Joá, Rio de Janeiro

When he opened his eyes, he had no idea where he was anymore or what time it was. All he was aware of was a nude female body lying next to him, with her arms on his shoulders and her hair in his face. Luana had the scent of vanilla. Enzo had been in several women's beds before, some older - even teachers - but he had never woken up next to someone with that peculiar smell before. Slowly, Luana woke up along with him.

- Good morning," she said, kissing him. - she said, kissing him. - Congratulations.

- What for?

- You succeeded in getting me into bed on the first date. Was it worth it?

Enzo didn't answer, but smiled, still looking sleepy and tired. As he prepared for round two, a knock from the other side of the door interrupted Enzo's evil plans.

- Lu? - Both heard a child's voice, probably his younger sister's. - Are you there?

- What is it, dear?

- Can you make me my breakfast?

- Yes, dear. I will. - Luana got out of bed. - Kids. Can I get you anything? Coffee, juice...

- I've had your juices all night, honey. It's delicious.

- Ha, ha. Naughty boy.

Getting up, Luana went to the door, but before leaving, she asked the question Enzo would like to hear every morning:

- Would you like a cigar?

Enzo smiled broadly.

- Always.

- Any preference?

- Romeo and Juliet.

- I'll get it from the cellar.

That morning could only get better after checking one more little happiness meter. He turned on his cell phone and clicked on the Bet365 mobile betting site.

- Let's go, narcotraffic championship. - Enzo cheered, waiting for the results. - Don't let me down again.

Envigado drew 1-1 with Tolima, while Independiente Medellin won 1-0 against Alianza Petrolera. This meant a split win for Enzo's two bets last night, as he had selected Envigado (+0.5) and Pablo Escobar's team win on the previous night. As he didn't have much time to think, as Luana was pulling his hair and was all down on him he couldn't really think properly. For the value bet, he managed to return an acceptable result for the circumstances.

Luana returned with a cigar, already lit, and a juice - an actual one - next to an apple and a buttered French roll. Simple enough for Enzo's childish taste, but just the way he liked it.

- What did you say to me yesterday? - Luana asked, lying down on the bed beside him.

Uh-oh. A question that could be the end or the beginning of something very good, or very bad.

- I don't recall. - Enzo answered.

Good one, kid.

- You said you loved me and that you wanted to stay here forever. Great.

- The view is quite nice. It would be a smooth adjustment, unless you get tired of me and want me out of your life. Believe me, it has happened a few times.

- Poor little baby.

Enzo's cell phone started ringing. Although he didn't want to answer it, he already had an idea who was searching for him.

- What is it, Vini?

- Enzo, where are you?

- In Joá. Long story.

- I have a lot of time to kill.

- I met an incredible girl. I woke up in her bed with breakfast on the table. And a cigar.

- It's not a long story. It's not even a story, you moron!

- You're the one who asked.

- Oh, before I leave it, "Pain in the pancreas"? Where exactly is the pancreas?

- And you are Google Maps, by any chance? It is... - Enzo looked at his belly. - Below the ribs?

After that brilliant answer, Vini could only hope that Enzo hadn't done anything stupid.

- I just hope you haven't done anything stupid.

- Relax. I'm in bed with the most beautiful woman on the planet.

Boy, could it be even worse. While he was chatting with Vini, Enzo heard the sound of the trigger of a gun very close to his head.

- If I were you, I would drop this cell phone right now. - announced Luana, pointing a Taurus G2c in his direction.

- Oops. This is a sudden change of events. - Enzo lamented. - Vini, I have to shut down.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

- What?

- I'll talk to you soon.

Slowly, Enzo put the cell phone on the bed.

- Way to go, cowboy. - Luana said. - No abrupt movements.

- Luana, I don't know what the fuck you're doing, but I'm asking you not to do anything crazy.

- You think you're so naughty, but your weak point makes you very vulnerable.

- Let me guess. Your father's story is baloney. And Marcos is your father.

- You got it right, sweetie.

- Luana, think straight. I don't know what your father is after, but I gave him weapons. Military weapons. And for what reason? Is he part of the CV?

- What? CV, what are you talking about? You're the one supplying weapons to criminals!

Well, half-true.

- Well, I did. But I did it for Suzane. I don't give a rat's ass about criminality.

- And you stole money from the delivery!

- Is that why your father sent you to kill me? I should have hung you when I had the chance!

- Don't take this the wrong way, but you're really not very smart.

- So, what's it going to be? You will shoot me and hide my body? So your father can keep running the slums and giving you money?

- Who are you anyway, Enzo? Talk once and for all!

- I am someone who was having a wonderful badass morning until you fucked up everything! This was your plan? To lure me to your house and then kill me?

- That depends. If you were really who I thought you were, I would have killed you yesterday.

- What can I do to avoid this terrible fate?

Enzo was getting more and more difficult.

- I want you to go to Cidade de Deus and find out what they have.

- No fucking chance! That place is a shithole!

- Think about it, darling. I have a gun in my hand.

- You can kill me later. It doesn't make any fucking matter.

Then Luana had a moment of conscience and put the gun down. Enzo realized that, in a strange way, he had her trust.

- My father is afraid that a criminal group will take over the slum.

- And a real takeover! Your father takes money from the people.

- What? He doesn't do that.

- I saw it, Luana! With those beautiful brown, almost green eyes!

Luana thought it was strange.

- Brown almost green?

- Vini tells me that if they were green, I'd be too much of a show-off.

Is that even possible?

- Anyway, what did you see, punk?

- The black van and the motorcycles. On the business street. Walking into the stands. And delivering a package to your father. That's why I went there!

- Package? What package?

- How should I know? It could be a box of condoms from Mercado Livre(*) !

- Very hilarious, Enzo!

- Me? Your father who goes around killing people!

- My father never killed anyone... - Luana paused. - That I heard.

- It says a lot, doesn't it?

- But tell me about this van?

- I have the names. - Enzo reached for his cell phone, knowing that Luana was not going to pull the trigger. At that moment. - I got the owners from the Detran site. It was not difficult at all.

- I never heard of these people.

- Well, whether you know it or not, your father is dirtier than a horse loo!

- Horse loo?

- Never mind! These guys just shoot the shit out of my house. I will make it a priority to go after them. Even if it's the last thing I do.

- All right, I'm in. I'm in.

Enzo is not getting it.

- I'm sorry, you were saying?

- I'm in. I'll help you.

- I'm a solo racer on this one, Luana. There's nothing to change my mind.

To convince him to change his mind, Luana didn't have to do much. She just took off her blouse and held Enzo's hands. Gently, she asked him to hold them, like a baby bird.

- Very smooth. - Enzo remarked.

- What? Never seen an M size before?

- Naturals? No. Fake? Quite a few.

(*) An Argentine firm that specializes in the electronic commerce sector.