Page 34 of Fighting for Julia (Laguna Beach Cops #6)

SOMEWHERE IN MEXICO

ALEJANDRO ESCOBAR’S MANGO FARM

Miguel and Julia

After they ate, Alejandro invited Julia to take a stroll with him through the well-tended mango groves while Miguel rested in one of the extra bedrooms. Knowing Alejandro was displeased with them, Alfredo and Juan stayed hidden.

“It’s uncanny how much you resemble your parents, Julia.”

“I’d like to know more about my father.”

A sad smile crossed Alejandro’s weathered face, tanned and rugged from time spent working under the Mexican sun.

“My brother Julio was the brightest of all of us. He took after our mother Juana, a gentle soul. Julio loved your mother Lola with the consuming passion of youth and risked everything for her. His rejection of our father’s illegal business cut deeply and scarred our family.

Julio was a good man, making his own way in this world, but always looking over his shoulder. ”

“Until Felipe found him.”

“Sí. So, are you and Miguel in Mexico of your own volition?”

“Sort of. Lola married again and had three children. She, her husband, and oldest son were killed by the authorities because they were planning to launch a domestic terror attack on America. Her younger children, Axis and Axalia Anderson, escaped from a mental institution. They knew about me and discovered my identity. I’m afraid they’ve dragged your father into their scheme, whatever it might be. ”

“My father is too smart to fall for tricks and schemes.”

“They told him about me. I’m bait.”

“And Miguel?”

“Refused to let me face this by myself.”

“An honorable man. Julio would have liked him.”

“There’s something you should know about me. I’m a DEA agent.”

Alejandro stopped to stare at her. “And what do you intend to do about my father?”

Julia fingered a low-hanging branch of a mango tree. “I honestly don’t know.”

The sun dipped low in the sky, bathing it in warm gold hues.

Despite the pleasantness of the visit, Alejandro politely requested that they continue their journey to the Escobar compound.

They switched from the van to a Grand Cherokee and restocked their ammunition.

Alfredo had also acquired four high-powered AK-47s.

“We need to be prepared for any eventuality,” he explained. “We are still four hours away from the General’s land.”

The rest revived Miguel, and he thanked the Escobars for their hospitality with warm affection.

He spoke to them in their native language, earning their respect.

Miguel promised he would keep Julia safe and earned a kiss from her.

She bid farewell to her newfound relatives and prayed she’d see them again.

Traveling in the Grand Cherokee was far more comfortable than in the back of the van. Julia nestled against Miguel’s good side and watched the countryside fly by until darkness fell. Exhausted from the long day and lulled by the heat of Miguel’s body, Julia closed her eyes and dozed off.

“Wake up, Jules.” Miguel gently nudged her. “We’re here.”

She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Julia blinked from the harsh glare of a multitude of floodlights.

“We’re surrounded,” Miguel murmured. “Hide your pocketknife but leave your gun on the floorboard.”

Julia obeyed, and in the next minute, Alfredo and Juan yanked them roughly from the Grand Cherokee.

The telltale click of many firearms alarmed Julia, but her training kicked in as she assessed the situation.

Though she and Miguel weren’t restrained with zip ties, if they made any threatening moves, they’d be instantly shot. Multiple times.

Bad. This is bad.

The men shouted taunts at them as Alfredo and Juan forced Julia and Miguel to move forward with their hands on their heads.

They jammed their AK-47s into their backs, harder than necessary, considering how Julia and Miguel saved their lives earlier that afternoon.

Some of the men spat on them and called her and Miguel filthy names.

Someone tried to trip Miguel, but he grabbed him and threw him down onto the dirt instead. Juan let out an inappropriate chuckle.

Another man broke rank and yelled, “You killed my brothers!” He slammed his fist twice into Miguel’s stomach.

Miguel doubled over, gasping.

The man then approached Julia and drew back his fist, intending to strike her. Miguel gripped his arm, wrenched it out of its socket, and yanked it back between the man’s shoulder blades. The man gritted his teeth but didn’t cry out in pain.

“Fool!” Miguel hissed in Mexican. “She’s General Escobar’s granddaughter and my woman. Touch her, and I’ll cut your heart out of your chest.” He tossed him into the crowd of men who’d gathered around them.

Julia’s heart palpitated. God, she loved Miguel!

After that, the taunting and name-calling ceased. The atmosphere shifted to grudging respect.

Up ahead light spilled from a long and narrow rectangular building.

It silhouetted a commanding figure dressed in a military uniform.

He stood with his legs slightly apart. Both hands rested on weapons attached to a utility belt around his waist. His stern expression raised the hair on the nape of Julia’s neck.

General Escobar. My grandfather.

Axis and Axalia flanked him. As soon as Axalia spotted her, she sprinted toward Julia. Unintelligible shrieks echoed in the air. A knife glinted in her hand.

Julia didn’t flinch. She opened her arms and cooed, “Hello, darling. Mama has missed you. Come here and give me a hug.”

Axalia stopped dead in her tracks, transfixed by Julia’s voice. Julia had her hand on her Swiss army knife. Come on! Come on!

Axis rushed toward his sister. “Lia! How many times have I told you she’s not Mama? She’s Julia .”

The spell broke. Axalia’s face twisted into a mask of pain, confusion, and hatred. “I hate you! I hate you! I’ll kill you, Julia! I’ll kill you!”

“Right back at ya, little sister,” Julia flung as Axis led her back toward the General. She tossed over her shoulder at Alfredo, “See, Al? The poor girl’s mind is in splinters. She can’t tell reality from fantasy.”

Alfredo cursed and jabbed the AK-47 in her back. “Move.”

They halted several feet in front of the General. This close to him the power he emanated radiated in enveloping waves. He assessed Miguel for only a moment, then dismissed him. “Throw this man into the pit.”

Two men shoved Juan aside and seized Miguel.

Above the murmuring of the men, Axalia shrieked with delight, “The pit! The pit! Throw this pig into the pit and roast him!”

Julia and Alfredo cried, “No!”

“General. Granddad,” Alfredo appealed to him. “This man, Secret Service agent Miguel Rivera, saved our lives. In Tijuana we were attacked by the Jalisco cartel. He recognized the danger and helped us avoid being killed or taken by our enemies.”

General Escobar frowned. “Juan, is this true?”

“Sí, General. Every word. He is an honorable man. And he is the fiancé of your granddaughter.”

He raised an eyebrow and peered more closely at Miguel. “Indeed.”

“It’s a lie!” Axalia screeched. “A lie meant to deceive you, General Escobar! Throw him into the pit!”

“Silencio!” The General addressed the men who held Miguel. “Release him. Alfredo, you will escort Agent Rivera to our guest quarters. Give him food and drink and clean clothes.”

“No!” Axalia protested.

In a fluid, almost graceful movement, General Escobar backhanded Axalia. Her head snapped back. Axis stepped between her and the General, shielding his sister.

“Juan, take the Andersons to their rooms and keep watch over them. I will deal with them after I have spoken with my granddaughter.”

“Sí, General.”

Julia cast a fearful glance at Miguel as Alfredo led him away. He mouthed I love you and smiled. His confidence only allayed her fear a little.

General Escobar’s men dispersed. He offered his arm, and Julia took it.

It would be rude not to accept his chivalry.

They ambled down a well-lit corridor that turned sharply to the right and entered another part of the building that was clearly the General’s personal living quarters.

He escorted her into a small, private dining area where a boy, probably ten years old, ran to hug him.

The General ruffled the boy’s dark curly hair. “Hola, Manny. You’re up late.”

“I wanted to meet the pretty lady. She looks like Uncle Julio, sí?”

“Sí.”

Manny pulled out a heavy, decorative chair for Julia. “Please sit here. Mama will bring you fruit, cheese, and wine. Is that okay, Granddaddy?”

“Sí, my boy.”

He ran off and returned a couple of minutes later with an acoustic guitar nearly as tall as he. “Mama is coming. Shall I show you what I learned today, Granddaddy?”

“Sí, Manny.”

The General leaned back in his chair and listened to his grandson strum a few notes. It sounded familiar. A warm feeling spread through Julia.

“I know that song, Manny. Is it ‘A la Nanita Nana’?”

His face beamed. “Sí! Sí! You can sing it?”

“No. But my fiancé knows it very well. He sang it to me. Miguel can play the guitar, too.”

“Oh, I must meet him! Can I, Granddaddy?”

“Perhaps tomorrow.”

At that moment, Manny’s mother, a gorgeous, sultry woman, entered the private room with a platter of various fruits, cheeses, and a carafe of dark red sangria. As soon as she saw Julia, she burst into tears.

“God bless the Holy Virgin! You look like my brother Julio!” She leaned over Julia and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. “Welcome, niece! We feared you were lost to us forever! I’m your aunt, Ileana.”

“Tía,” Julia greeted her in Spanish.

That endearment pleased her, and she kissed Julia on the cheek. Turning to her father, Ileana began, “Papa, you won’t?—”

“Of course not,” he cut her off. “Manny, you must go to bed now.”

“Sí, Granddaddy.” Manny hugged them and scampered off with his mother.