Episode 14

It was six o'clock in the morning, and the sun was already illuminating the entire beach. In the west harbor, an old boat named Tenencia was spotted by two police cars. As they approached, a dirty man emerged. He walked a few steps and sat on the wooden pier.

The Chief of the officers, an oriental man of fifty-eight, approached the man and recognized him instantly.

"Chan: Sallene!? You're hurt!"

The officer opened Tez's torn shirt to assess the severity of the injury. The most visible was a deep cut on the side of his stomach. On his right shoulder, two perforations.

"Chan: Sallene! Talk to me, look at me, okay?"

With great difficulty, Tez raised his head.

"Tez: Chan... There's another Maldonado... I need to get him."

"Chan: Don't be ridiculous! You're seriously injured, and you still want to continue this revenge? We have to go to a hospital."

The man pulled the radio from his waist.

"Chan: This is Chief Chan. I need an ambulance, urgent. West Harbor, second pier!"

While Tez breathed heavily, leaning on Chan's arms, the officers were inspecting the inside of the boat.

"Chan: Any survivors?"

"Officer: Yes, sir, a man they call Guaco. He needs medical attention."

"Chan: Okay, get him out first. What about Maldonado?"

"Officer: He didn't make it, sir."

"Chan: Oh, Tez!!! What am I going to do with you?"

Tez tried to get up.

"Chan: What do you think you're doing?"

"Tez: I have to go home, they're waiting for me. Chan... Find the other brother for me."

"Chan: Okay! I'll find him, but you're going to the hospital first!"

"Tez: No... I need to go back. I told them I'd be back."

"Chan: Sallene! Stop being stubborn. If they see you like this, they'll be scared. Especially your nephew... And look! The ambulance has already arrived."

Frozen in place, Tez thought about what he had just heard from Chan, then looked down at himself.

"Tez: Thank you, Chan!"

The man dragged himself towards the ambulance, where two paramedics were already coming to meet him.

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Leyne woke up with a pain in his neck. He was on the couch and realized he had fallen asleep.

"Leyne: Tez?"

He walked through the house and ended up stopping in Tez's collection room.

"Leyne: {I bet you didn't come out of this fight unscathed}."

"Rodrigo: He's not back yet?"

"Leyne: No... Let's go back, Rodrigo, please!"

"Rodrigo: He would be very angry. One thing you have to know about my uncle is that he hates it when people disobey an order."

"Leyne: Except I don't care. How can I stay here calmly when he might have been hurt because of me... Or... Or worse."

"Rodrigo: It wasn't your fault! This was already his war."

Rodrigo's phone rang.

"Rodrigo: Hello?"

["Chan: This is Chief Chan. Tez is in the hospital, the injury was serious, but he's out of danger now."]

"Rodrigo: Thank you, Chief Chan! I'll go see him. Did they send him to the one downtown?"

["Chan: That's right. Come quickly, because if that stubborn man wakes up, he'll want to leave on his own."]

"Rodrigo: I can imagine. Alright, I'm on my way. Thank you!"

As soon as he hung up the phone, Leyne came closer.

"Leyne: Was that about Tez? Is he alright?"

"Rodrigo: Yes, he's in the hospital, but out of danger."

"Leyne: Let's go, let's go see him!"

"Rodrigo: Yes, let's go. Let me just get the car keys upstairs."

"Leyne: I'll get them for you."

"Rodrigo: No need, wait for me in the car. Your leg hasn't fully healed yet, has it?"

"Leyne: You're right. But sometimes, I'm so worked up I don't even notice."

While Rodrigo went upstairs to get the keys, Leyne waited anxiously by the car.

"Rodrigo: {It seems Leyne really is in love with my uncle... But will this work out? I really don't want to see him get hurt.}"

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Rodrigo's car stopped in front of the hospital. Leyne hurriedly opened the door to get out, but his foot buckled as he touched the ground. He almost fell, but Rodrigo caught him by the waist.

"Rodrigo: Are you okay?"

"Leyne: Yes... Yes. I think I'm just a bit agitated. Sorry."

Releasing himself from Rodrigo, Leyne walked ahead and entered the hospital.

"Rodrigo: {What was that!? What does he think he's doing, acting like that? He looks like a teenager.}"

The hospital reception was right at the entrance, and there, they got the number of the room where Tez was resting.

The room was well-equipped, clean, and well-lit. Tez was lying down, eyes closed, when Leyne approached.

"Leyne: He's badly hurt."

"Rodrigo: Don't worry about it. You have no idea how fast he recovers."

Tez opened his eyes.

"Rodrigo: How are you feeling, Uncle?"

"Tez: ... I'm fine, let's go home now."

Tez sat up in bed and removed the IV drip connected to his arm.