Chapter 307

Elena “Elena, watch out!”

Marvin wrapped his arm around my body and covered me as a biker almost flew past us.What was wrong with these people?

It was our second day in Amsterdam, and for some reason, I still couldn’t get used to it. I looked up at Marvin. “Are you alright?” He asked. “No.” I shook my head. “I think I’m going to die on this trip.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

Before I knew it, Marvin grabbed my hand and led us towards our destination. If there was one thing I had learned over these past few days, it was definitely that these people were fearless.

After Rona had invited herself to Amsterdam, Marvin asked Panther and, strangely enough, his little cousin, Cisco to join us as well. We were all hanging at the park while Marvin and I stepped away to buy a few drinks.

“You don’t have to hold my hand…I’m not a child.” I spoke to Marvin as we crossed the streets. “I know.” Marvin laughed. “I just don’t want you to get hit by a truck, although it would not surprise me if something like that would happen to you.”

A while later, Marvin and I sat on our plaid at the park and watched as Rona, Panther, and Cisco played a ball game. “Don’t you think it’s funny those two are getting along?” I commented, looking at the pair.

Marvin released a breath. “First they don’t, then they do.” He spoke. “I can’t keep up anymore.”

At least they were honest about their feelings. While Rona and Panther kept looking for each other, whether it was to argue or not, Marvin was the type of person to pull away from the conversation whenever we were finally getting somewhere.

“It was nice of you to bring along Cisco.” I changed the subject. “I think he’s having fun.”

“Yes.” Marvin sighed, looking at his cousin. Whenever I mentioned his name, something seemed to be bothering him. It wasn’t anger, but rather a sadness-and I did not know why. “It’s important for him to spend time with…his family.”

“Then you should play with him instead.”

“Huh?”

“You said it’s important for him to spend time with family?”

+15 Bonus Marvin shrugged me off and forced a caramel-filled waffle inside my mouth. “Oh my god!” I squealed at the taste while Marvin laughed at me. “This is so good!”

“I know, now try pronouncing it.” Marvin looked at the package. Full of confidence, I grabbed it from his hand and did an attempt. “S-stroopwaefles? S-strap….” I frowned. “You know what, fuck it. You try it!”

“I’ll pass, thank you.” Marvin ruffled his hand through my “So, how are we going to smuggle these back to the states?”

hair.

“Smuggle?” Marvin repeated as if I was crazy. “Yes, smuggle.”

If anyone knew how to smuggle stuff around here, it had to be the Castillo’s, Marvin shrugged. “You can also just…I don’t know…take them with you?”

“You’re right. I can!”

It wasn’t long before Marvin’s attention was back onto Panther and Cisco, and I couldn’t ignore the slight smile on his lips. Cisco and Panther seemed to be getting along well, which was something I had already observed a long time ago.

Marvin turned to me. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything!”

“I can trust you, right?”

“Y-yes?” I spoke nervously. Was this the part where he was going to ask me about my dad, agent George Torres?

“There’s been something on my mind, and I don’t have anyone to talk about it–but it’s killing me, and I have to-”

“You can tell me!” I rushed him. “What is it?”

Marvin looked at Panther and Cisco with a troubled look on his face while I was trying to figure him out. “Never mind.”

“No, I hate it when people do this!” I pouted, determined to get an answer one way or another. Why would he even start the subject if he wasn’t going to finish it?

Marvin closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

“Cisco is Panther’s kid.”

With my mouth wide open, I looked from Panther to Cisco, back to Marvin. I knew he was about to tell me something juicy, but this caused a whole other level of confusion.

“You look like that one meme.” Marvin rolled his eyes.

“They had memes in prison?”

Luckily enough, Marvin could at least chuckle at my joke. “I’m sorry, I’m lost… Panther is who?”

“Cisco’s dad.”

“Why am I only finding out about this now?” I asked, flustered. I did not see that one coming. not at all.

“Trust me, you’re not the only one.” Marvin stated. “I didn’t know, neither does my family- and my sister doesn’t know I’m aware.”

“Wow.” I gasped. “Does Cisco know?”

“No.”

My mind went to Karina and the remaining Castillo’s. Panther was at the Castillo dinner, meaning they saw him as a family-meaning this whole situation was just messed up. “After doing some thinking and math, I guess you might have your reasons for keeping it a secret.”

The Castillo’s were crazy. Speaking of the Castillo’s, I could still not find the perfect opportunity to talk to Tiago.

“Yes.” Marvin agreed. “I took Cisco on this trip, so they could bond because I’m afraid that if they don’t he might up resenting him later when the truth gets out.”

All I could do was shot Marvin a sad and understanding smile, as I could not find the words to say.

“I still resent my dad for not having any time for me when I was younger, so…..

Finding out new information about Marvin’s life was always a surprise, as he did not like talking about himself. “I’m sorry for not being good at this. I usually skip the whole opening up to people.”

Marvin confessed.

“Yes, me too.”

Well, that was a big lie-but I couldn’t let him share those burdens on his own. Other than the part about me being a DEA’s daughter, my whole business was on the streets.

“As we all know, I don’t have a good relationship with my dad either,” I spoke, thinking about my childhood. While all normal parents took their children out to see a movie, my dad trained my brother and me for survival. “I can’t remember my dad taking us to the park to play.”

“Did your dad even try to contact you?” Marvin asked.

“No.”

He didn’t, but Alex did. For some reason, he wouldn’t stop calling me, and if I wouldn’t know any better, I would’ve thought he knew I was out of the country.

There was a peaceful silence as Marvin stared at me with a gentle smile on his lips. It was something he did quite often, but at the same time, it was not the look you were supposed to give to a friend.

“What?”

Marvin shrugged. “Nothing there’s just something about you.”

“What?”

“Just admiring the view. Don’t worry about it.” Marvin shook his head. “How do you think Panther is doing?”

Changing the subject, as usual.

“He clearly loves spending time with him…so does Rona.” I pointed out. Anyone else would’ve thought the three of them were a family.

“How do you think I’m doing?” Marvin asked. I didn’t know what he was referring to, but whatever it was-he was not doing a good job.

“I think you’re confusing me.” I finally shared the thing which had been bothering me for the longest.

Marvin, who clearly didn’t know how to read a room, frowned at me. “I confuse you?” He whispered.

“How?”

“Never mind.”

“No, please tell me.” He insisted.If he really wanted to know, what else could I do about it?

I scooted closer. “Okay, I’ll tell you-but I’ll be nice about it because I need a roof over my head, and I don’t want you to leave me behind in a foreign country.”

“Yes?”

“All these mixed signals are confusing me, and I can’t take it anymore,” I said in one breath. There, I said it. I looked into Marvin’s eyes, desperate for an answer-but all I could read was confusion. What part did he not understand?

“You know I like you because I know you heard Rona over the phone, and you had that stupid smirk on your face-you’re always staring at me, and whenever I ask you why you’re staring, you’re telling me not to worry about it!” I ranted, hoping to get through to Marvin.

Marvin opened his mouth to say something, but no words left his mouth.He didn’t seem to understand me, and he wasn’t exactly the brightest.

“You can’t just take me on expensive trips, hold my hand, smell my hair-whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean-and do whatever you want. It doesn’t work like that!”

Marvin shrugged. “You use nice shampoo.”

Of course this was all a joke to him. He had a laid-back personality and did not seem like the type to get into arguments. He was just there for the vibes.

“Marvin, I’m serious.”

I could tell Marvin tried his hardest to remove the smirk on his lips. “I’m sending mixed signals, Elena?” He asked. “What is it exactly that you want from me?”

“You’re so tiring sometimes,” I mumbled to myself. “I want you to stop leading me on!” I snapped, still trying not to come off as too bitchy. “Do you understand me or not?”

Marvin cracked a laugh and created more space between us. “Jesus, you’re scary when you’re angry.” He commented.

“But don’t worry, I understand-and I’m sorry for being too nice.”