Chapter 40

When Luis Daniel arrived at the house, it was almost dark. He didn’t come alone. My daughter and I were lying in the living room, talking while one of those absurd TV shows was on. We were laughing and joking.

“Don Oscar,” my son-in-law greets me. I still don’t like being addressed that way: “Can we talk?”

“Sure.” Sofia stares at us and shakes her head. I know my daughter; she doesn’t like to be on the sidelines. But she knows I won’t give her the option of getting into it.

“Let’s go to my office,” I say to David.

Once we are seated in my office, the stranger turns to me:

“He’s one of the... most influential men in his neighborhood. All the men respect him and, well...”

“I don’t know you, kid,” I tell him.

My son-in-law is nervous. I like it, and it bothers me in equal parts. It’s one thing for him to be afraid of me and quite another for him not to show poise about things at work.

“Patron” David says to me, holding my hand and I shake