Just then, the food arrives. They both eat in silence until it's time to leave, and Tadeus gets a call from Gustaph — Hey, how's your grandma doing?
— She's awake now — says, looking out the window. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees that Alexander seems irritated.
— How about you come over for dinner tonight?
— Tonight? No, imposible — Tadeus asks. Alexander looks at him for a second, but then looks away and pulls a pack of cigarettes from his pocket to start smoking — I can't — Tadeus replies. At which point Alexander stares directly at him.
— I want to know how you're doing. The last time I saw you, you seemed very unsettled — Gustaph says.
— I'm in the middle of something.
— Don't let me get in the way of your plans — Alexander remarks.
— Until tonight? — Gustaph asks.
— Maybe tomorrow. What do you think? ...Okay, see you then.
Alexander exhales smoke through his nose and stands up. Tadeus follows him to the car, where he refuses to continue any attempt at conversation. When they arrive at the house, Tadeus decides to break the silence completely and stops him by taking his arm as they climb the stairs — Could you talk to me, please? — He steps up to the stair where Alexander is standing and kisses him on the lips.
Alexander returns the kiss, but his expression remains subdued when they pull apart — Is it always going to be like this?
— Like what?
— I don't think I know what kind of person you are, Tadeus. Maybe this has never been anything more than a game to you.
— We're together, Alexander.
— Do you really love me, or am I just another mistake like Bran? Or maybe you're starting to see me as an obligation, just like Gustaph. Oh, right… he's more than that.
— This is unfair — says Tadeus, letting out a sigh amid his incredulous smile — especially coming from you, when you're still seeing your whore!
— Her name is Claire — says Alexander before continuing up the stairs.
— You can't be serious, love. I didn't lie to you — says Tadeus to stop him, hugging him from behind.
Alexander slides his hands from Tadeus' elbows to the backs of his hands to untangle his fingers and free himself from the embrace.
Even so, Tadeus spends the rest of the day at Alexander's house. His sister texts him to let him know she's brought clean clothes and toiletries to their grandmother so she'll be more comfortable.
In the morning, Alejandro's silence still feels like a splinter lodged in his chest, but Tadeo refuses to talk about those bite marks on his body. Although he's tried to make up a story or come up with an excuse, nothing sounds believable enough.
Alexander accompanies Tadeus to the clinic to get a chance to speak with Yenedith alone — What's going on? — she asks after several seconds of silence.
— Do you know Gustaph?
— Who?
— Senator Pine.
Yenedith isn't sure what to say — Well, he's on social media, and his proposal for healthcare reform is very popular…
— I know he's a friend of Tadeus'
— Oh, no… — Yenedith says. Alejandro looks her in the eyes with a firm expression, as if he knows she's trying to lie — Well… he…
— So you do know him.
— He's a friend of our father's, but I wouldn't say he's a friend of Tadeus'. Maybe more like an uncle or an acquaintance?
— An uncle? — Alexander smiles slightly at her answer.
— Yeah, I mean, I don't talk to him much.
— I see.
— Why are you asking about him?
— Now that I think about it, it doesn't matter.
Alexander is satisfied that what Yenedith says seems genuine. All that jealousy directed at these two's relationship appears to be unnecessary. However, imagining Tadeus with someone else to the point of leaving those kinds of marks on his skin drives him to the brink of madness.
<><><><><>
Around dusk, Tadeus arrives at his father's house — What kind of psychopath are you! — he shouts once inside the office.
Gustaph is sitting at his desk and stands up upon hearing his voice — Did you know? — Tadeus asks him, but the senator doesn't understand.
— Hello — says Pine — I thought we were supposed to meet for dinner tonight?
— Gustaph was telling me that the Animal hasn't found out about Minos — says Edwin — It seems you've done a good job keeping him distracted.
Tadeo quickly climbs onto the desk and leaps onto Edwin, causing the chair to tip backward onto the floor. "You won't hurt me anymore, you bastard!" he shouts, pulling a knife from the inside pocket of his jacket. In less than a second, Edwin manages to put his hands up, taking a stab wound to one of them.
Pine, who watches in shock, reacts suddenly when he hears the door burst open as a couple of bodyguards rush into the office amid Edwin's cries for help while Tadeus stabs him again and again.
Gustaph grabs Tadeus by the torso and slips his arms under his armpits until his fists are pressing against the shoulders to keep him from breaking free.
— Let me go, let me go! — Tadeus shouts, while Edwin orders — Don't shoot, don't you dare shoot! — He barely has the strength to lean against the desk.
— Call the doctor now! — Pinet shouts. He drags Tadeus out of the office through a door leading to another room — Have you gone insane?!
— You have no right to say that to me! — Tadeo shouts back, pointing at him. His hands and voice tremble — You have no idea how sadistic he is.
In that moment of silence, Tadeus takes a deep breath and looks at his blood-stained hands. He is overcome by a strange sense of guilt he hadn't expected to feel, so he heads to his room in that mansion and steps into the shower fully clothed.
— Hey, kid! — Gustaph shakes him until he sees him open his eyes. The senator turns off the shower and helps him up — What are you doing? Go get changed.
Tadeus is surprised to realize he's soaked through only after seeing the water dripping from his clothes — Her eyes are black now.
— What are you talking about?
After changing, he heads for the exit, where he's stopped by a couple of his father's men — What's this? — Tadeous says, shaking them off.
— Are you aware that if the Coyote dies, he'll become your boss? — Gustaph says, addressing the bodyguards.
— He's a traitor — Elena affirms, entering the mansion's lobby from one of the surrounding rooms — He won't be taking charge of anything. I'm second in command of the entire organization, and I'll make sure Yenedith learns everything she needs to know so she can take over after me.
— I don't want you near my family.
— Honey, don't you understand that we're all family now? — Elena says — You really are ungrateful, and on top of that, you're a mediocre person who can't take advantage of the opportunities right in front of you.
— He's disturbed — Gustaph argues — His own father is aware of the unstable state he's in, so much so that he asked me to keep an eye on him.
— And how did that surveillance go? — Elena asks, turning to the bodyguards around her — How did you let him walk into your boss's office with a gun, huh?!
— He's also your boss, believe it or not — Gustaph says firmly.
— Stop him! — Elena shouts, and the men obey — This is about loyalty.
— You're making a mistake — Gustaph says. Tadeus locks eyes with his friend, who senses the deep detachment from his own life.
— Take him away — she orders, and the men drag him without much trouble into another room.
Gustaph is escorted to one of the bedrooms on the second floor, with no way to leave. Elena orders the men to do whatever they want with him while she keeps him tied to a chair, but when she leaves, they decide to let him move around the room freely.