Chapter 32
When Hernán got back from his run with Melody, the others had not yet returned from the museum. He took a shower and set about organizing food for dinner. Colin and Rudy walked into the kitchen about an hour later, faces closed and stormy. Colin glanced guiltily at Jaime.
Gruffly, Jaime said, “He needs to know about the call. And you should tell the lawyers.”
Colin sighed and had Hernán sit on a stool at the kitchen counter. He described the run-in with Gerald, what the man had done. With a glint in his eye, he added what Rudy said to Gerald. Rudy blushed and looked at the kitchen floor.
Hernán stared up at Colin, aghast. Heart racing, he had trouble catching his breath suddenly. He’d worked so hard to keep his secrets, but even Gerald knew them now. He’d tried to stay far under the radar, yet Gerald had told ICE exactly where he was. Enforcement officers might be coming for him already.
Despite what Sofia and David said, his asylum application was just that—an application. He didn’t know if it would be enough to save him from deportation, or if the right people would even listen.
“I should have just slept with Gerald,” he whispered, swaying slightly on his stool. Rudy cried out his protest and Colin scooped up his hands.
“No, mi ángel. It would have fixed nothing. Gerald might never have stopped demanding sex, and you could still have been caught by ICE at any time. Now at least we’re prepared. We’ve taken as many steps as we can to protect you.”
The earnestness and sincerity in Colin’s eyes couldn’t keep Hernán from trembling. “You don’t know if it’s enough. You can’t know. I might be sent back to El Salvador.”
Colin looked over his shoulder. “Can you give us a minute?” he begged.
Melody nodded and led Jaime and Rudy into the living room, though she kept a clear path open to them in the kitchen.
Colin put a finger and thumb on Hernán’s chin and tugged to get his attention. He leaned closer. “Listen to me, Hernán. I swear, no one will take you away from me. If the worst happens and ICE tries to deport you, we’ll leave the country together. I don’t care where we live. Or I’ll marry you so we can stay here.” He flushed horribly. “That isn’t… That’s not how I want to propose to you. But I’ll move heaven and earth to keep you safe and with me for as long as you want to be with me.”
Hernán’s eyes filled. His throat ached terribly. What Colin suggested was so huge he couldn’t process it. Colin had everything in the States—his job, his family, his life. How could Hernán let him move to El Salvador?
And marriage. The idea was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. They’d known each other for such a short time. Yes, he’d thought about it. He could even imagine it happening, when they were ready. Marriage was huge and sacred and should bind them together for nothing less than love. How could he let Colin marry him for something as selfish as a green card?
Yet how could he let Colin go, if the ruling went against them?
Fighting back his tears, Hernán said in a gravelly tone, “I know you’ll do everything you can to help me. That means so much—” He had to stop when sobs threatened to take his voice. He shook his head abruptly. “Okay. I’m borrowing trouble. We have a plan and I need to have faith. Let’s tell Sofia what’s happened and see what she thinks.”
They called her on Colin’s phone in speaker mode and asked her to patch in David. When all four were connected, Colin repeated what Gerald had done. He finished and there was a silence.
David spoke first, sadness in his voice. “You know, Gerald used to be my friend. I can’t believe what he’s turned in to.” He sighed heavily. “Another time. Listen, Hernán, this is why we rushed the papers through. The asylum argument is strong. As long as the application is pending, there should be no risk of you being deported, even if you’re picked up by Immigration officers. It’s important you tell anyone who does try to arrest you that you’ve sought asylum. Keep the case number with you at all times, and provide it to everyone and anyone.”
Sofia said, “I’m texting it to both of you now, along with every phone number for David and for me. If anything goes wrong, try to reach one of us. Since you aren’t a citizen, Hernán, you don’t necessarily have a Constitutional right to consult a lawyer, but keep asking.”
They talked longer, with Colin, David and Sofia basically trying to calm Hernán’s nerves. Rudy joined them in the kitchen, for once standing quietly with his hand on Hernán’s shoulder, offering strength. Their earnestness and support gradually worked through the brittle shell that had sprung up around Hernán when he first heard what Gerald had done.
You aren’t alone, he repeated to himself over and over. You aren’t alone.
In a somber mood, Colin and Rudy prepared food while Hernán sat at the island, watching. The camaraderie of the days before was gone, replaced by tension and fear. Rudy left for his apartment soon after they finished eating, and Colin tried to entice Hernán into an episode of Doctor Who.
He couldn’t focus on the plot—something about the Daleks and Winston Churchill—but he appreciated Colin’s warmth next to him on the sofa. Melody and Jaime periodically took turns walking around the neighborhood to make sure nothing unusual had developed.
Colin and Hernán went to bed early, holding each other in the king-size bed, looking through the window at a full moon over Provincetown.
Hernán slept badly, too full of tension to relax. Every creak in the antique cottage snapped him to alertness. By the time he started to drift off, exhausted, one of the guards went down the noisy stairs and out the front, probably heading for a run. Colin stirred when the front door closed. Though they lay pressed together, neither was in a state to pursue anything erotic.
Eventually, Colin whispered, “Sorry, angelito. Gotta pee.” Once he slid out of bed and headed for the bathroom, Hernán decided he might as well get up too.
They made coffee and breakfast, and then Colin settled in to do some work for the center. Hernán tried to read, but even that took more focus than he could muster. He looked out the window onto Pleasant Street instead.
The sky was gray and pendulous, with thick clouds threatening rain. A strong wind stirred the trees he could see, stripping the last of the leaves to send them skittering up the street. He shivered.
Melody passed through the living room just then, and paused to turn on the gas fireplace. Hernán smiled at her wanly. “Would you like some tea?” she asked. “I was about to make some for myself.” Hernán nodded and followed her to the kitchen. They talked about random things in a low voice so as not to disturb Colin.
Jaime returned from a run, his cheeks red and chill pouring off his body. “It’s cold out there today,” he grunted. “Pretty typical for the Cape, but I’m not ready for winter yet.”
“Do you want to go running?” Melody asked Hernán.
“Thanks, but I’m not up for it this morning.”
“You’re worried about the call to ICE,” she said.
Hernán nodded. “I’ve never felt so exposed before. The one thing every undocumented person knows is to stay out of sight and off the radar. Between the gossip item, the asylum application, and Gerald turning me in to ICE, I feel like I’m standing in a spotlight.”
Melody ran a hand briskly up and down his arm and patted his shoulder. “You’ll be fine, Hernán. We’ve worked for Colin’s family before and I know they’ll never leave you hanging. As for the rest, it sounds like you have some good lawyers on your side.”
He couldn’t help asking, “Does it bother you? That I’m in this country illegally?”
Melody cocked her head. “No, it doesn’t,” she said firmly. “I grew up in the restaurant business because my mom had a small diner in Springfield. I knew a lot of the people we hired were undocumented. Just like everywhere, a few were jerks but most were great people. I heard stories about what conditions could be like in other countries. I suppose it made me appreciate even more I was lucky enough to be born in the U.S. I didn’t earn my citizenship, not like some of the people my mom hired. It’s why I joined the Army, actually.
“I remember this one lady, Marta. After she got her green card she studied the materials for the citizenship test at every break. I was there, when she got sworn in as a U.S. citizen. She was so proud because she worked for it.”
Jaime looked uncomfortable. Hernán would have let it go, but Melody said to him, a little aggressively, “How about you? You don’t like the immigration thing?”
His gaze flickered between Melody and Hernán. “Look, it’s none of my business. We’re here to do a job and keep Hernán and Colin safe. I’m going to do so to the best of my abilities.”
His attention finally settled on Hernán. “It isn’t personal. You seem like a great guy and I understand why you came to the States. But it’s still a crime. My mother came legally from Colombia. There are paths to get here the right way, and I think people should follow them. If you stick to the rules, you don’t have to be afraid of ICE or getting rounded up or anything.” He flushed and said again, “It isn’t personal.”
“Well, I did ask,” Hernán said, bristling. “But it hurts you think that. Maybe your mother and you never knew what it’s like to be desperate, or have forgotten. I was terrified I’d be murdered if I stayed in El Salvador. I thought if I could get away from Cuernos, I’d be safe. America is the only other place I had family. What should I have done? Sat in front of an embassy and hope Cuernos didn’t find me first? In a perfect world, I would have waited to see if permission came through. That just wasn’t my life.”
Melody gave Jaime a sharp look. “That’s why we’re here. To protect you and Colin.”
The day dragged. Rain came in waves, drumming loudly on the skylights for a time before tapering off again. A chilly draft crept through the house from somewhere Hernán couldn’t find. The weight in his heart grew heavier and heavier. He felt something bad coming.
What scared him most was the thought of trouble coming for Colin. If ICE did show up, Colin would try to protect him—there was no doubt in his mind. But that path led to legal issues for Colin too.
If I were braver, I’d go to Boston and turn myself in. See if what David and Sofia did is enough to keep me here. If not, I’d go back to El Salvador and face the consequences. Anything other than putting Colin at risk.
A little after four o’clock, Melody’s phone rang. “It’s Nick,” she said, and put the phone to her ear. Hernán saw her face pale. Melody gestured at Colin, Hernán and Jaime to come near and put the phone on speaker. “Nick, would you say it again? Everyone’s listening.”
Nick’s voice through the phone sounded tense. “Boss called. We have a report of a car heading in to Provincetown. Apparently six men were crowded in. It may be nothing. They might just be on their way to stay for the week. Given the circumstances, though, we need to be ready.”
Colin said, “Where did this report come from?”
“Someone named Gerald Nimble,” Nick answered. “He didn’t know where to find you, Colin, so all he could do was contact your family about the car he saw. I guess he knew how to get in touch with your dad. Then Mr. Felton called my boss.”
Colin stared at Hernán, his mouth wide open. “Gerald Nimble? You’re sure of the name?”
“Yes,” Nick answered. “I didn’t talk directly to him, but I’m sure that’s what my boss said.”
“Thanks, Nick. We’ll keep an eye out and let you know if anything changes.” Melody hung up and faced Jaime. “What do you think?”
He shrugged, though his face was tight. “It could be completely unrelated to us, I suppose. There are plenty of reasons for a group of men to come to Provincetown. The fact it’s on a Sunday in October when the weather is bad, though, makes me nervous.”
“Should we call the police?” Colin asked, wide-eyed.
“What would we say?” Melody asked. “We don’t have any idea where this car was headed, and nothing concrete to show they’re a threat anyway.” She flicked her eyes then, and Jaime followed her upstairs.
In the small house, Hernán distinctly heard the sound of a magazine clicking into place on a gun. When the guards came back down, each had a second holster visible. They all tried to act normal, but every attempt at conversation died away.
Twilight came early to Provincetown. It wasn’t even five when they had to turn on all the lamps. Jaime looked larger somehow as he glanced around the shadowed living room and out the window facing Pleasant Street.
To Melody, he said, “I’m not happy with all the light we’re putting out. This seems to be the only house on the street occupied and lit up. Let’s say someone is driving around and looking for Hernán. We’re almost a beacon.”
Melody agreed. She moved around the room, flicking off most of the lamps and the outside lights. The sense of oppression grew in the dimness.
“Colin, Hernán,” she said. “I’d like for you to go upstairs and stay there for the evening. That will minimize the risk of crossfire if anything happens.”
Colin’s forehead looked sweaty, and his hands clenched tightly. He wordlessly obeyed Melody’s suggestion. Hernán nodded as well, though his legs and arms felt like they would cramp if he moved. He couldn’t draw a full breath.
His foot was on the first tread when the front door to the house exploded inward. Simultaneously, he heard a crash and slam of what sounded like the back door being kicked in.
Five men poured into the living room. Melody moved quickly to pull her gun but one of the men hit her arm with a tire iron. Bone crunched. Melody cried out as she dropped the gun, but she went to a crouch and knocked the man’s legs away with a sweeping kick.
Jaime had one man’s arms around his neck as he punched savagely at a second. The two guards moved like machines but the room was cramped. They couldn’t get enough space to fight back properly.
Melody tossed a guy’s head into the mantle and he sprawled out on the floor, moaning. A man with a knife lunged at Jaime. He grabbed the knife hand and outstretched arm to flip the attacker onto his back. A lamp smashed to the ground. Another invader swooped up the fallen tire iron and came at him before Jaime could reach his weapon.
Hernán looked around wildly for some way to help. Melody and Jaime didn’t need them, but he felt useless and cowardly on the landing. In another few moments, it looked like Melody and Jaime would have everyone down.
That was when he heard Colin gasp and the sound of a pistol being cocked inches away.
He whirled as Colin was yanked off the landing and to his knees on the floor of the dining room. A pistol that seemed huge huge HUGE pointed at Colin’s head. Hernán cried out and his eyes flew to the man holding the gun. His racing heart all but stopped.
It was Lonnie Heath.
The monster from his nightmares, the darkness haunting him, stood there with a gun pointed at Colin. Hernán heard a wail, a keening fill the room, and it took him seconds to realize the noise came from him.
Lonnie called loudly, “I have the rich kid, motherfuckers. Stop fighting or I pull the fuckin’ trigger right now.”
The struggle in the living room stopped instantly. Lonnie grabbed Colin by the hair. Holding the pistol against his temple, he dragged Colin around and into the living room.
Hernán couldn’t move. His legs had turned to stone, and he panted so rapidly the dining room swam. No. Don’t do this, he ordered himself. Colin needs me.
The thought brought focus to his fear. Lonnie has Colin. He took a shaky breath, trying to listen over the pounding in his ears, and stepped toward the living room as well.
Melody was on her knees over a fallen man with a tattoo of devil horns on his face. One of her arms hung awkwardly but she’d clearly been in the middle of beating the shit out of the guy. Two men lay stunned or unconscious on the floor. Jaime had crossed his arms to protect his body against two others, who had him backed into a corner where they’d been hitting him with a tire iron and a piece of wood. Both Jaime and Mel had frozen in place at Lonnie’s threat.
The sight of Colin on his knees, with death pressed to his temple, was the most horrible thing Hernán had ever witnessed. “Lonnie,” he croaked. “What are you doing here?”
Colin’s head jerked at the name, but Lonnie tightened the hold on his hair. He looked back and gestured with his head for Hernán to come around in front of him. The three remaining Cuernos roughly pushed Melody and Jaime there as well. One retrieved his fallen knife and held it ready to cut either guard.
Lonnie smiled darkly at Hernán. He said, “There you are. I owe you, boy, for what you did.”
“What I did?” Hernán asked incredulously.
“You didn’t know your place. You belonged on your knees in front of me, takin’ my cock any way I wanted to give it to you. Instead you whined like a little bitch and got the bosses involved. Two weeks after you left they kicked my ass out and put that cocksucker Carlos in charge.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Hernán protested.
“Pretty boy ran,” Lonnie sneered. “I weren’t done with you yet.”
Colin struggled and cried out as Lonnie yanked his head back. He put the muzzle of the gun at Colin’s cheek and snarled, “Stay still, rich boy, or I’ll knock your goddamn teeth out.” Colin froze. To one of the three standing men, Lonnie said, “Bring in the culero. We’re done with him.”
The man left through the front door and returned a few moments later, his fist scrunched in the back of Rudy’s jacket as he pushed him into the house. His torn coat, bloody lip and black eye told the story. The man pushed him hard.
Rudy sprawled on his hands and knees. He sobbed as he looked up at Hernán. “I didn’t tell them anything, Nán. They grabbed me and hit me and asked where you were. They said they were going to—”
“We still might,” Lonnie leered. “Pretty, but not as pretty as Hernán. It might be fun anyway. Right, guys?” he said to the men standing around. “Just drivin’ along through the streets, lookin’, and what do we see? A chica, just prancing along. What are the chances of two fag Salvadorans in the same town? We just drove around while my boys here had some fun, and then we saw the lights. Took a look.” He aimed a kick at Rudy’s ribs, drawing a ragged moan.
“Stop, please,” Hernán begged. “What do you want?”
“I’m taking you with me, puto,” Lonnie said grimly. “I want my favorite cocksucker back where he can do what he does best. Those languages you speak are gonna be real useful.”
“You’re taking me back to Mexico?” Hernán gasped.
“I’m through with that shit-ass place at the border,” Lonnie snarled. “The jefes ran me off? Fine. I got my own setup now in Honduras. My own crew. My boys ’n me, we’re makin’ a name for ourselves. And you’re gonna help us with settin’ up new routes using that language shit or whatever.”
“You aren’t with… Cuernos del Diablo didn’t send you after me?” Hernán asked. Maybe it didn’t matter, but he needed to know.
“Why would Cuernos give a shit about you?” Lonnie scoffed. “Never heard a word about them looking for you. But me and the boys here, we figure Cuernos is gonna go down sooner or later. Too big, too messy, too much attention. They got fingers in pies you wouldn’t believe. So my boys here decided they were done with Cuernos and are gonna work with me instead.”
“Who came to the condo in Washington then?” Hernán gasped.
“Sent two of my best—” he gestured at the men guarding Jaime, their tattoos plain, “—to look for you in DC but you didn’t show. When that tweet shit went viral, I knew you were just what the doc ordered. We’d grab the rich boy’s piece of ass, make some headlines as we head out of the country, get our rep started. I’d get a translator and a hole to fuck in the process.”
“How did you find us in Provincetown?” Colin asked raggedly. Lonnie jerked his hair back and forth, making Colin yell.
“Please stop,” Hernán begged. “Don’t hurt him.”
“Miguel, there,” Lonnie said, jerking his chin at one of the still men on the floor. “Cuernos got him workin’ inside with the ICE cabrones. He got access to computer files, word about raids before they happen, all that shit. He put some kind of fuckin’ app or whatever in the system so we knew when anything about you popped up. Yesterday it told us someone called the tip line to report exactly where you was holed up.”
Gerald’s call. Of course.
Hernán made himself focus on what Lonnie let slip. “You want me, not Colin,” he choked out.
Lonnie leaned down to look into Colin’s face, holding his head tilted by his hair. “Yeah,” he drawled. “Shame though. He got good cocksuckin’ lips too. But that shit’s too big for now. We take rich boy here, the wrath of God comes down.”
He straightened and looked scornfully at Hernán again. “But you? Ain’t nobody comin’ after you when we haul your ass back.”
“I will,” Colin said savagely. “If you try to take Hernán away, my father will use every resource at his command and hunt you down.”
“That right?” Lonnie said thoughtfully. “Well, maybe we’d be better off with no witnesses to put him on the trail. What do you think, fucktard?” he drawled at Hernán. “Should I put a bullet in rich boy’s face so no one tells his daddy to come lookin’ for you?”
What do I do? His hated grandmother’s voice rang in his head, saying What else is gonna happen to a little fag? Rudy sobbed on the floor. Melody looked murderous but her arm was broken. She had no chance with Lonnie holding Colin hostage. Jaime looked like he was calculating something; Hernán could see his muscles tense. If Jaime moved, Lonnie might shoot Colin.
“Stop! All of you,” Hernán yelled. “I’ll come with you. I won’t fight.”
“Hernán, no—!” Colin cried.
“I have to. Lonnie, leave them alone and I’ll come with you quietly. Colin, tell him you won’t look for us. Swear it,” Hernán begged.
“I wouldn’t believe him if he did swear,” Lonnie said with a cruel laugh. He crouched again and hissed into Colin’s ear. “But I tell you this, asshole. If I see you or your guards or if anybody tries to take away my personal little puto, I’ll put a bullet through his head. Think about it before you try some kind of rescue.”
He stood and shoved Colin forward so he landed on his knees next to Rudy. Then he grabbed Hernán and pulled him closer. <<Watch them until we’re out of here,>> he barked to his men. <<I’ll bring the car around.>>
<<What about them?>> one of the thugs said, gesturing at the unconscious men.
<<Get them up. We’ll deal later.>>
Lonnie walked backward, dragging Hernán along, gun outstretched at the people in the room. He stepped through the front door and down the two steps to the path, and then yanked Hernán after him.
“Down,” a voice barked, as a black boot crunched into Lonnie’s gun hand, kicking his arm skyward. The pistol went off as Lonnie yelled.
Hernán recognized the voice as Nick’s. He hit the wet ground, staying low as the two men struggled. Lonnie swung wildly with the pistol, trying to hit Nick with it or to get far enough back to pull off a shot.
Inside, sounds of fighting erupted. Lonnie jerked himself free and kicked at Nick simultaneously, sending him stumbling backward. He raised the pistol but Colin hurtled through the front door, bellowing in fury and wildly swinging the tire iron. The iron caught Lonnie on his back. He shouted in pain and stumbled, but didn’t fall.
Whipping his arm around, he knocked Colin to the ground. He aimed his pistol, this time at Colin, and Hernán didn’t even think. He swung his legs around like Melody had done, sweeping Lonnie off his feet. The pistol roared harmlessly at the night sky. Lonnie tumbled back and fell heavily, his head cracking on the flagstones. He was utterly still.
Colin scrambled to Hernán’s side where he lay on the sidewalk. The sounds of fighting inside had stopped. “Are you all right?” Colin demanded. “Did he shoot you or Nick?”
“I’m fine,” Nick said, striding over to kick the gun far away from Lonnie’s outstretched hand.
“I’m okay,” Hernán said at the same time. Colin buried his face in Hernán’s shoulder, hugging him so hard Hernán choked. “Sweetheart, I can’t breathe.”
Colin relaxed his grip but he didn’t let go. “I was so scared for you,” he said in a wet voice. Hernán felt tears drip down his cheek as Colin sobbed in his arms.
“I was scared for you too,” he whispered. “My warrior. You were so brave.”
Melody appeared in the splintered doorframe. “We’ve got everyone inside under control. Jaime is calling the police.” Her arm hung awkwardly. “I’m going to need medical attention.”
“This asshole too,” Nick said, tossing his head in Lonnie’s direction. “He’s alive but he got knocked out when Hernán floored him.” He grinned at the men wrapped in each other’s arms. “We should offer a job to the dynamic duo here. Nice job, guys. Wish I’d gotten in that kick.”
Hernán called out, “Be careful with Lonnie’s blood. He’s got HIV.”
Nick nodded, accepting his word. “We’ll alert the EMTs when they show.”
“You weren’t due back for hours,” Melody said to Nick. “It’s lucky you came early.”
“After I told you about the warning from Gerald Nimble, I hauled ass down Route Six to get here. Then I came across a car parked illegally, just as Commercial turns onto Pleasant. I called the police then, but this is a small town. The only officers on duty were miles away dealing with something. I got out of my car and came on foot. Once I saw what was going on, I waited for a chance. Figured they’d have to go for their car and I might be able to get the drop.”
Rudy pushed his way past Melody and dropped to his knees next to Colin and Hernán. He wrung his hands in his lap, as if afraid to touch them. His face scrunched miserably, causing his lip to begin bleeding again. “I kept telling them I didn’t know you or where you were, but they hit me and hit me. They said…they said they were going to take turns if I didn’t tell them.” His voice turned to steel. “But I didn’t.”
Hernán wriggled free from Colin to pull his cousin in for a rough hug.
Rudy’s voice was muffled against Hernán’s shirt when he asked disbelievingly, “Did I hear Nick say Gerald tried to help?”
Nick answered. “Yes. I got more of the story while I was on the road. Nimble told Mr. Felton he knew there was potential trouble and he was sorry for his part in it.”
“It’s something,” Colin said. “Maybe you got through to him at the museum.”
They huddled together on the path until the sounds of a siren approached, and rotating blue lights lit up Pleasant Street.