Chapter 5: Bella Ciao.

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CATALINA'S POINT OF VIEW
7:13 P.M.

Months had gone by since the day that I had been handed the letter from Andrés.

I spent my days in the Monastery with Denver, Mónica, Cincinnati, and my daughter. Sometimes I spoke casually with the others but most often I kept to myself as the nostalgic feeling I got from staying here overwhelmed me so I never felt up for socializing.

Sergio and I were still at odds over his relationship with Raquel but even so I've allowed him to take Paris over night and to spend time with his niece.

After all she was the only thing we all had left of Andrés and I'd never deprive Sergio the opportunity to get to know just how similar my daughter was to her father.

In some ways I saw Sergio as the better caretaker for Paris. He was patient, caring, and above everything he adored her. That became abundantly clear as the days went on.

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The final night before the heist approached rapidly and before I knew it I was standing in the hallway with my daughter in my arms.

It was time for me to tell her goodbye. And I wasn't sure that I could.

I opened my bedroom door with Paris and I sat on the edge of my bed as I looked down at her.

"Mommy is going to miss you so much." I said softly. "I know I haven't been the best parent. I was clouded by my grief but I promise you that I love you."

"Do you want me to sing like daddy used too?" I asked her as her face lit up at the mention of his name.

Esta mañana, me he levantado
Bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao ciao
Esta mañana, me he levantado
Y he descubierto al invasor

I held her against my chest as I sang softly to her.

Compañero, quiero ir contigo
Bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
Oh compañero, quiero ir contigo
Porque me siento aquí morir

I wiped a stray tear from my eye as I continued to sing.

Y si yo caigo en la batalla
Bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
Y si yo caigo en la batalla
Coge en tus manos mi fusil

She would never remember me and I knew that. She was far too young.

Cava una fosa en la montaña
Bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
Cava una fosa en la montaña
Bajo la sombra de una flor

I looked down and I smiled to myself as I realized she had fallen asleep in my arms.

Así la gente, cuando la vea
Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
Así la gente cuando la vea
Se dirá que bella flor

"Goodbye my love." I said softly as I placed her down in her crib. "You will always be my most important accomplishment."

"Maybe one day you'll grow up and you'll continue Mommy and Daddy's legacies." I said with a small chuckle as I made my way towards the door.

"God help anybody who will stand in your way." I whispered out as I closed the door softly behind me.

"I love you my beautiful little girl." I said to myself more then anybody else as I made my way down the steps and into the kitchen only to be met with the familiar faces of Martín and Sergio.

"Come sit with us." Palermo said as I poured myself a glass of wine and wordlessly walked over to the duo.

"Tomorrow is the day." Sergio said as Martín and I sat down at the table with him.

"Tomorrow is the day." I repeated as I sipped from my wine glass.

"It's depressing isn't it?" Martín sadly asked. "That Andrés isn't here to see his dream come to life."

"He's watching." Sergio said softly as I lifted my head up to watch his face fall as the memory of his brother undoubtedly filled his head.

"He's always with us." I said sincerely. "I feel him with me everywhere where I go."

"We might not make it out of there." Martín said as I nodded my head in agreement.

"We knew that from the beginning." Sergio whispered out. "This plan is a suicide mission."

"Yet here we are." I said with a chuckle. "We're a sad sight."

"The brother of Andrés, his best friend, and the mother of his child trying desperately to cling onto anything that will make us feel remotely closer to him." I added as they both offered me a sad smile.

"If god forbid I don't make it out of there alive I'd just like to say that it was an honor and a privilege to have gotten to know you both over the years." Martín said genuinely. "Although you both made my life incredibly difficult you were the only ones to treat me like an equal. And I've never forgotten that."

"Andrés and I had a tough life and although there was always a revolving door of women in his life you both were always the constants. You both loved my brother and in a lot of ways I let you down." Sergio admitted. "I can't even begin to express how sorry I am for everything I've done."

"You've apologized Sergio." I snapped lightly but as quick as my attitude appeared I quickly calmed my tone down. "Don't apologize again."

"This is monumental." Martín said referring to the heist.

"It's extraordinary." Sergio said reluctantly.

"It's art." I said emphatically.

"We're not doing this for Rio." Martín said with a small shake of his head.

"No. We're not." I agreed. "We're doing it for Berlin."

"Indeed we are." Palermo said.

"For Andrés." I breathed out as I raised my glass in the air.

"For Andrés." Martín repeated as he mimicked my movements.

"For Andrés." Sergio said as he held his glass up as well.

And as we stood there holding up our glasses and staring into each others determined eyes I could've sworn I saw Andrés standing across the table from us holding up his own glass of prestigious wine.

I knew it wasn't real and that it was just in my head.

But even so I knew that he was here because he was always here.

And tomorrow when I stepped foot into the Royal Bank Of Spain I knew he'd be watching me.

Because Clyde always looked out for Bonnie.

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