They both flinched at the loud bang. Instinctively, Ludmilla moved closer to Esteban, who protectively wrapped his arm around her. From the direction of the terrace, they could hear excited fragments of male and female voices.
In a flash, Esteban quietly closed the storage room door, then brought his finger to his lips, signaling Ludmilla to stay silent. He tiptoed toward the living room, but when he reached the entrance to the spacious room, he froze.
“María José?”
Ludmilla didn’t need to be told twice—she was by his side in a heartbeat.
María José and Israel stood in the middle of the living room, both looking completely stunned.
“You?!” all four of them blurted out in unison.
María José pressed her hand to her forehead.
“Oh, this is too much for me…” she groaned, dragging herself toward the sofa.
She collapsed onto it, closed her eyes, and refused to acknowledge anyone else in the room.
Ludmilla dropped to her knees beside her, shaking her shoulder in concern.
“Should I call a doctor? Where have you been?”
María José slowly shook her head, indicating she didn’t need anything. Ludmilla turned to Israel.
“How did you two get here?”
“She lives here,” the man replied coldly, his eyes never leaving Esteban. “Unlike you… and this joker.”
“This is Esteban, Carlos’s friend. He came to help find María José and Carlos.”
“Well, let me help him then,” Israel said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Your friend’s right there on the sofa, and Carlos is having a beer with Ted on that grump’s terrace. Anyone else you’re looking for, or is that it?”
“You don’t understand anything,” Ludmilla snapped. “Carlos and María José disappeared two days ago. Someone kidnapped them!”
Israel’s head dropped forward, as if all the energy had drained from his body.
“Oh my God, Ludmilla…” he groaned. “Kidnapping? Seriously? When everyone knows they’re a couple? Are you really turning even this into some terrible conspiracy?”
He waved dismissively and turned on his heel.
“What was that bang just now?” Ludmilla asked, as if she hadn’t even heard Israel’s bitter words.
“My brain,” the man shot back, irritated. “That was the sound of my brain hitting the floor because of your nonsense.”
Before Ludmilla could reply, Israel had already stepped out through the terrace door and was briskly walking toward their house.
“And who might that fine gentleman be?” Esteban asked, nodding toward the retreating Israel. “Perhaps Ted’s long-lost father?”
Ludmilla quickly covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. María José was fast asleep, her head tilted to the side, her mouth slightly open, completely oblivious to everything happening around her.
“My husband,” Ludmilla answered in a faint voice.
“Oh.”
Esteban awkwardly nodded a few times, then quietly walked back to the storage room. Moments later, he reappeared with his jacket draped over his arm.
“I’m going. I need to talk to Carlos,” he said in a dry tone.
By the time Ludmilla fully processed what she’d seen and heard, the man was already gone.