Becoming the Czar

by Olivia Gaines

  He turned off the lights and Diadra closed the doors. She followed him down the stairs to the living room to find most of the family had come inside from the mid-day heat. All eyes were on them.

  “Well, they didn’t crease the front of his pants, so no poking yet,” Andres commented. “Like I said, if it were me...poke.”

  Eduardo reached out and smacked Andres in the back of the head. Angel, who had been coloring on pages, looked up. “Andres, maybe DiDi gave him her panties instead.”

  “What do you know about women panties?” Andres asked his younger brother.

  “If Didi leaves Yuñior a pair of her panties, he won’t be sad when she goes home. I think he should marry her and keep her here and make his own babies,” Angel suggested.

  Micah spoke up, “No Angel, he has to marry the crazy one that tried to kill Didi. Like I said, if he puts a baby in Didi, she’ll have to stay anyway. Papa will not allow any of his blood to grow up anywhere but on this land. Plus, their baby will be Papa’s first grandchild. Yuñior’s son will only be a few years younger than Catrina and the aunt and nephew can play together.”

  “Who’s going to play with me if Yuñior’s baby plays with Catrina?” Isabella asked. “I’m Yuñior’s baby. He doesn’t need any more babies.”

  “Children, please,” Eduardo pleaded.

  Yuñior ignored them all and walked out of the house onto the front porch. In the distance, plumes of dust formed from the weight of the heavy truck driving up the dirt roads to deliver the goods ordered by Tim. In the next few minutes, Tim would begin working on Tonda.

  They stood side by side on the front porch as Yuñior looked out over the land. Without prompting he began to speak, telling her of a darkness that never left his soul. He hadn’t shared the information with anyone, not even his therapist as he spoke to the woman who held his heart.

  “When I was 12 years old, very thin for my height, I stood here on this porch,” he began. “My father stood next to me where you are and Andres on the other side. Micah was inside the house and Angel was strapped to my father’s back, papoose style, is that the word, when the baby is harnessed?”

  “Yes,” Diadra answered softly, staring at the dust plumes to allow the conversation to get breath under the words.

  “In my left hand, I held a machete, in the right, an AR15. My mother had returned with two truckloads of guerillas, the dust plumes similar to those forming now announcing their imminent arrival,” he told Diadra. “She came back to trade her life for mine and Andres’. Her plan was to give me and my brother to the guerillas, and she would stay with my father and the younger two sons.”

  “What did your father think of that idea?”

  “He told me Diadra, that if she stepped one toe onto those stairs, that I was to light her up with my weapon,” he said. “He told the same thing to Andres, who was ten at the time, that if she got past step number three that he too should start shooting.”

  Diadra slipped her hand in Yuñior’s.

  “That was the first time I felt real fear,” he confessed, “I knew beyond any doubt in my mind that if my mother had walked up those stairs or placed her foot on even the bottom landing I would have riddled her body with bullets. She saw it in my eyes.”

  Diadra gave his fingers a squeeze. She wanted to ask how his mother had died, but now was not the time. When he was ready he would let her know.

  “My loyalty to my father is undaunting. That man stood here with nothing but his two sons and three guns against two carloads of guerillas and dared one of them to step out of the vehicle because they would die before they got him or his sons,” he told her. “Those men knew not to fuck with him as well. No one fucks with my father. No one.”

  “You are your father’s son,” she said, more as a question.

  “No, I am something else,” he replied, looking down at his phone. “Next month, Micah turns fourteen, and there is a ceremony in Argentina.”

  He didn’t say anything else as he dialed a number. The Spanish was rapid, too fast for her to translate and understand, but a woman was on the other line. He looked at Diadra.

  “Sí, Sí. She is here, of course, una momento,” he said, handing her the phone.

  Diadra shook her head no. He insisted, putting the device to her ear. He waved his hand for her to speak.

  “Hola, this is Diadra,” she said.

  “Diadra, Anya Fernandez, Yuñior’s Abuelita here,” the woman said through a nasally tone. “Next month for Micah’s birthday, I would love to have you visit our home and see the other half of my grandson’s world. Here, he does not scratch about in the dirt. We raise beef.”

  “You’re inviting me to your home?”

  “Isn’t that what I said? He will give you the dates. It is a long weekend. We ride, play games, have a formal dinner with a few dignitaries and the like,” Anya supplied.

  “Of course, I’d be honored if I can make arrangements with my employer,” Diadra replied, not wanting to take part in any of that.

  “Please provide me the address of your employer, and I shall send the invitation to your workplace. Show the invite to the people you work for, and they shall allow you the time to come to Perona de la Mar,” Anya said. “Give the phone to my grandson.”

  Diadra passed it back with her lip curled upward. Anya was bossy and manipulative and cunning and sly and slick on a level she didn’t have the skills to play with. However, it was a thing Yuñior wanted her to do, therefore she would do it, but begrudgingly. She watched his face as he ended the call.

  “I don’t know who is more manipulative, you or your grandmother,” she said, squinting her eyes at him.

  “She’s protective of me and Andres. We are her line,” he said. “My mother’s brother, a simple man, worked in satellites and microwave arrays. He stood in front of one too many, and it sterilized him. Therefore, Andres and my children shall produce her continued line.”

  “What about Micah and Angel?”

  “They are damaged in her eyes. A shortcoming of her daughter in marrying a man like my father.”

  “Wasn’t the marriage arranged by your grandfather?”

  “Sí, it was. My grandfather wanted the power by affiliation since he didn’t need it for the money. Just as Irena’s father wants the power by affiliation, not understanding what my father touches becomes his,” Yuñior said.

  Diadra turned to walk towards the house. “Then Im’ma go fall at his feet so he can catch me. That haircut on him took off ten years and brought out the dangerous and sexy,” she said, laughing.

  “Careful, Diadra. I’ve never considered myself to be a jealous man,” he answered, looking at her with such an intensity that her ovaries released an egg.

  “What did Micah say about you getting me pregnant?” she asked, giggling and touching him intimately, her eyes making promises of the night to come. He was looking forward to doing the same.

  “Damn, I love you,” he said again, but looking at her.

  “Good, I love you too,” she replied, leaning in for a kiss as the truck arrived. Yuñior directed it to the side of the house. Diadra watched in awe as the back of the truck came up, and racks and racks of clothing, bags of scarfs, and boxes of shoes rolled into the house.

  YUÑIOR SAT BACK WATCHING his family act like kids at Christmas. Andres eased his way to his brother’s side, also observing. Such a small gesture which meant so much to all of them, sorting through Tim’s selections as he explained the ease of wear with each item. Yuñior’s eyes also focused in on the woman who blended in well with his family, taking part in the action, aiding Tim to get everything sorted, along with Zeta.

  “What is going on with you, big brother? She’s been here all day and you have yet to handle matters. Are you feeling okay?”

  “I’m as well as can be expected. There are side effects to the medication, which is slowing me down, but in a good way?”

  “Ah sí, your winkie is not winking?”

  “My winker is just fine
, thank you,” Yuñior replied.

  “Escucha Hermano...if you need me to get in there and warm things up for you, I shall make the extreme sacrifice. Although she doesn’t have the size titties I like, if need be, I can take care of the matter for you. I love you enough to throw my body across the live wire that is your Didi,” Andres said, smiling.

  “You are funny,” Yuñior replied, feeling the weight of the day upon him. “I’m healing slower than imagined and predict the same is happening for Tito. Any word?”

  “No, but as you asked, I sent word to him from Irena and word to Irena from him,” Andres supplied. “Both of them are dumber than those poofy ass pink boots Tim likes to wear, and the ability to see a bigger picture is wasted. The man made twenty million last year by the arrival of the month of September, and he was still living in a schoolhouse on a rock in Panama. Shit, you can buy a country in Panama for twenty million.”

  Andres’ phone chirped. “Ah, Tito got the message. Whoa! He knows it’s from you and not her.”

  “Please let him know I’m willing to sit down and open a dialogue since he’s going to be family and all,” Yuñior said, watching Diadra help Zeta with the clothing. “I think when Diadra goes home, I shall send Tim to outfit her for Micah’s party.”

  “Oh shit, she’s coming to Perona de La Mar? Did Abuela okay that?”

  “Abuela invited her,” Yunior said, cutting his eye at his brother.

  “So, she’s it. Didi’s going to be your wife?”

  “Haven’t made up my mind completely yet. When I’m able to travel, I want to spend time away with them both, separately of course,” Yuñior said.

  “Mitch, you ain’t on one of those American dating shows. These women are invested in you, and one of them, you’re going to break her heart,” Andres explained. “Are you poking them both?”

  “Would you stop referring to sex as poking? It makes you sound rudimentary.”

  “Fucking is rudimentary if that is all you’re doing. Taking Didi to Perona de la Mar is huge and you’re making a definitive statement and potentially declaring war in the cartel,” Andres expounded. “Many of Abuelo’s old school cartel heads will be there and won’t approve of you flaunting Didi in front of the organization. You saw what they did to Papa and to Ry...oh shit. Oh shit. My brother’s making gangsta moves.”

  “You don’t even know the half of what I’m planning in my head, Andres,” he said, looking at Tonda, who was acting like a schoolgirl getting new knickers. “Have Tito come to me. Here.”

  “Here? Are you fucking high? I heard about the explosion of the powder this morning; you have got to be high. He will see Herve and know,” Andres explained.

  “And? I took Tito’s money and am vacillating on taking his worthless life, but he has a purpose in what I need,” Yuñior replied.

  “You’re going to fuck around and your way is going to get somebody dead. Then as your brother, it shall be my responsibility to look after your fiancé and amante. I will if I have to, but neither of them would be my preference,” Andres said.

  “I know your preferences Andres,” Yuñior replied, looking a Diadra. All that was needed would be the connection of the pieces, but he needed to understand the whole process. Maybe there was another way.

  “SURE THERE’S ANOTHER way. We can use Zoom. It’s like Skype, but better, and you can add up to a hundred or more people. Technically, you don’t really need to fly for in person meetings unless you just want to. Nowadays, most people are phoning it in,” Diadra explained, not seeing a reason to bring Tito anywhere near either of them.

  “What is this phoning it in?” Andres asked.

  “Do you have a new flat screen, smart television anywhere?”

  “Sí, here,” Andres told Diadra, opening a cabinet to reveal a television.

  “Okay, so what I will do is connect my phone to the television,” she demonstrated, showing Zeta as she went along. “I’m going to mirror what is on my phone with the screen. Then, I’m going to set up a meeting via the app. Zeta, download this app to Ed’s phone please. See, a few clicks later, and now, I’m going to send Ed the link.”

  Yuñior’s phone dinged a few minutes later. Eduardo, Ryanne, and all the family came forward, watching what Diadra was doing. Ed clicked the link to accept the meeting and his face came on screen. Diadra’s face popped up as well.

  “Most times, if it is you and one other person, a click here, deselect here, and now we are side by side,” Diadra also demonstrated, smiling into her phone. “We can alter the backgrounds of the image so the person on the other end can’t see into your home. Or you can create a corner in an office and that can become your studio, so to speak.”

  The photo she selected was the one of Ed onstage at the karaoke bar.

  “Wait, what is that photo?” Eduardo asked, pointing at the screen.

  “Ed singing karaoke at a bar with me and some of our friends. Your son was the height of popularity that night in Brooklyn. He brought down the house. People were asking for his autograph. I almost had to fight some chick trying to touch him,” Diadra said with a frown.

  “You? A fighter?” Eduardo asked, almost laughing.

  “In a heartbeat. I can’t even start to tell you how many times my Daddy got called to the school when I was growing up, especially when we were stationed in Japan,” Diadra said. “Those kids wanted to test me daily and didn’t know my martial arts skills are on point. I can slice a peach in the air with a katana and barely nick the seed.”

  Andres leaned forward. “I’m sorry, you said you lived in Japan?”

  “Yes, Army brat. We were also stationed in Italy, Germany, and France before my father’s last stop before he retired,” Diadra explained. “We came back to the US and he took an appointment at West Point, which is how we ended up in New York.”

  “My dad retired from the Army as well,” Ryanne offered. “The coping skills as a young woman from a military family are different.”

  Had they not been looking; the men would have missed the interchange of glances between Diadra and Ryanne. Tonda didn’t believe a word the little slip of a woman was saying. He didn’t think such a small woman could take down a fly let alone win a fight or wield a warrior’s sword like a katana.

  “I don’t believe you,” Tonda boasted. “You? You’re not big enough to take down a monkey, let alone a man.”

  “Want to try me, Big Guy?” Diadra asked, smiling sweetly at him.

  “Sí! I want to see these skills you profess to have,” Tonda bragged, getting to his feet. He’d barely stood upright before he found himself in the floor, flat on his face. Everyone’s eyes were wide, seeing it, but not believing it.

  While Tonda questioned Diadra, she’d already removed her shoes. As he rose, with his knees slightly bent, she took a running start, climbing him, wrapping her legs around his neck, and using the weight of her body to propel him forward to the floor. Once on the floor, she sprung into the air, landing in the middle of his upper back, knocking the air out of his lungs. Tonda lay in the floor, immobile, but his eyes open. Diadra stepped over him to go back to the monitor.

  “Look at him, talking trash and drooling on the floor like a baby,” she said, shaking her head.

  Eduardo, totally impressed, jumped to his feet. “We’re keeping her! Yuñior, go! Stop working and spend some time with your lady. Off you two.”

  Yuñior nodded to his father, impressed as well with Diadra’s maneuvers, reached for her hand, asking her for a moment of private conversation. Before he left, he issued orders, “Tim, when Tonda stops drooling, get his makeover done, por favor. Zeta, take the clothes to your home for you and your family. Andres, can I please get you to set up the call this evening I requested?”

  He was dragging Diadra behind him as he talked and gave orders. She pulled away from his grasp, looking at him in utter disbelief. This was not how this would go down, in front of his family, being dragged off like a caveman for him to do his business. This is where she’d draw t
he line.

  “Ed, can we possibly have the conversation after everyone has sorted through the goodies Tim purchased?” she whispered, taking a step back.

  “No my dear,” Yuńior said, “we need to speak privately now about a matter of great importance.”

  Diadra was embarrassed knowing why he was dragging her off. She apologized to his parents, begging them to excuse her and Ed. Vehemently, she tried to explain they would return soon after their conversation.

  Yuñior didn’t feel like talking. He wasn’t going to explain shit to anyone. He’d been talking all day. He wanted some loving, right now, full on, total contact, sweaty, mouth dry, body rubbing− loving. He released her hand. Yuñior lowered his chin, lifted up the corner of his lip Elvis style, and showed a bit of teeth in his signature give me some smile.

  Tim squealed.

  Zeta said, “Well damn.”

  Ryanne fanned herself.

  Diadra knew she’d released a second egg for fertilization from her ovaries.

  Yuñior turned away from them all, heading up the stairs. He didn’t bother to look back, knowing he meant good and well for Diadra to follow him to his quarters. Diadra tried to remain calm but lost her cool points acting like a smitten fan girl getting to hang out with her favorite star. She turned to look at Ryanne and Zeta, shaking her fisted hands in excitement and grinning. Waving like a kid headed into the scary house, she took off after him. At the top of the stairs, he waited at the bedroom door for her to enter, closing the door as she walked in, bolting the entrance shut.

  Isabella spoke up, “Ooh, they are going to get nakey.”

  Angel was frowning, “I think he wants more than her panties. I think they’re going to do the pussy.”

  Eduardo reached out and popped Angel in the back of the head. Angel gripped the back of his head, making a sad face at his father. Andres felt a moment of pride and Tim pursed his lips.