Episode 14

"— ARE YOU SURE you want to do this?" Valquiria was genuinely curious. "Would you risk yourself to save at least one of us?"

"Not one," Janine corrected. "All of them. They all deserve to be free. Get out of this complex that makes us work like slaves to earn a dollar and still deduct our money abusively."

"You're right," Valquiria gave a half smile. "But you have to be careful, because they don't forgive. They already killed one."

"They killed?"

Janine was paralyzed. Perplexed. Valquiria took her hand, placing it between hers.

"Remember I told you I'd tell you something at the first opportunity?"

"I remember."

"There was already a rebellion here," Valquiria began, with a distant look. It looked like she was traveling back to the recent past. "A group of ten girls escaped, but first they took two jailers hostage and the mobsters."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

And Valquiria continued talking about the rebellion that had happened at the complex seven months ago. Looking around, it didn't look like the place had been the scene of horror. The group of ten girls, in broad daylight, unleashed terror in exchange for freedom. Two jailers were tied up, back to back and gagged. The girls split up to take Irina, Hank and Ruy hostage — also tied to a chair. For hours, the three mobsters were staring down the barrel of a revolver. Hank, the entire time, was impassive — but burning with hatred inside.

The girls had blood in their eyes. They had been planning the rebellion for at least a year, managing to circumvent the security system. And they took a speedboat to the city.

"They were smart enough to hold the mobsters hostage," Valquiria was still saying, "but they didn't know that Hank's speedboat had a GPS."

"Why didn't everyone else run away too?"

"First, I didn't know they were planning this escape. Second, they were going to call the police to free all of us. That day, I had so much hope… It died."

"And what happened?" Janine was impressed. It sounded like a movie. "Why didn't it work?"

"They called the police," Valquiria's expression changed, becoming hard. "The police arrived at the complex, asking everyone to gather. So we stayed. Everyone was hoping for release, when they took Hank and the mobster duo. By the way, all three of them are mobsters... Anyway."

Valquiria paused. She let out a tear. Janine was waiting for the rest of the story.

"The police were with them," she said. "In league with them. The mobsters are protected by the police. They managed to grease the palms of almost everyone there, it seems. Then the girls found out, and at least five of them escaped in time and no news has been heard from them since. I hope they are well and alive… Anyway, it was a huge disappointment. We were imprisoned again and this time the complex underwent a colossal renovation until it became what you see today."

There was a moment of silence. Janine was taking it all in now.

"And the girl who died?"

"She was murdered. She was the mentor, the leader of the entire rebellion," Valquiria said in a hard but sad tone. "They executed her somewhere far away. And to scare us, they brought her blood-soaked shirt."

"They?" Janine's eyes widened in fear. "The three of them?"

"No. Certainly not," Valquiria paused thoughtfully. "They would never get their hands dirty with blood. They sent their men. In this case, Hank's men."

The two fell silent again.

"That's why I told you to be careful from the beginning. A poorly planned escape could cost you your life."

"I know," Janine said softly, nodding.

...****************...

"I HAVE PREPARED A GREAT SELECTION…" Irina entered Hank's office without knocking. "As you requested, I will select five girls. That's right, Hank: five." She continued talking until she sat down in the chair opposite the man there. "The place is discreet, like a shed… Amphitheater, I don't know. Very pretty. A specific location for selection. I've already prepared the screening, interview and the final stage which will be a few days from now…”

Hank just nodded. At least she was already there without him having to call her, because he wanted to give her a message. Had it been another circumstance, the woman would have already gotten an earful. It didn't matter who, Hank hates having his space invaded suddenly.

"I know," he raised his hand. Irina stopped talking. "The final stage is with me. You send me the pictures and I'll make the final selection."

"Exactly, boss," her tone slightly ironic. "I wanted to ask you something too."

"Money."

"A loan, to be more precise."

"I'll deduct it from your commission." Hank picked up a checkbook. "Tell me the amount before I change my mind."

Irina said the amount. Hank frowned and wrote the check.

"Consider this an advance," he handed it to her. "At least one good side to your invasion of my office."

"What do you mean?"

"I just demand that you… yes, you and Ruy… be more careful when disembarking. Pay attention if the federal police are acting differently, because in Brazil I couldn't 'grease' any more palms."

"I thought everything was fine, that the path was clear…" Irina pouted.

"Not anymore," Hank was incisive. "Now they're cracking down on any suspicion of international human trafficking, slave labor and stuff… Ugh!" he grimaced.

"We can find a Brazilian way," Irina scoffed, her smile tight. "Isn't that what they do?"

Hank shrugged.

"That measure you took…" Irina took a strand of hair and began to play with it. And she continued: "How did it go?"

"She's just a troublesome element who will be my eyes and ears," Hank merely said, with a half smile.

...****************...

SHE WALKED THROUGH the Madrid airport, with a carry-on bag that allowed her to carry it on the plane. Her cell phone rang.

"Speaking, Hank," she answered. "I told you I was going today, didn't I?"

"Can I know what you lost in Rio de Janeiro, Aura?"

"Ugh…" Aura tossed a strand of red hair behind her shoulder. "Can't I make a quick trip to the wonderful city I haven't visited in years? A moment of sightseeing?"

"I gave you money to go straight to Guarulhos," Hank hissed. "From Guarulhos, get a car and go to Sao Paulo. And in Sao Paulo, stay in any hotel and wait for my damn green light. What part don't you understand?"

"And what part of 'I want to do some sightseeing' don't you understand? Am I the only one who doesn't understand anything here? Don't fuck with me, Hank."

Aura was the only woman who stood up to him. It must be because the two are siblings on their father's side and practically carry the same blood. She never backs down from the mobster and almost always wins by exhaustion. Almost always, because there were times when it was also necessary to give in. She wasn't crazy enough to push her luck all the time, because she knew the man's nature.

On the other end of the line, Hank took a deep breath.

"How long are you going to spend in Rio?" His tone was dry.

"Just three days. Is that okay with you?"

"I'm asking: is that okay with you?"

"I'm going to Sao Paulo, Hank," Aura rolled her eyes. "I'm going to spend three days in Rio and then I'll run to Santos Dumont and catch a shuttle. Satisfied?"

"At least that."

"Now stop busting my balls." Aura hung up on him. "Hell."

And she walked to the international departure lounge.

...****************...

HOURS LATER, PEDRO Henrique landed in Lisbon to make the connection. As soon as he took his cell phone off airplane mode, he received a WhatsApp message from Carmem — she asked him to make a call. Pedro started a video call.

"Hi, Mom!"

"Son!" Carmem appeared in the video wearing reading glasses. "How was the trip?"

"It was smooth. I haven't reached my final destination yet, Mom. I still have the flight to Barcelona."

"Ah, yes! How long are you staying in Lisbon?"

"About three hours, that's all. That's how long I'll take to have a coffee and eat something."

"Very good. Do that! Your father is here, I'll show him..." Carmem got up from the couch and went to the kitchen. Osvaldo seemed to be fixing the faucet. "Talk to Pedro, Osvaldo."

"Hi, son!" Osvaldo waved a wrench.

"Hi, Dad! Are you already doing repairs around the house? That tool there…"

"I'm fixing the kitchen. Your mother complained that there was a slight leak here…"

"N-no," protested Carmem, laughing. "Pedro, your father is exaggerating. I only commented that there might be a leak…"

Pedro laughed as he made his way to the nearest cafeteria inside the airport.

...****************...

EIGHT O'CLOCK THE next morning. Hugo searched the apartment one last time, carrying a backpack on his back. All his belongings necessary for the vacation trip are in Chiara's apartment. He heard from Tande that the organization of the new apartment was going well. Now, it was just a matter of coming back from vacation and enjoying the new space, in the new city.

He walked slowly to the elevator, still glancing back at the apartment he was leaving behind. He was leaving behind unique moments he had lived there. The elevator doors opened, and there was no one there. He stepped inside, keeping his eyes fixed until he could only see the elevator. He was leaving permanently, until then, but hoped to return. Maybe one day.

Arriving on the ground floor, Hugo walked calmly. He went to the counter, placing the small bunch of three keys. The morning doorman gave him a cordial smile, and he managed to reciprocate.

"Good morning."

"Good morning," the smile slightly reached Hugo's eyes.

He walked through the gate, stopping on the sidewalk. And he allowed himself one last look, raising his head, towards the floor whose window was that of the apartment that was once his. Time to live a new story.

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