Leaning over, Isabella picked up the stench of fumes over the smell of the food. It was the same stench she’d smelled several times that past week while working in the truck. She nodded, glancing up at him. “Yeah, that’s familiar actually. Smelled it all week.”
Still frowning, Cido shook his head. “You should’ve mentioned it sooner. Last thing I need is for this shit to give out on me today of all days.”
Refraining from rolling her eyes, Isabella finished the burrito she was in the middle of making it and wrapped it in foil. She had mentioned it at the beginning of the week, and Cido had made light of it. It wasn’t until yesterday when it was really giving Magdalena issues that he decided to do something about it. Even then, he half-assed it and said he’d wait until morning to work on it some more. Now here they were with it still going out on them.
“Keep an eye and nose on it.” Cido put the box of matches back after he was done turning the burner back on. “You don’t want that pilot going without a flame. Might pop on you.”
About a half hour later, when they had a slight lull in business, Cido announced he was going for an ice run. He was lucky they had an ice vendor at the festival for the knuckleheads like Cido and his dad who hadn’t thought far ahead enough to pack enough ice. Isabella had even warned them, remembering how last year they’d run out.
Distracted for a moment from her food prepping, Isabella watched as Octavio spoke to some greaseball looking guys outside. One of them pulled something out of his pocket and glanced around, trying but failing to look inconspicuous as he stuck a cigarette in his mouth with his other hand. Whatever he pulled out, he slipped it to Octavio, who immediately stuck it in his own pocket.
“Mija, I’m gonna run to the bathroom right now that we slowed a bit.”
Turning to her mom, Isabella nodded. Magdalena, who was digging through the freezer, caught her eye. “Oh, you’re kidding me?” Magdalena huffed.
“What?” Isabella asked, scraping the grill so she could get the meat for the next order on it.
“We’re out of potatoes.”
“No way!” Isabella turned to her.
“Yep,.” Magdalena grabbed a marker from the top of the cabinet. “Thank God we still have chips for nachos.” She shook her head. “But I have to go cross asada fries, among other potato items, off the menu before any riots break out. Be back!”
She rushed out of the truck. Isabella watched as Magdalena came around the front of the truck and began crossing things off the menu. “Unbelievable,” she whispered, remembering how she’d reminded Cido to stock up on this too.
Glancing down at the meat on the grill, Isabella frowned because it was still red. It’s when she realized the stench of fumes had been in her nose for a while now. Pulling back cautiously, she leaned down to peek under the grill just as the other burner flickered. The sudden blast that erupted threw her backwards, and the entire kitchen area was in flames.
With her heart at her throat, Isabella shielded herself with her arms and hands, screaming as she leapt away from the flames, but now she was trapped. The only way out was to go through the flames, and there was no way. There were too many, and the heavy black smoke was filling the truck quickly.
She screamed again as someone from outside called out for her. Pushing up against the corner of the truck as far away from the flames as she could, she lifted her apron over her face. “I can’t get out! Help me!”
It was hard to hear over the roar of the flames and things crackling in the truck, but Isabella could make out male voices and a woman’s screams. Her mother? Despite the sheer terror she was feeling, Isabella somehow had the foresight to pull her apron off and try to snuff out the flames with it. But it was futile; it only seemed to ignite them further, and she cried out for help again, screaming even louder when the flames grew bigger.
Without the apron over her face now, the smoke hit the back of Isabella’s throat, making her hack in desperate need of air—clean air. Bending over, she saw her life flash before her eyes and waited for her legs to give out on her.
Out of nowhere, something tugged at her arm, pulling toward the flames. “No!”
“Come on!” Without the strength to pull back, she was tugged forward forcefully—through the fire. “Keep your head down!”
What felt like running through the flames of hell was only momentary, and in the next second, she was able to take a staggering breath of fresh air as she was pushed out of the truck. Tumbling out, she fell onto the grassy ground. But before she could wrap her head around what just happened, she was being tugged and forced up again then being pushed from behind. The explosion had them flying in the air, and she landed awkwardly, rolling to her side as someone else fell on her, shielding her from the debris she could hear and feel falling all around them.
It took a few seconds for the debris to finish falling and for whomever it was lying over her to pull his head up. As if the sky opened up before her and she was witnessing a miracle, her savior was even more beautiful than she would’ve imagined even a guardian angel sent by God himself. For a moment, she wondered if maybe her legs hadn’t really given out on her in that truck and she’d died and gone to heaven.
“Alejandro?”
Pulling his arms up even as the weight of his body remained over her, his eyes widened as if he just now realized who she was. Before he could respond, someone pulled his shoulder back roughly.
“Get off her! What the fuck’s wrong with you?”
It was only then that Isabella realized the almost obscene position they’d been in, with Alejandro’s body lying over hers. As he rolled off her quickly, both Alejandro and Isabella turned up to look at an incensed looking Cido. He dropped to his knee next to Isabella, his expression softening and looking more concerned than pissed now. “Are you okay?”
Coughing into her hand, Isabella nodded but stretched out her neck to look around Cido. “Alejandro?”
The first responders surrounded her pushing Cido out of the way and fell to their knees all around her, blocking her view of Alejandro altogether. “Alejandro!”
“Isa?”
It was him.
The medics struggled to take Isabella’s vitals because she couldn’t sit still and kept craning her neck as she attempted to see around them.
“Alejandro,” she cried out again, swatting the medics’ hands away.
Not even in the burning truck had she ever felt such desperation. She almost began to think this was a nightmare. The kind where you’re frantically trying to do something vital to your survival over and over and it just never happens.
“Isa, stop fighting and let them help you,” Cido urged from behind the medics.
“Is it really him?” she asked, the tears of joy already flooding her eyes.
“It is!” Alejandro pushed through the medics, and there he was standing over her in all his glory, looking manlier and twice the size she remembered him.
The light beard and mustache he used to wear when they were younger, were completely shaven now, and he looked so clean-cut and different. The tall lanky boy she remembered was now a full-grown, beautifully chiseled man.
“I’m fine. I’m fine,” he said to the paramedics still reaching out for him. When the medics walked away, he turned back to Isabella, his expression as overjoyed as she felt. “Jesus Christ, Isa! I didn’t even know it was you in there. I just ran in when I heard the screaming. Are you okay?”
She nodded profusely, wanting nothing more than to jump up and into his arms. But the stupid medics were still all over her.
“Alej?” Isabella turned to the girl pushing her way through the crowd around Alejandro. She rushed to him, bringing her hands to his face the moment she reached him. “Julio said you ran into a burning truck. Why? Why would you do that, baby?”
Isabella heard him say something about hearing screaming and instinct kicking in, but she was too busy watching the girl’s hand slip into his. She squeezed her eyes shut when the girl leaned in and kissed
his lips.
Of course, that would be when the medics where finally done with her and asked her to sign off on some paperwork. Isabella took the moment of distraction as she was helped to her feet and signed the paperwork to try and gather herself.
“Does that mean what I think it does?” Cido asked, pointing at Alejandro first then the girl with him.
Turning to see what Cido meant, Isabella read Alejandro’s T-shirt. It had the Moreno’s logo on the left corner with his name just under it and a photo of a shot glass with two limes, and the caption read, tequila for one, please.
“It does,” the girl smiled big, latching her arm into Alejandro’s and leaning into him.
Not understanding, but already drowning in jealousy, Isabella turned to read the girl’s T-shirt. Same logo, only Isabella nearly choked when she read the name: Mrs. Moreno.
Her eyes were immediately on Alejandro, who stared at her, not looking nearly as delighted as his wife did. His eyes even appeared to attempt to convey something to her.
“It’s been years since I last saw you.” Cido, who was in a far better mood suddenly than when he first pushed Alejandro off her, asked the burning question. “How long have you been married?”
“Less than two months,” Alejandro said, still staring straight at Isabella.
Cido chuckled. “Oh, wow, well, you guys didn’t waste any time, did you? Is this your first?”
The telling way in which Alejandro closed his eyes for a moment had Isabella turning to Cido. For a moment, she thought he meant first marriage, but then she brought her attention back to Alejandro’s smiling wife, who was rubbing her belly. Only then did she read the rest of what was on her shirt. Something she’d thought at first glance just had to do with their catering menu. It had a picture of a taco, and the caption read, tacos for two, please. An arrow below the caption pointed at her belly.
What started as a scathing slap in the face was now a two-by-four slammed into her gut. Isabella could barely breathe much less speak. Alejandro introduced them to his wife, and somehow Isabella got through the introductions, but she hadn’t even caught her name, the droning buzz in her head was too loud.
He addressed Isabella, asking the obvious if she was working with Cido now. Her mouth opened, but she had no words. At first, she’d been glad when Cido came to her aid and happily answered for her.
“Yeah, isn’t it crazy how fate works?” Cido reached out and touched Isabella’s shoulder. “She got here over a year ago and was struggling to find a job. Then she happened upon one of our trucks, and I needed the help. Everything just fell into place, and now we’re living together.”
Despite Alejandro standing there holding his pregnant wife’s hand, the stunned, and dare she say hurt, expression wasn’t missed. Isabella suddenly felt the need to elaborate on what Cido had just said. He’d made it sound like she’d been living with Cido for over a year. That it’d been at least that long since she’d given up on finding Alejandro, and not only shamelessly shacked up with another guy, but she’d done so with his childhood best friend.
When in fact, up until the agonizing moments since his wife had rushed to him, Isabella had been having visions of jumping in his arms and telling him how much she still adored him. Except she still couldn’t bring herself to speak. She feared her voice would betray her, and the giant lump in her throat would give.
Isabella’s mother coming over to check on her then hugging her was perfect timing. She hid her face in her mother’s neckline as she took a few trembling breaths and wiped tears away.
Her mother pulled away, her very concerned eyes taking Isabella in. “Are you sure you’re okay, Mija?”
“Yes, yes,” she said, hugging her mom again in an attempt to gather herself. “I’m fine. I think it’s just finally hitting me. I was really scared.”
“I was about to run in and get you,” Cido said. “But Alej beat me to it.”
Pulling away again, her mother turned around, bringing her attention to Alejandro as if she’d just noticed him. “Alej?” Alejandro smiled with a nod. “Dios mio, Alej.” She smiled big, opening her arms to hug him.
Alejandro embraced her mother, saying it was nice to see her after all these years. As soon as her mom was done hugging him, she turned to Isabella with a big smile.
“He’s married now,” Cido informed her before she could say another word, then pointed at his wife. “With a baby on the way.”
Isabella’s mother’s smile flattened in obvious disappointment, but she recovered quickly when she realized his wife was standing right there, taking in her reaction.
Alejandro cleared his throat as his wife latched her arm into his and smiled. “This is my wife Carmela.”
Hearing him say it was like someone twisting the knife already lodged in Isabella’s heart. Her mother greeted Carmela, asked how far along she was—almost two months—then no doubt sensing Isabella’s tears had nothing to do with the fire, thanked Alejandro for running in to save her but mercifully excused herself and Isabella so she could go help her get cleaned up.
Over the years, Isabella had envisioned finally being reunited with Alejandro. In every instance, it’d been a blissful daydream: lots of hugs, and kisses and telling each other how much they’d missed and loved one another.
Not once had she ever imagined she’d be left numb and feeling like an empty shell. But that’s exactly how she’d felt even weeks after and she was sure a part of her would forever feel the emptiness knowing she’d once again lost the love of her life—for good this time.
Capítulo 17
The Pain of Sin
Alejandro
The weeks after the festival, Alej tried in vain to stop thinking about Isa. Everything about her. He knew he’d missed her but hadn’t realized just how profoundly until he saw her. Even as he’d begun to accept that he’d be spending the rest of his life and having a family with the wrong person, he’d never felt regret as he had in the months after their poignant reunion. As the days passed after the festival, he’d focused on something else instead. He still had ongoing thoughts of Isa but specifically, Isa and Cido living together now.
At first, it’d been just a shock, but as the weeks passed, Alej had become consumed with feelings of anger and betrayal. He thought back to the many conversations he and Cido had when he and his father had first moved out here. How Alej had repeatedly said he’d never move on. Sure, technically, he had but this was different, and he knew there was no way Cido would know about his teetering about his relationship with Carmela less than two months before the festival. How she’d immediately gotten knocked up and his dad had convinced him to do the only honorable thing.
Still, knowing Isa was in the San Diego area now and that Alej was nearby, the chance of them finally reuniting was even more real—a year ago when she got here—long before Alej had even met Carmela. Yet Cido had seen fit to take his relationship with the love of Alej’s life there—and she gone along with it. Now it had Alej questioning the times he’d seen red way back when he’d suspected Isa enjoyed Cido’s company and stupid humor a little too much. Had she secretly felt something for him all this time? Obviously, Cido had felt for her what Alej had suspected more than once in the past. With Alej out of the picture, Cido jumped at the chance and she’d clearly agreed?
Among the anger and feelings of betrayal he was suffering, there was a mix of guilt he felt over still caring so much when he was a married man with a child on the way. He’d even begun to get paranoid that Carmela had picked up on the change. His bitter attitude about everything ever since the festival had been nearly impossible to trounce.
He decided to pour all his energy into getting their restaurant off the ground. It was the only thing that ever kept his mind from wandering off into painful thoughts of Isa. His dad already had a buyer for the truck before the festival. So as soon as the festival was over, he wasted no time selling it. He’d already staked out a spot in La Jolla. It was a small taco stand, but it had an enclosed sitting
area and room to grow. It’d been around for years, with a solid patronage, but the owners were retiring, and their only kid was a military man who was never around. Like his dad with the truck, the elderly owners were looking to sell the eatery ASAP. Just weeks after the festival, his father had finally achieved his goal of owning a restaurant in the US. Moreno’s would be holding their grand opening in a few weeks.
Alej got the call just after he’d arrived at the restaurant one morning. They were painting, and he was looking forward to keeping himself busy all day. Carmela had stayed home because she was having a bad day. Her morning sickness hadn’t been too bad, but the past couple of days she’d started complaining about not feeling it, and this morning she wasn’t feeling any better. It worked out since the telephone company was coming out to install another phone jack in the house. She was supposed to have met Alej and his dad at the restaurant after they were done with the jack, but Alej had suggested she just stay home for the day.
At first, he thought the guy on the phone, who introduced himself as the phone company technician who’d been sent out to his house, was reaching out to ask about the job he was doing. Where specifically he wanted the jack, even though he’d left precise instructions with Carmela. But the next sentence out of his mouth had Alej stopping cold.
“I don’t know what happened because I’d been working in the back room, but when I walked out to let her know I was done, she was passed out on the kitchen floor.”
“What?” Instantly, Alej was rushing to grab his car keys.
“I called 911. They’re just loading her into the ambulance now. When I told them your wife mentioned your restaurant, they suggested I call 411 and get the number so I could let you know what’s going on.”
Alej got the information about where they were taking her, called her parents, and let his dad know what was going on before rushing out. The whole way to the hospital he tried to remember exactly what she’d described as her symptoms of not feeling it. Alej had barely paid her much attention. He’d just assumed it was morning sickness related.
Moreno's: Moreno Brother's prequel (Moreno Brothers) Page 15
