Penultimate Chapter

jack

As soon as I hear Alex speak, my heart freezes. I look at him nervous and worried.

"Antonio, can you tell me exactly what happened?" — I hear you ask the driver.

I'm standing there beside him, waiting to hear the news, when I see the policemen Faria and Alves running towards us. I wonder what happened... The cops move closer to us and Alex hangs up his cell.

— I'm glad you're still here — Officer Faria tells us.

- What happened? — I think the worst.

“The police officers who went to arrest Miss Colunga didn't find her. “My fear is realized.

“My God, you need to find her, please,” I beg, scared to death.

"Don't worry, Miss Baptista." Let's get it! — Police officer Peres tries to reassure me. I look at Alex and I see the fear in his eyes and he says.

— Jackeline, Antonio couldn't get the kids. He says nervously.

"Alex… don't you think she would be able…." huh? I ask nervously.

"I just don't think so, as I'm sure!" Antônio informed me that he had arrived to pick up the children and Renata asked for me. He, innocent, said I was going to the police station. I bet she joined the dots...

"And why did he take so long to call?" - I am very nervous.

“Because she knocked him out. - Alex, furious, kicks the wheel of the car.

— Mr. Mendonça, try to calm down — police officer Alves asks.

- Calm me down?! That crazy woman took the child menus! Alex yells nervously. I start to cry, he hugs me and we cry together.

"Let's get her Alex!" - promise. Because when I catch that bastard... I'm going to finish her off!

“Yes, let's go,” he agrees.

The police call for reinforcements to look for Renata. Alex starts calling everyone he knows to talk about what happened. My cell phone rings, I don't recognize the number, but I answer. Meanwhile, I hear Alex talking to the twins' school as well.

— Hello… — My stomach freezes when I hear a breath and I hear Renata's voice:

— Well, well, if it isn't the whore Jackeline?! - she says laughing. “I hope she's alone and pays close attention to what I'm going to say.

“Hi, boss.” It's the only thing I can say so that no one around me will know I'm talking to her.

"Is there a problem, Jackeline?" Alex asks.

“Oh… none, it's just the boss,” I reply quickly to him.

'Is there a problem with him?' Alex asks curiously.

- No problem. He just wants to know what happened here at the police station,” I reply and barely look at him.

"So that means my little husband is close to you." You bitch! - she screams.

"Don't worry, boss, it's all right!" — warning to Renata's cow.

“I'll only be calm when you're dead,” she declares and starts laughing maniacally.

- The Twins? I answer as if it were a question.

- They are well! Want to talk to them? “She's completely crazy.

- Yes of course! I answer quickly, not wanting them to know who I was talking to.

“I'll put them on the line. “I hear her walking. — Stop crying! he yells at the boys, and I hear them cry.

“Hi.” I try to calm them down. “Are you okay? I ask cautiously. I hear Valentina crying and Caio answers me, also crying.

"Jack, come get us!" We want to go! Tears come to my eyes and I try to hold back the emotion.

“I'll come get you,” I promise.

"Jack, where's my father?" he asks, crying.

“Calm down, he's fine,” I reassure him.

- Fine. Come soon, please! - asks.

“Yes, I will,” I confirm. Renata pulls the cell phone from Caio's hand.

— Enough now! - she screams. — Write down the address that I will speak, when you arrive at the place, call me on this number and I will meet you.

- OK! Oh boss, I hope it's all right, okay? — I use a threatening tone.

“Oh, it's going to be okay. As soon as you arrive! She returns the threat and ends the call. Alex comes close to me and says worriedly.

"Is Rubens all right?" he asks worriedly.

— Yes, it is — I deflect and notice that the police are no longer around. — Where are the cops?

— They went after some information they received about Renata — Alex comments.

"What did they say about the twins?" — I continue to deflect so as not to put his life at risk, as mine and the children's were enough.

- Nothing. They just asked for us to wait at home for news.

“Okay, let's go to your apartment,” I tell him and we head to his apartment.

- Are you okay? He asks again.

- Yes I'm fine. Just worried about the twins and desperate to get Renata - I answer, speaking half the truth.

— Jackeline, we're going to find the twins and we're also going to find the bitch Renata!

- Yes, we are going! 'But who's going to find that cow, in fact, it's me.'

“Humberto is going straight to our house to stay with us,” Alex says forcefully, but suddenly I see his shoulders shake, and he hugs me and starts to cry.

“Alex, love. It's gonna be okay! — I try to reassure him.

“Jackeline, I'm afraid of losing my children. And if that happens, I swear I die! - she says between tears, and I cry too.

- Calm! I swear to you that everything will end well.

I take him to the car and continue to calm him down. Before we leave for the apartment, I send a message to Humberto, letting him know that Alex is very shaken. This time, I drive. Humberto is already waiting for us at the apartment and, when we arrive, he hugs Alex and says.

"My friend, it's going to be all right!" — Humberto comforts Alex.

"I need my children!" - Alex speaks, goes back to crying and goes to the children's room.

- Go there. I'll get some water and I'll be right up,” I lie to him.

- Are you okay? he asks, worried.

“Yes, I am,” I reply, trying to convey a tranquility I didn't have.

- Excellent. I'm going to the bedroom to see how Alex is doing.

Bruno climbs the stairs and goes to the bedroom. I run to the office and grab the gun I left in Alex's safe. I leave fast, I don't want them to come after me. When you miss me, I'll be far away. I go to the address the bitch gave me. I put my cell phone on speaker and call her. It takes a while, but she answers.

- Is coming? – Renata asks. I feel like she's happy because she knows I'm going to the wolf's den.

“Yes, I am,” I warn.

'And my little husband?' she asks, curious.

“He's in his apartment. — I look at the GPS and see that I am approaching the location.

“That's very good,” she says approvingly.

“I'm coming,” I say.

"I'm waiting for you," she replies.

— Oh, Renata? — I call her.

“Yes…” she says, nonchalantly.

“Renata, promise you'll release the children,” I ask.

- Do not worry. I'll release the brats,” she says with a touch of irony.

- Thanks! I thank you, wishing from the bottom of my heart that she didn't do anything stupid.

— Don't thank me yet — Renata threatens me and hangs up. I breathe a sigh of relief, but it doesn't last long. My cell phone rings and I answer.

“Hello,” I say.

“Jackeline, for God's sake. Where are you? - Alex yells.

“I'm at the barracks,” I lie to my face.

- Lie! I called Rubens, and he didn't even talk to you today - Alex says and I notice an air of censorship. - Alex... - I call him

— Jackeline, please. Where are you? Alex asks again.

“I'm…” I stutter, not wanting to say my location.

"Please don't tell me you went after Renata?" he asks.

“I'm not,” I lie.

"Please tell me where you are?" Alex was nervous.

- I can not say

I answer with a heavy heart. Maybe I'll never see Alex again..

"Don't do that..." he asks desperately.

- Excuse me! “And I end the call. I punch the steering wheel and scream. “It's all your fault, Renata. You cretin!

Alex calls me several times, but I decline all calls. I park the car. Finally I arrive at the agreed place. I put my gun on my back and a switchblade in my boot. Alex won't stop calling me. I look at my cell phone screen with great sadness when I see your photo.

But what I'm doing is for your own good. My boss starts calling me too, but I decline the call. I get out of the car, call Renata.

“I'm coming in,” I warn.

- I'm waiting for you! - Renata speaks in a happy tone and ends the call.

I enter the abandoned building, make the sign of the cross and ask God for protection! I walk through a dark place and come to a dimly lit room.

I hear children crying, I go in and see Renata and the twins. They are scared and seeing them in that situation revolts me. I feel a supernatural force and I want to get them out of there at all costs. Renata feels my movement and says.

"Now it's you and me!" she declares in a menacing tone.