a go at Diego Marquez with her fists

"You have lost, so just accept your fate" He then informed her.

"And what exactly is my fate going to be? Are you going to line us up and shoot us like dogs? while you plunder our house" she demanded in derision.

"No doubt you would like to become a martyr for your father's cause," Diego mused humourlessly, "But as your fate now in lies my hands, unlike you, I don't think your death will benefit me. I have a much more interesting plans for you, as you will soon find out, Senorita" there was a dangerous glint in his eyes as he delivered this pronouncement, that it sent a foreboding shiver down Alise's spine.

"Take her to her room, and make sure she stays there" he then ordered two of his men

"I won't leave my father!" she protested trying to break free from his hold, without much success.