“Miguel kissed her. She told him to piss off. I didn’t retaliate because he’s been hiding from me,” Cayetano muttered.
“Until last night when you smashed his face,” Paco added.
“Yes, Miguel got the message.”
“Luna, the centre of trouble again,” José said.
Cayetano widened his eyes but said nothing. José was never going to like his fiancé. He opened the magazine again and looked at the photos of her, dressed in a gold ball gown, pointing his bullfighting sword at him. Cayetano stood with his cape, the pair facing off in the ring. He couldn’t help but smile. He thought of the pair, dancing under the lights of Torres de Serranos a few weeks ago, laughing, free of the pressures of reality. Where did that peace go? Still in Valencia.
“Women,” José remarked as he pulled a cigar from the drawer under the coffee table. “Sometimes they just need to be shown who is in charge. Oh the stories I could tell you…”
“Spare us, Papí,” said Sofía as she stepped back into the warm conservatory. She wandered over and sat down next to Paco again. She waved her phone in the direction of her brother. “I’ve just got a call.”
“So?” Cayetano shrugged. He paused; maybe it was Luna, maybe she didn’t want to call him. Ouch, that thought hurt.
“It was María.”
“My ex-wife calling my sister. Just what I need. Is María laughing at me, too?”
“She had her baby last night, a little girl. Hortencia Villa Medina. She will be home in a few days.”
“I’m sure I will read all about her elective caesarean in a magazine,” Cayetano sniped.
“Lucky that baby isn’t yours,” José added.
Cayetano, Sofía and Paco all shared a look. José still didn’t know about Cayetano’s one night with María, which made him in line to be Papá for a short time. “Very lucky, Papí. Sofía, why did María call you?”
“She just didn’t want you to hear about her baby on the news.”
“Oh, please, she will only be away on maternity leave from her TV show for a few weeks. I’m surprised there wasn’t a camera in her vagina throughout the whole thing. You know she loves being famous over everything else.”
“Yes, she is going back to work. Her sister will look after the baby.”
Cayetano rolled his eyes. “Well, I’m glad María and her baby are both well. But we are divorced. Our pre-nup ensured an easy release from the Medina circus.”
“María is Spanish nobility, made of solid stock. I hope you have a new pre-nuptial agreement for Luna,” José said as he sucked on his large smelly cigar.
“I have don’t have much to lose, Papí,” Cayetano said. “Luna wants me even though she knows Rebelión is broke, and I sunk everything I had into the place.”
“All the more reason to marry her,” Sofía said. “The next woman may not be as forgiving.”
“I don’t plan on having another woman.”
“Well, stop being such an asshole to Luna!”
“It’s not that simple, Sofía.”
“It never is with you.”
José blew a lungful of smoke in the direction of his bickering grandchildren. “Listen to your sister, Caya.”
“Mamá will be mad if she sees you smoking,” Sofía replied. “You want Caya to stay with Luna, Papí? Why, for her millions of Euros?”
“She has millions of Euros? Shit, let’s not worry about losing Rebelión then, Luna can bail us out! No need to change anything now!”
“I think that every argument doesn’t mean the end of the world, so Caya doesn’t need to worry,” Sofía shot back. “Papí, that’s a mean thing to say.”
“It’s a shitty thing to say,” Cayetano added. “Luna’s financial position isn’t our business.”
“She knows our business,” Paco scoffed.
“Yes, Papá, she does, because I’m the one shouldering the financial burden for the entire family.”
“Where did she get millions of Euros? Was it that cheating husband of hers?” José asked.
Cayetano looked at his sister for a moment, who remained silent. He wasn’t sure what to say; no doubt anything would upset Luna. “Winning the Tour de France is a half a million Euro prize. Plus sponsorships and all that… let’s say while Fabrizio Merlini was an asshole, he left his wife and sons unaffected by the financial crisis.”
“Mercy for small miracles,” Paco said.
“Caya, does María and her baby not bother you?” Sofía asked.
Cayetano just shrugged. Everyone waited as something went through his mind. “I wish I could say I care,” he sighed. “After everything, I wish I still felt something, but I don’t. María made sure of that. I hope she and her scumbag cameraman can look after their baby. María comes from a long line of cheaters and liars, so I’m sure it will end in disaster.”
“María is Luna’s cousin. Ever plan on sharing that with her?” Paco asked.
“Luna doesn’t want to tell María, so I won’t either. María’s father Leandro knows, so my duty to that woman is done.”
“You need to apologise to Luna,” Sofía said.
“She can wait; it’s not as if she’s going anywhere. We have our whole lives to talk. I need a break.”
“Women,” José mused and sat back in his chair. “It’s such a shame that only some of them get what they deserve…”
31
Valencia, España ~ Mayo de 2010
Luna glanced at her phone; no messages. Time should have claimed Cayetano’s temper by now, but they still hadn’t spoken since the blow-up in Madrid. Over a coffee in the café in her apartment building, Luna sat with Giacomo and Enzo and watched a replay of Cayetano’s Salamanca fights on her phone. An unremarkable event, but better than Las Ventas a week ago. Now her weary bullfighter was on his way to Valencia, on his way to Escondrijo. With luck, his mood wouldn’t cloud once he found Jorge’s dig team there, beginning what would be a long process of reclaiming lost souls. Since Luna hadn’t spoken to Cayetano since the disaster at Las Ventas, he didn’t know it was digging day. All Luna knew was she didn’t want to fight anymore.
Luna took a deep breath of fresh mountain air and lifted her arms over her head, to stretch her sore back. Peace was the kindest thing the mountain provided. The ground was just a little damp beneath her feet; the mountain had been blessed with overnight rain. The Turia valley glistened with promise, the city of Valencia and outlying villages silenced by distance. Pine trees around the house blew in a steady breeze, and gave a sound which reminded Luna that the mountain was alive. Giacomo and Enzo ran into the old stone house, chatting and giggling. Luna didn’t want to bring them to a grave excavation, but she didn’t have a lot of choice; no one was going to help out. That was the reality of living a lonely life.
Luna dropped her arms as she listened to the voices of Jorge and his two young dig team members, Rubén and Alicia. The pair had an enthusiasm many Spaniards in their twenties did not, not in this economy and job market. Luna needed their enthusiasm for the task ahead because she already felt exhausted.
Over the sound of the wind, Luna turned to the noise of a car approaching. Cayetano had left Salamanca after his fight last night and stayed in Madrid. Even so, there would be no way he would be in Valencia already, so early in the day. Cayetano didn’t get up early for any occasion. She noticed Jorge, Alicia and Rubén pause with their army of gear as they watched the dusty black Audi pull up outside the house, and Luna’s eyes narrowed. Her favourite lying cyclist had resurfaced.
“No,” she called out the moment Darren got out of the car. “Not today, not ever.”
“Please, Lulu, I need to talk to you.” The tall Australian brushed his blonde hair from his eyes and glanced at the three others nearby, whom all nodded hello with hesitation.
“Can’t you see I’m busy?” Luna replied as she approached him and placed one hand on his car. “How did you know I was here?”
“I stopped by your place, and Lucía across the hall said she sp
oke to you this morning. Where are the boys?”
“Inside the house.”
“Is it safe in there?”
“I had it structurally assessed months ago. I wouldn’t let them run around somewhere that wasn’t safe for them.”
“I thought we might have a chat, a civil one. But you’re not alone.”
“No, I’m not.”
“What’s going on here?”
“You don’t want to know.”
Darren turned and glanced at the matching shirts the three Spaniards wore, emblazoned with Republican flags. “Care to share anything, Luna? Is this about your grandfather?’”
“No, it’s not. Don’t ask me to share anything with you. You’ve been specific in not sharing with me.”
“I have good news, and I thought you should hear it for me.”
“I’ve heard more than I ever needed to hear.” Luna took her hand off the hot car and wiped the dust on her jeans.
“¿Luna, hay algún problema?” Jorge called to her.
“No, no problema. Por favor, vaya al sitio.”
Darren paused as the group took several heavy items from their trailer and headed around the house and out of sight. “Where are they going? Are you having work done? What site?”
“None of your business, Darren.”
“How long are you planning on being mad at me?”
“You know me.”
“Yeah, I do. Bloody stubborn! Come on, Lulu, it’s me.”
Luna closed her eyes and felt a lump in her throat. Until she had begun to distance herself from Darren, she didn’t realise how much his presence made her hang on to her past, a painful history. Luna opened her eyes, now filled with the glisten of fresh tears, born of exhaustion and confusion. “As long as the past keeps knocking, the future just seems too hard.”
“I could say the same thing.”
Luna turned around to the deep voice and noticed Miguel by the house. “Oh, for the love of Christ.”
“I was up by the site and Jorge and his friends appeared. I arrived just in time,” Miguel replied.
“Do you realise you’re trespassing every time you turn up here?”
“Who is this guy?” Darren enquired.
“My latest headache,”’ Luna replied and turned back to Miguel.
“Is there a problem?’ Darren asked behind her.
“No, Darren, it’s none of your business.”
“Darren?” Miguel asked and pointed at the tall man who took a few steps forward. “Is this the guy Caya told me about, the drug cheat?”
“Mate, do you need a punch in the face?” Darren challenged and Luna rolled her eyes.
“Do you need to get a punch twice as strong in return?” Miguel replied.
“Miguel’s face has just recovered from getting a punch from Cayetano last week.” Luna detested testosterone-filled conversation.
“I came to talk to you about that incident, Luna,” Miguel explained. “I want to apologise.”
“For what?” Darren asked.
“None of your business,” Miguel said. “Can’t you take a hint? The lady doesn’t want you, she’s marrying my cousin.”
“That’s rich, coming from you,” Luna scoffed.
Darren glanced from Luna to the tall dark man in front of her. “Did this guy try it on with you?”
“Yeah, he did,” Luna replied with her steely gaze on Miguel, who lowered his eyes in remorse. “I’m not quite ready to forgive and forget.”
“You bastard,” Darren said, and stepped around Luna with a raised hand.
“Don’t you dare,” Luna hissed at him.
“I’m not scared of you,” Miguel replied with a smirk. “I will flatten you.”
“When are men going to realise that punching someone never impressed a woman?” Luna cried. “If either of you raise a hand to anyone, where my children might witness such a ridiculous act, so help me God…”
Darren lowered his hand but stood close to her, irritated by the man he had just met. Miguel likewise seemed on edge. Luna became dizzy again and reached out on instinct to stay steady on her feet. Darren took her hand and the moment was more comforting than it should have felt.
“Lulu, are you all right?” Darren asked.
Luna opened her eyes and shot her cold glare right at Miguel. “I want you to leave me. Life is hard enough without weak men who lose my respect hanging around me.”
“Luna…”
“No, there’s no talking your way out of it. You can tell me it was nothing, or that it was a simple mistake. Perhaps it was a mistake, but today I can’t be bothered with cowardly men and their feeble decisions.”
“I can’t leave here, not today.”
“Why? Spying on me for José again?”
“No! I have a connection to this place, I told you…”
“Oh bullshit,” Luna said with a look of disgust. “Piss off, Miguel!”
“You’ve made a huge mistake. I’ll be back.” Miguel turned and disappeared behind the house. Luna wondered for a moment how he had got to the house; his car wasn’t at Escondrijo. With luck, he would take the advice and just disappear. A flash of red and two smiles, which sparkled more than the stars in the sky, appeared in the doorway of the masía.
“Boys!” Darren cried and put his arms out for a hug. “Come and hug your old uncle Darren!”
Giacomo and Enzo sprinted to the man they knew so well and he bent down to hug them both at the same time.
“We haven’t seen you in a long time,” Giacomo gushed and squeezed Darren in a tight hug.
“Why don’t you come and visit anymore?” Enzo asked.
“I’m sorry, I’ve been too busy,” Darren lied to them. “The school holidays are coming up so maybe we will do something fun.”
“We will be in Madrid for Mummy’s wedding in the holidays,” Enzo said.
“I’m sure we can do something.” Darren glanced up to Luna, to check if his lies would gain him more strife. He felt relieved when she said nothing for the sake of the children.
“Sorry, boys, but Darren has to go home now,” Luna said.
“Is it because we’re digging up dead people?” Giacomo asked.
“What?” Darren squinted as he looked up at Luna.
“It’s a long story.”
“Would you like to share?”
“Not right now. What did you come to tell me?”
Darren stood up and the boys ran off in the direction of the house again, having claimed it as their personal fortress. “The book about Fabrizio; it may never be released. Irene and Piero are going to court in Italy over the allegations, so it might be a while before it’s all resolved.”
“So Fabrizio’s secrets may remain a secret?”
“You and I shouldn’t have gone through this farce.”
“You still cheated. Fabrizio still cheated. Things won’t change if the book doesn’t get released.”
“Last time we met, you threatened to tell the world what I had done.”
“I still might.”
“You better not!”
“Don’t you have better things to do than threaten me, Darren? What happened to the loved-up chilled Darren?”
“If you expose me as a cheat, do you think Sofía will want me? She is a calm, quiet woman. You would risk me losing her. If you tell anyone, I’ll…”
“You’ll what? Come on, tell me.”
Darren shook his fist with anger and exhaled. “Please, don’t make me do something I’ll regret.”
“Like?”
“Don’t ruin my life and you’ll never have to find out.”
“Darren.”
“What?”
“You can piss off, too! I’m sick of being threatened.”
“I know where you are, Lulu.”
“Congratulations, now fuck off!”
As Darren retreated to his car, Luna glanced over her shoulder; the boys were giggling inside and hadn’t listened to the conversation. Darren turned his car hard on t
he limestone, which kicked up a huge amount of dust on Luna as he sped away from the lonely farm.
Luna paused and listened to the peace again. Talk about having a target on your back. Never mind. She headed towards the boys so they could head to the dig site. Time for some serious work.
32
Valencia, España ~ Mayo de 2010
Cayetano took his hands from his pockets as he walked up the steady incline away from the masía at Escondrijo. He wondered what he would find at the dig site. He drove without stopping from Madrid, all the way to the Sierra Calderona. The need to be with Luna gave such a desperate urge to get to Valencia. After a week of running Luna out of his apartment in a rage, Cayetano expected to do serious time making it up to her. He prayed she didn’t take it to heart. Still, a deep apology was in order when the right moment came. This afternoon may not provide that. As the days trickled by, the thought of Luna being upset made Cayetano more anxious to fix things. The phone wasn’t the right place to do that. Luna was like a fire, and fighting fire with fire never worked.
Cayetano noticed the pine trees grew denser as he climbed the hill. Whoever had buried these bodies had a plan; this was no accident. Someone had trekked up here with intentions to hide something. Hide from a painful loss, hide from an evil crime… it was time to find out. As the vivid Valencian sunshine grew more hidden behind the trees, a sense of foreboding began to creep into him. Someone else had hiked through these trees, someone with intentions the exact opposite of Luna’s. Cayetano shivered in the warmth; dark times brought a chill to the otherwise sunny location.
The light-hearted voices of the boys broke Cayetano’s thoughts as he approached. They played near the dig site. The burial site had a makeshift fence around it, enough to keep the raw facts from the boys’ gaze. Cayetano should have been there to watch the children for Luna. They had made themselves a fort from a tarpaulin around rocks and fallen trees, and seemed to be having the time of their lives.
Enzo glanced up from their little hideout and smiled. “Papá came back!” he called out.
Secrets of Spain Trilogy Page 71