Saving his life

Chapter 13

I rushed after Leon as he sprinted back down the path. I called out his name and he turned to me abruptly, placing his hand to his lips.

“Shh, please hermosa, I need you to listen to everything I say” he commanded in a rage of panic. My heart was beating through my chest when I saw how worried Leon was. 

“What’s going on?” I whispered. He placed his index finger into the air to demand silence. Pulling my shoulder to keep me low to my knees, he whistled out a tune. I scrunched my face up in confusion.

“What are you doing?” I asked. He sighed and turned to me, holding my waist and stroking my cheek.

“It’s something me and Carlos do when we don’t want to get caught. I whistle that tune to call out to him. He will whistle back a different tune to let me know he’s okay but in danger, he will whistle another tune if he’s hurt...” he explained.

“And if he doesn’t whistle at all?” I questioned and his eyes lowered.

“It could mean one of two things, either he hasn’t heard me or...” he didn’t finish. I knew what it meant and I was hoping that it wasn’t the case. Suddenly, a tune whistled back, indicating Carlos was in danger. Fear overcame me when I noticed Leon preparing himself.

“Listen carefully hermosa, I...”

“You’re not going anywhere!” I exclaimed and he placed a kiss to my lips.

“I’m going to find out what’s going on, stay here, stay quiet. I will come back for you” he said. Tears were welling up in my eyes as I feared for his safety. 

“Don’t go Leon” I begged.

“I will be fine hermosa” he reassured me.

“If someone other than me appears from those trees over there, I want you drive away” he instructed handing me his keys.

“I’m not gonna leave you” 

“Do as I say Maria” he said in a stern tone.

“You will be the only chance we have if this goes south”. I looked down and nodded, tears rolling down my cheeks. He lifted my chin and placed his forehead to mine.

“Te amo Maria” he gently whispered against my lips. Planting a final kiss to my lips, he creeped out from the bushes and headed towards the lake. 

I was standing there waiting for what seemed like forever. Panic started to set in and I didn’t know how long he was suppose to be. I decided to whistle the tune he had whistled earlier to Carlos. I waited patiently, willing him to reply. Nothing...

I moved closer to the trees and whistled again, finally getting a response. He was in danger. I had to think quickly, what was I going to do? I ran towards the car and opened the drivers door. I reached in and grabbed the gun that I previously found in the compartment. Opening the barrel, I noticed it was fully loaded and click it back into place. Okay Maria, you can do this. Leonardo needs you, you’re his only hope. After I gave myself a pep talk, I rushed back towards the path that led to the lake. I was shaking in terror, scanning my surroundings for a sign of life. When I got to the trees where I had heard the whistle from Leonardo, I leant against the thickest trunk. Peering out, I noticed Leon kneeling on the peer next to Carlos and Charlotte, their hands behind their heads and facing towards me. They were guarding by two henchmen, holding guns which were pointed at them. 

“You don’t know who you’re f*****g messing with!” Leon yelled and they both laughed. The skinnier man headed towards Leon and wacked him round the head with the handle of his shotgun. 

“niño estúpido” (stupid little boy) he spat. Leon groaned in pain and Carlos piped up. 

“Leon! You f*****g bastard, te voy a matar” (I’m gonna kill you) he growled.

The skinnier henchmen seemed to be the alpha of the two. He had a bony facial structure, his eyes drooped from his lids and his small physique was clearly toned underneath his tight black shirt and matching leather jacket. He nodded at he larger man, who moved towards Carlos. He was intimidating and muscular. He looked like your average body guard but with a dangerous nature. He seemed as though he had been in a few fights by the scars all over his face. He gripped Carlos by the throat and Charlotte screamed at the man, begging him to let Carlos go. He hit him numerous times in the face and torso before throwing him to the ground. Carlos was limp and hardly conscious. The screams from Charlotte caused me to act. I crept forward and stood behind the two men. Leon’s eyes widened when he saw me emerge from the trees and flashed me a look of warning, shaking his head. 

Taking in a deep breath I raised the gun at the larger one of the two and moved closer. Leon was desperately trying to get my attention without giving me away. I ignored him. The metal of the gun pressed against the mans head.

“Don’t f*****g move” I threatened and he raised his hands. The skinnier henchman turned to see his accomplice held at gun point. 

“Let them go” I commanded and the skinnier man chuckled. 

“Don’t encourage her Miguel!” The larger man cried out. 

“Oh shut up José” he yelled. 

“She won’t pull the trigger, look at her hands... trembling in fear” he chuckled. He was right, my hands were shaking uncontrollably, rattling the gun. I placed my finger onto the trigger. 

“Don’t test me!” I shouted and his eyes narrowed. 

“Maria, just run!” Leon yelled from the peer and I looked over at him. The blood was dripping from the wound on his head, this made me furious. I couldn’t kill him, I was too frightened. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t injure him. I lowered the gun to the mans lower back and pulled the trigger. A loud bang from the gun echoed through the air. The recoil jolted my arm backwards and Miguel ran towards José. 

“Maria! Run!” Leon yelled and I bolted for the trees. My legs were cramping from the speed I was running at. I could hear Miguel’s screams of anger following as he chased after me. I realised I was just running deeper and deeper into the forest, I turned around and readied my aim for Miguel to catch up. He appeared from the path I had ran from and slowed down to a jog. He chuckled as he saw me shaking, aiming the gun at his face.

“My gun is a lot more powerful than yours is señorita” he threatened and I snarled at him.

“Not when it’s aiming at your head. Do you want to end up like your pathetic amigo?” I growled and he lowered his shotgun to the ground. I noticed Leon running towards us and I had to do something quickly. I didn’t want him getting hurt! 

“You’re pathetic little boyfriend will get what’s coming to him soon enough” he taunted.

“Shut up” I groaned and he ignored me.

“Looking for those nasty men who killed his w***e of a mother? He’s been a very naughty boy señorita, he attacked my brother and he’s going to pay” he threatened.

“I said, shut up!”

“Little does he know, he was so close to catching the killer. He didn’t realise the man who pulled the trigger was his own uncle” he confessed. Leon stopped running and his jaw dropped as he heard Miguel’s confession.

“And who helped him to finish off the job?” he smirked and took a step closer.

“Me!” His voice rumbled with spite.

“What are you talking about?” I trembled and Miguel let out an evil roar of laughter.

“His uncle didn’t have the balls to finish her off. She was lying there, still breathing and begging for her life. When his uncle turned to walk away, I put a bullet in her head” he snarled. Leon’s expression turned vicious and he launched towards Miguel. Before he could reach him, I aimed the gun at Miguel’s leg and pulled the trigger. Leon gasped and jolted backwards in shock. Miguel cried out in pain and dropped to the floor. I let go of the gun, letting it fall the ground. Leon looked over at me.

“I... I shot them!” I exclaimed in a state of panic. Leon walked towards me and embraced me tightly. My head was nuzzled into his neck and I saw movement from Miguel. He grabbed his gun and pointed it at us. 

“No!” I shouted and twisted Leon behind me. A loud gun shot filled the air and I shut my eyes to flinch. When I opened them, Leon was holding the trigger of the gun he had picked up from the floor and shot the final bullet into Miguel’s heart. I grabbed Leon and turned him to me, scanning his body desperately. 

“f**k, are you okay? Where did he hit you?” I asked, watching Leon’s eyes well up with tears. 

“Maria... no” he cried and I suddenly felt the excruciating pain shoot through my side as the adrenaline calmed down. When I looked down at my white shirt, I realised it was covered in blood... my blood. My eyes met Leon’s before my legs gave way. 

“Maria!”