A few of the men put themselves between Carlos and Pablo, giving Carlos a cold, hard look. But Pablo pushed them away.
“Do you not see his black beret? This is one of my trusted men. He helped save my life when the Americans attacked me at my summer home.”
Carlos flushed with embarrassment at this, but Pablo’s face suddenly grew twisted with rage, a shade of red creeping through his complexion.
“My summer home, of all places! He is a hero. I will hear him speak.”
The guards stepped aside sheepishly. Pablo looked at Carlos expectantly.
He froze. He didn’t know what to say. It took a moment for his tongue to find any words.
“My p-patrón. You are in danger. I must take you somewhere safe.”
The words may as well have been said to a brick wall. Pablo kept his eyes on Carlos, as if
he wa
