Chapter 40: Home Invasion

They were planning Trey’s first outdoor adventure. The pickup truck was ready, and they were going to take it for a trip around town to various clubs. Trey would moderate his drinking so he could keep driving the truck and avoid getting into trouble.

Meanwhile, Gabe had been busy on his side. First, he detached four slats from the fence’s rails, then hinged them to form a thick yet narrow combination. Then he added hooks and handles so the slats could hang in place while being easily lifted off and put aside.

At the same time, he was setting long posts vertically into concrete around the spa to build a pergola, an outdoor structure that would support parallel rafters and provide shade from the sun. He would place the rafters high enough above to ensure they wouldn’t interfere with spa users, even if they sat up on the edge. On top of the pergola structure would be a covering of lattice and artificial ivy (real climbing plants would come later), creating an effective screen for blocking views of the spa from overhead.

Once again, Gabe called on some of his construction worker friends to help. Two incentives were offered. Mia, dressed in her extra-skimpy bikini, provided unlimited food and beer, and upon completion, they were treated to a relaxing soak in the spa.

Daniel Connor, one of the crew members, moaned loudly as his body sank into the hot water.

“Gabe, what else can I do around here? This is bliss. You have this thing, and you have Mia; how can you be so lucky? There must be something else I can build for you. How about a deck?”

“Oh, Daniel, I can’t think of anything right now, but I’ll let you know. Wait a minute. You’ve been working a lot of overtime. You could buy one of these for yourself, a smaller one, for maybe six grand.

“Then I won’t have to worry about you coming over here and bugging Mia to do yard work or something, just to get into her...”

“GABE!”

“Sorry, sweetie, I’m just teasing. Daniel is having a problem keeping his eyeballs in his head because you’re going around in that miniature swimsuit.”

Daniel very obviously looked away from Mia and could be heard muttering to himself, “7 × 5 = 35, 7 × 6 = 42, 7 × 7 = 49, 7 × 8 = 56, 7 × 9 = 63...”

The other two guys were older and had better self-control, but seeing Daniel struggle caused them to chuckle.

An hour later, the three crew members dressed and gathered in the living room to bid farewell. Suddenly, a huge crash shattered the front door, revealing four goons (different ones) rushing inside with their guns drawn.

Gabe cried out, “What the hell?”

“Shut up! Where is Patricia Larkin?”

Julián had come out of the second bedroom alone, responding to the noise. He asked Lucia to stay out of sight and call 9-1-1.

“My niece? I haven’t seen her in months. She’s not here. Who wants to know?”

“All of you, on your knees. Right fucking now! I know about all your kay-rotty, and that shit ain’t going to happen. One wrong move, and we do her.”

He waved his handgun in Mia’s direction. Another goon was holding Mia around her neck, pressing his gun into her temple.