by Christina OW
“You! This is all your fault!” He reached behind him and pulled out a hand gun. Melody dropped her flute and her hand went to her mouth to keep herself from screaming. She was sure she was seriously going to loose it when Ruiz took a step to the side, completely shielding Allan from Anthony’s line of sight.
“Put that down before you hurt yourself,” Ruiz said with a very bored tone.
Melody squeezed Loraine’s hand tight when Anthony stomped to Ruiz and pressed the gun to his chest. The entire time Ruiz didn’t move even an inch back. He didn’t even bat an eyelash he just stared at Anthony—not the gun—like he was a nuisance.
“Aren’t afraid of guns ha? Maybe we should test that.”
“Do that and I’ll drop you right where you stand, Anthony.” Melody’s eyes swung to Angelo. He had a wicked grin on his lips, his eyes gleaming with something dangerous as he stared at Ruiz. “He’s no use to me dead, but you should point that gun where it would hurt the most.” Ruiz’s eyes shifted then and collided with his, but his face remained expressionless.
Anthony’s eyes widened and he stuck half his tongue out and licked around his lips. He laughed and nodded vigorously. “Si, si!”
He took a step back, separating the gun from Ruiz’s chest. Melody only had a moment to lower her hand and take a deep breath before she froze. Anthony turned quickly and she found herself face to face with the silver barrel of a gun.
“His little sister and this dog’s wife,” he swung to the other side pointing the gun at Riana, “His precious wife and this dog’s baby sister. Decisions, decisions.”
Melody looked up at her brother as she struggled to catch her breath. His jaw was clenched tight and his eyes yelled murder, but when she looked at Ruiz, he just stood there his hands palm open at his sides, his face completely expressionless. Melody’s and Riana’s eyes met. Anthony swung back and forth between Riana and Melody and each time her heart picked up tempo. Scared, truly scared wasn’t the word to describe what she felt, what she saw in her sister-in-law’s eyes.
“No, I can’t shoot Riana, the star of all my fantasies. I’ll take her away with me instead. And Melody, she was such an obedient wife. I’ll show my gratitude by sparing her. I have a better idea. Where is my little Esme?”
“No!” Melody screamed jumping to her feet. That got her all his attention.
Anthony reached for her, but his hand was grabbed out of the air and twisted behind his back. Ruiz moved so fast, she was sure no one noticed until he had Anthony’s twisted arm between his back and Ruiz’s chest. He tried to jerk out of Ruiz’s hold several times to no avail and he screamed his frustration.
“Don’t do it. He’s setting you up,” Ruiz warned through clenched teeth.
“Merde! Let me go or I swear I’ll start shooting!” he threatened, swinging the arm with the gun around.
“Go on Anthony, show him how serious you are!” Angelo yelled.
All of the yelling and screaming was too much, too confusing!
Anthony suddenly went silent and he looked at Angelo for a long moment before he turned the gun in Riana’s direction. Riana paled, moving back into the couch shaking her head.
“Don’t!” Ruiz yelled.
“Do it!” Angelo yelled.
“No!” Allan shouted. “Shoot me if you want. It’s me you hate. This very hotel we’re in, I stole it from you and every one like it around the world. That’s what you hate me for, isn’t it?”
Anthony’s eyes had been glazed over until he heard Allan’s voice, his words. He bumped Ruiz, forcing him to take a few steps back and Anthony turned them both so that the gun was now pointed at Allan’s chest.
“No, please no!” Riana cried and Amy had to wrap her arms around her to hold her in place.
“Don’t!” Ruiz yelled again but this time there was a plea in his voice, anguish etched in his face and regret in his eyes. Like he already knew what was going to happen, like there was nothing he could do to stop it.
No, she couldn’t lose her brother, she just couldn’t! “Ruiz, please!” she cried.
“Finalmente! Ora si muore!” Anthony yelled.
A shot rang out echoing right inside her chest. Her eyes moved to Allan. He was still standing, shocked, but standing with no blood pouring out of a hole in his chest. She turned to Ruiz and Anthony. Ruiz was holding his hand up, with the gun pointing to the ceiling. Anthony screamed profanities having missed and this time when he bucked, Ruiz lost his footing and his grip, but he recovered fast enough to push him forward. Anthony landed at Allan’s feet, crazed that another shot had missed. Allan kicked his hand, sending the gun flying to the raised floor of the dining area. Anthony scrambled for it on his hands and knees.
“Please, don’t!” Ruiz pleaded in complete misery.
Why was he pleading? Why did he look so tortured? Why wasn’t he doing something to stop this!
But that plea also fell on deaf ears as Anthony stood with the gun held in both his hands.
“Do it you useless fool!” Angelo bellowed.
As Anthony steadied himself, raising the gun up to point it at Allan again, Ruiz reacted. Everything happened to fast she wasn’t sure she saw it right.
With two jerks Ruiz had his jacket off but still kept one hand in as he rushed Anthony. With the hand still in the jacket, he threw it over his head, wrapped the sleeve around the gun and Anthony’s hands and pulled them up to his head before Ruiz freed his hand and tied the two sleeves together in a knot around his neck, effectively trapping him. Ruiz then grabbed the lapels of Anthony’s jacket, swung him to one side then with an earth shattering roar swung him back and sent him flying right into the window.
Chapter Thirteen
There was a loud continuous crush as the fifteen by thirty feet glass shattered.
Then a fading scream.
Then silence.
Then another crush and car alarms.
The entire time Ruiz stood there, his back to the open space that used to be a window, feet apart, fists clenched so tight they were shaking at his sides. His chest moving up and down as he heaved and panted his lips curled in a snarl, his nostrils flaring and his eyes... God his eyes looked demonic!
A slow clap from across the room drew her attention. Angelo was laughing and cheering as if someone wasn’t just thrown out of a window.
“I knew my Ruiz was still in there, below all this Brady bunch nonsense. Excelente!” he cheered proudly. “Now come home and take your place beside me as my son! You can bring your wife and daughter along if you wish. I am happy to welcome new family.”
What? Melody turned to Ruiz worried that he might actually say yes. Ruiz just stared at him, still panting.
“You killed him,” Clarissa whispered aghast, her hands shaking at her neck, her face pale.
Angelo barked a laugh, “And what a way to do it! I didn’t expect that—I knew you would kill him, but I never expected that.”
“Get out,” Ruiz growled.
“Son, I’ll leave with you. Your mother can go ahead, we have a lot to discuss.”
“I’m not your son! Now leave before I show you out the same way I did Anthony.”
Angelo’s laugh died and he stared at Ruiz, really looked at him. “Ruiz—”
“You have nothing here! No money, no lackey and especially no son!” Ruiz bellowed.
Angelo looked like he was about to yell himself, but instead he hissed with contempt. “You are weak, useless to me! They have made you soft with womanly ideals. Where is the boy who killed my son with his bare hands?” Angelo turned away and walked to the door.
Melody’s heart leaped. What?
“Don’t come back or it will be the last thing you ever do!”
“There is nothing for me to come back for,” he yelled back banging the door shut behind him.
“What are you waiting for?” Ruiz snarled at his mother.
Clarissa scrambled to her feet. “A monster! I knew you were a monster,” she shrilled as she ran out the door.
Melody took her first step to run to Ruiz, but Allan caught her around the waist with his arm and carried her back.
“No! Allan!” she cried trying to fight out of his hold.
“Wait!” he whispered harshly into her ear.
Melody made one last effort to break free. Defeated she stood still and watched Ruiz. They all watched Ruiz.
Reno slowly stripped his jacket, laying it on the back of the couch. Then he approached Ruiz with his hands held out like he would a rabid dog. “Ruiz, calm down. Everything is fine. Everyone is fine, safe thanks to you,” he said softly taking a few more steps forward.
Ruiz didn’t move; he didn’t even react like he’s heard Reno.
“Ruiz,” Reno placed his hand on Ruiz’s shoulder.
He reacted then swinging his fist at Reno which he caught and twisted his arm behind his back putting Ruiz in the same hold as he had on Anthony. Melody tightened the grip she had on Allan’s arm as she watched the two brothers’ struggle. Ruiz tried to buck him off, but Reno held on, one arm going across Ruiz’s upper chest while the other held Ruiz’s arm behind his back. He yelled and screamed even kicked, but Reno had his legs firmly planted to the ground.
“I’m your big brother. You’re never going to get me to let you go.”
Seeing Ruiz like that, uncontrolled and in anguish, only made Melody cry harder.
Riana broke free of Amy and rushed to her brothers. She took Ruiz’s red torture twisted face in her hands and held his head still. “Ruiz, look at me. Look at me! It’s me, your baby sister. Everything is going to be fine, just take a deep breath.”
Ruiz’s struggles lessened as he stared at Riana.
“That’s it, just keep looking at me. Let me guide you back to yourself. You are not Angelo’s animal. You are my brother. My funny, protective big brother.”
Ruiz went motionless, his face going blank and his gaze into Riana’s eyes never waivering.
“There we go. My brother is back. I can see you in your eyes. Now let go Ruiz. Let it all go.”
His shoulders began to bounce. His face creased with torment. His lips trembled. His eyes squeezed shut.
“I didn’t want to,” he wailed.
“We know. We know you didn’t want to. It’s not your fault,” Riana cried stroking his face, “It’s not your fault. You did what you had to.”
He sunk to the floor like his legs had suddenly failed him. Reno and Riana went down with him.
“I’m a monster!”
“Don’t ever say anything like that again!” Riana returned sternly.
“Your mother hates you, hates all of us. She’d say and do anything to hurt us,” Reno added, wrapping both his arms around his brother’s shoulders. He’d released Ruiz’s arm and his hands were now clutching his head as he cried.
“I didn’t want to. He made me choose!”
Riana raised his head forcefully. “You protected us. Melody, Allan, our children and me. He was going after your daughter.” She hugged his head to her chest and Ruiz wrapped his arms around her as he cried. “Thank you for protecting us Ruiz, for protecting your family. You have nothing to feel guilty about.”
Riana turned her gaze to Melody then waved her over. The second Allan’s arms dropped Melody ran to them, dropping to her knees and trading places with Riana to kneel between Ruiz’s raised knees. Riana didn’t go far, she sat up on the raised floor next to Reno, who’d let go of Ruiz.
Melody raised Ruiz’s face and kissed his lips tasting both their tears. “I’ve never been more proud to be your wife than I am at this very moment. You faced that monster and beat him.”
“But I killed a man.”
She shook her head. “No, you killed a demon, a nightmare that has been haunting us for years. He threatened Esme again and you protected her, like any great father would.”
He looked at her as if she’d lost her mind, like he wouldn’t believe he didn’t disgust her. Maybe she had lost her mind, maybe it turned her stomach watching Ruiz throw Anthony out the window, but she could never condemn him for having the strength to do something neither of them could. They all had a chance to help disarm Anthony, but they just stood there watching Ruiz fight both Angelo and Anthony.
“I killed a man.”
“And the guilt is eating you alive and I’m glad because it means you have a good heart, a clean soul. You are nothing like Angelo. You are not a monster.”
His eyes widened. Something she said hit home. Then he pulled Melody to him and buried his face in her chest as he cried. She knelt there, leaning her head on top of his, stroking his back and let him cry. Reno and Riana from where they sat together on the floor looked at her with gratitude in their eyes, but they had nothing to thank her for. He might be their brother, but he was her husband, the father of her daughter.
The monsters were finally all out of the closet and all she could hope for was a good and happy life from here on out.
* * * *
It’s not your fault.
You did what you had to.
You were just protecting your family.
That’s what everyone kept telling him—his family, his friends, the police. He understood them, knew what they were saying, but it still didn’t stop the guilt from consuming him. They moved back to the United States immediately Ruiz was cleared and the police had started a case against Angelo with the papers Anthony had kept concerning his business. Although, being in their new home next to Reno’s didn’t help relieve the guilt. The parties that were thrown almost every weekend didn’t help. He hoped renewing his vows with Melody in the presence of friends and family would be his fresh start. Unfortunately, the image of Anthony going through the window still plagued him. And celebrating new life with the birth of baby Cora only reminded him of the life he took.
That was until Ruiz finally caved and agreed to see a shrink—the same one Allan, Riana, Reno and Loraine went to after their traumas. Now they were back there—Matthew and Amy included—because of what Ruiz had done. He did both single and couple sessions with Melody. She had been so supportive, so patient with him, he’d begun to think he didn’t deserve her. Except, she saw the signs and kept him from pulling away. And for a week the whole family was invited to join in the sessions. They spoke about that night to great detail, all telling how they remembered it, how they felt and despite what he’d done, Ruiz remained blameless in their eyes.
The only one still holding him culpable according to the shrink was himself. And it took him months for him to finally say what everyone else was telling him, what they already knew.
It wasn’t my fault.
I did what I had to.
I was protecting my family.
Allan would be dead right now if I hadn’t killed Anthony.
But still, it brought his count to two. Two people dead by his hand.
“And how does that make you feel?” the shrink asked.
“Like that evil is inside me, lurking waiting to rear its ugly head up and make me kill again,” he responded holding his fists tightly at his knees.
“Melody, what do you think?”
She covered his fist with her hand. “I think he should tell us what happened and why it’s so different from Anthony. Why isn’t that death destroying you like this one is.”
Ruiz stared at her. The compassion in her eyes weakened him otherwise he would never repeat what happened that night.
“Home invasion. There were four of us. Angelo’s two sons—Carlos was much older and Cesar was my age—and their cousin Jorge. He was too young to see what they were into. I went to keep him out of trouble. Something no one bothered to do for me.”
Melody needled her fingers into his fist until he opened his hand and she weaved their fingers together, but he kept his gaze on the shrink. He couldn’t say the next part looking at her.
“A woman was there, Diana. We were just supposed to grab some valuable stuff and leave. Not to sell or anything, just for fun especially for the newbies. No one wa
s supposed to get hurt, especially women and children. Except, Carlos was a sick bastard. We weren’t supposed to even be there. Angelo has to approve every crime we committed and he’d put a stop to the home invasions because of the heat from the cops. Then five minutes inside the house, I realized it wasn’t some random house. Carlos asked her out and she said no—or something along those lines. I just knew it was personal because of all the things he was yelling. Carlos didn’t need much of a reason to hurt anyone.”
He turned to Melody, she smiled at him encouragingly and he looked away.
“Long story short, he wanted to rape her in front of an audience. I just stood there not really watching as he dragged her to the middle of the living room kicking and screaming, while he laughed. I figured life was a lesson and the only way to learn was the hard way. I learned I couldn’t trust anyone, that the only person I could trust was me. So why shouldn’t she learn some life lesson from this? Like keep a gun in the house, buy a guard dog or an alarm system, learn martial arts.” He shook his head. “It made sense then, but now I’m so ashamed of it. I was one stupid angry kid.”
“You were young and misguided. The only thing you knew was what you learned on your own,” Melody defended.
“She fought him, she fought him with all she had and I started rooting for her. Then he punched her in the face and she suddenly went still. I remember thinking, just for the fight she put up, I owed it to her to defend her now that she was unconscious. I pulled him off her and told him his fun was over. I wasn’t going to let him hurt her anymore.” Melody squeezed his hand and he squeezed back. “He tried to get past me a few times, but I put him down on his ass each time. He didn’t like that he was being shown up especially once Diana woke up. He pulled a gun on me and gave it to Cesar to hold it on me. If I moved he was to pull the trigger. We all knew he wasn’t going to do it, and if he actually did I would kick his ass to a coma. While I was distracted with Cesar, Carlos slipped into the bedroom and came back with a screaming girl, Jorge’s age. Twelve, I think. Diana stared crying, begging and swearing she would do anything Carlos wanted if he left her daughter alone. Carlos just laughed in her face.”