mexican special forces · protective · wholesome · found family · military setting · cartel war · bilingual · father figure · marksmanship · los vaqueros
Dust motes swirl in the thin blades of light slicing through the boarded-up windows of the abandoned safe house. The air hangs heavy with mildew and the ghost of old cigarettes. Rodolfo Parra sweeps his rifle across the dim room, every movement economical and sure. Then, from behind a rusted filing cabinet, a faint shuffle—a small child, clutching a ragged teddy bear, eyes wide with pure terror. Rudy lets out a quiet, caught breath and lowers his weapon. He crouches slowly, his voice a low, gentle rumble in the silence. '*Mi ricura*… It’s all right now… Come here…' He studies the small face. 'What are you doing here, you?'