Religious Hardworking Father

Father who works hard and is religious; genres: action, thriller, romance, and drama

Prologue: A Fire and Faithful Man

In San Miguel, a small but dangerous town where crime was a shadow that hung over every door and religion was a luxury, the sun hardly touched the rooftops. Father Rafael Moreno stood in the center of it, preaching hope to his congregation, who had long since forgotten what it meant.

Rafael was more than simply a priest; he was a loving father, a man of unwavering faith, and a man with a past he dared not discuss. Before the priesthood, he was a feared military officer, a man who once wielded a gun as easily as he now held a cross. But after the tragic loss of his wife, he left behind the violence, deciding to live for God, and raising Lucía, his only daughter.

However, as Rafael would soon learn, the past is neither forgiving nor forgetful.

Act 1: The Worst Nightmare of a Father

The town plaza was filled with the sound of evening bells. Eager to get back to Lucía, Rafael shut the chapel doors. However, he saw something strange as soon as he entered the cobblestone streets: his house's front door was ajar.

He gasped. He dashed inside. Lucía had left.

Inside the dimly lit room, a telephone rang. His heart thumping, he picked it up. Sneering, a distorted voice said: "The town's father. San Miguel's saint. You could not even defend your own blood, though?

Rafael's fist clenched.

"You know where to find us if you want her back."

The call was cut off. His hands trembled, not out of fear but with the old fire of a man he had long since buried, and his grasp tightened on the phone.

Act 2: The Warrior's Awakening

The brutal cartel La Sombra, which had been terrorizing San Miguel for years, included the kidnapping. In the hopes that the bloodshed would eventually stop, Rafael had prayed for peace.

But he refused to pray tonight.

Rafael turned to Carlos Velázquez, a retired enforcer who had fled the life of a cartel, an old buddy. Rafael was standing at his door, and Carlos sighed.

Carlos responded, "I knew one day you would come back," and opened a trunk containing munitions.

Rafael only brought a little wooden cross, a pistol, and a sword.

"I walk with God," he whispered as he secured the cross around his throat. "But I am going to walk through Hell tonight."

Act 3: The Road to Retribution

Rafael located an abandoned property outside of town where the kidnappers had gone. Silently, he dispatched guards, moving through the darkness like a phantom. His instincts had not been dulled by the years away from conflict.

He entered and discovered Lucía confined in a room with her hands bound and tears in her eyes. He felt a wave of relief. However, a revolver pushed on his temple before he could get to her.

The chief of the cartel, Santiago "El Diablo" Mendez, grinned.

"Padre, you ought to have remained a priest."

For a moment, Rafael closed his eyes in prayer. There was just fire when he opened them.

He quickly disarmed Santiago by using the deadly weapon against him. A vicious altercation broke out, with gunshots reverberating through the walls, fists striking, and knives clashing. Rafael, however, was unrelenting and fought as a father as much as a warrior.

Eventually, Santiago collapsed on the ground, struggling to breathe.

"You believe you have triumphed?" With blood streaming from his mouth, Santiago snarled. "There will be more."

The cross was placed onto Santiago's forehead by Rafael.

"I shall send them all to meet God after that."

The Devil of La Sombra vanished with a single shot.

Act 4: The Redemption of a Priest, the Love of a Father

As they walked out of the ranch, Lucía held Rafael tight. The village would remember this night—the night their priest became more—even after the cartel was defeated.

Rafael went back to the church as the first rays of dawn appeared on the horizon. Victorious despite his injuries, he stood in front of the altar.

His vow had been breached. He had killed people.

He had, however, spared his daughter.

A hand was placed on his shoulder by Lucía.

"Papa, you did what you had to."

He closed his eyes and prayed in a whisper, asking for strength rather than pardon.

He was aware that darkness will eventually return.

The Father of San Miguel would be prepared when it did.