I hit the ground, and before I lost consciousness, I heard him whisper in my ear.
“You have until graduation. Then you’re getting jumped in and tatted. You’ll be a member of the Kings.”
I woke up on the floor in the dark of a house I wasn’t familiar with. My jaw ached so badly, I fought the burn in my eyes, struggling to my feet. I worked my jaw. It wasn’t broken, but my brain felt rocked. My head was cloudy. I exited the house, digging my phone from my pocket. I’d been passed out for an hour. It was almost midnight, and Raf had texted me ten times asking me where I was.
I tried my hardest to pull in a breath. I tried to shake it off. That wasn’t the first time Sergio roughed me up and it wouldn’t be the last. But breathing was almost impossible with my throat nearly swollen shut from his grip and my jaw throbbed like I had a toothache down to my soul.
The party was still going strong, in that reckless hour of the night. Normally, I stayed away from the alcohol. But that night, I sought it out. I was in the middle of pounding back a beer I found in the kitchen when a hand came down on my shoulder.
They spun me around, goofy grin in place. “You actually showed. Where have you been?” Raf shouted over the music, grin falling when he took me in. His eyes ran over my throat, which was most likely already bruising, and the same for my jaw.
With a shaking hand, I tossed the empty beer can into the trash. “Don’t bother,” I told him, finding it hard to shout. There was nothing he could do. I grabbed another beer. “Where’s Enrique?”
He pointed out back.
I shoved past the bodies, catching a few looks. I wasn’t in the mood tonight and my face said so. They backed away. Enrique and a bunch of others were crowded around his fire pit. Pungent smoke wafted in the air. I stepped over Patrice and snatched the joint from his hand, pulling on it hard and long.
He watched me, not saying anything. Guys like Enrique didn’t have to say anything. Guys like Enrique were me.
“Let him have a seat,” he said to no one. Patrice got up so I could fall into her chair, sitting right back down on Enrique’s lap.
From across the fire, Rosa’s eyes found mine. I expected her to throw another party. But she didn’t. She studied my throat and then my eyes, and then my throat and then my eyes. She crossed her legs and looked away, unable to look at me for the rest of the night.
I was thankful for the loud music.
For the conversations going on around me.
Otherwise, everyone would hear the fact that I couldn’t breathe. My chest caved in and I fell forward, plunging my hands through my hair. Enrique plucked the joint from me.
My stomach turned.
I got up smoothly. I stepped back over my chair. I went inside. I found the bathroom.
I locked myself inside and I carefully sunk to my knees in front of the toilet.
And then I spewed my guts up.
And some of my soul, too.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
RYA
I was afraid to move.
Aria and Aliza were sleeping so soundly, each wearing matching pink onesies that were a little too big for them, but they pulled it off.
Beside me, Kenzie wiped her eyes.
My sister was weirding me out ever since the twins were born. The way she looked at them. The way they looked at her. The glow in her eyes. The love in theirs. It was almost like Aria and Aliza healed the hurt in her. Gave her the strength she needed or maybe they gave her the clarity to see that she was already strong. Either way, she claimed both their right legs and nothing I did convinced her otherwise.
“How can something so little be so stinkin’ cute already?” she murmured, gently rubbing her finger over Aria’s cheek.
The twins had one difference on their faces. Aria had a mole under her left eye. Aliza had one on her right cheek. I yawned, stepping away to rub my eyes. It was Tuesday evening and I hadn’t slept well in days. I thought it was sleeping in the hospital, but I think it had more to do with the fact that I hadn’t been able to get a hold of Romeo since he’d texted Friday afternoon. My calls went unanswered and my texts went ignored. But he was reading them.
Every single one.
I rubbed my belly, nervous for no good reason. “Can we go home now? Dad will be here in an hour and Mom’s still sleeping.”
She sighed disappointedly. “Fine. I’ll meet you outside.”
I tore my gown, gloves, and mask off, shoving them in the bin. I went back to Mom’s room and grabbed my bag, giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek before heading downstairs. I called Romeo, unsurprised when he didn’t answer. I leaned against Mom’s car and texted him instead.
Me: If you’re not at school tomorrow, I’m coming over.
Okay, so it was more of a warning. Tomorrow would be my first day back since the twins were born. I wasn’t sure if he had missed school or not. It was a gut feeling that something was off with my boy. And when he was off, I was off.
He’d set my crush on fire. It had been burning inside since he kissed the truth out of me. The fact that he had been there for me when I needed him said a lot. It made the burning in my chest crackle and flame. But the fact that I couldn’t be there for him doused the flames. And it wasn’t for a lack of trying. I’d texted him twenty times.
After a quick check, I saw that he’d read my message.
The icon popped up that he was replying, and my heart soared.
But after a few minutes, the icon went away with no reply.
At least I’d gotten him to consider talking to me. I growled under my breath, watching my sister skip out of the hospital doors.
“What’s your problem?” she asked, getting into the passenger seat.
“Nothing,” I grumbled, getting angrier by the minute.
What was all that promising crap for if he was just going to break them? I was starting to wonder if Romeo had trust issues. And what they had to do with me.
When I got to our house, I told Kenzie I’d be back with dinner. Dad had given me his card to grab food since he’d be with Mom. He’d gotten a few weeks off for paternity leave. I was happy he’d get some time off. Happy it would be filled with crying infants and teenaged daughters.
My drive to Romeo’s neighborhood should have been spent coming up with something to say. But I wasn’t sure what the problem was, so my inner ramblings didn’t comfort or prepare me.
There was no car in his driveway when I pulled up. I studied his neighborhood nervously before I got out. It wasn’t as busy as it normally was. The sun was starting to set, and it shone peach and purple onto the park in the middle of the community.
I got out and knocked on his door.
“He’s not here,” a little voice said.
I looked to my right to find Antony standing on the next-door neighbor’s porch. “Hey, kiddo. How are you?”
He gave me a shy smile. “Good. Romey’s at work.”
I checked the time. “Since he picked you up for school?”
He nodded. “Wanna play soccer with me? Gabby won’t stop watching TV.”
His wide eyes reminded me too much of his older brother’s to turn him down. I’d confront Romeo later. “Sure, let’s play.” I was glad I’d worn my sneakers and jean shorts. “Let your sitter know.”
He ran inside, coming out a few minutes later with his sneakers on and a soccer ball tucked under his arm. We went across the street to the park and he dropped the ball, kicking it to me.
I stopped it with my foot. “I used to play soccer in middle school.”
That made him giggle. “Sure.”
“No, really, I did. I was pretty good at it. You ready to get your butt kicked?”
A determined line dug into the space between his brows.
I almost laughed at how cute he was but kept it together. I had a butt to kick.
I kicked the ball to him, and he immediately caught it, running down the freshly mown grass with the ball passing between his feet. Too amazed to realize I was losing, I did
n’t come to until he’d scored a goal, jumping high into the air with a grin on his face.
“I pick him,” someone said.
I looked over to see a huge guy wearing a white tank top and sunglasses watching us. He was covered in tattoos and he even had a few on his face from what I could see with his black shades in the way. He immediately made me uneasy. But it was the kind of uneasy I knew he knew he exuded. Being afraid would make him happy. Pretending he wasn’t scary would be in my best interest.
How long had he been watching me? His eyes, though he was talking about Antony, never strayed away from me.
“You haven’t even seen me play, though,” I called back.
He smiled, close-lipped, and then motioned with his hand to show him how I played. Crap. I hadn’t meant to do that.
“I’ll pick her,” a familiar voice said, bounding past the man and stealing the ball.
I was incredibly relieved to see Raf.
“Hey! That’s mine!” Antony cried, chasing after Raf.
“You and her against me and the kid?” the man said.
Raf nodded seriously, giving Ant the ball. “You can have it first since you’re at a disadvantage and all.”
The man chuckled, taking his sunglasses off and tossing them on the picnic table.
“What do I do?” I hissed to Raf.
He gave me grave yet confident eyes. “I got you. Just play. And don’t lose, or I’m going to be pissed.”
Antony bounced up and down with excitement. He pointed at me seriously. “I’m going to beat you!”
I shook my head. “No chance, cutie patootie.”
All three guys laughed.
I took advantage of them making fun of me and stole the ball from the man, laughing when they chased me. I sent the ball through the net, doing a dance in front of it.
Raf gave me a high five and then we reset. That time, we had to work a little harder. The man, who’d Raf had called Sergio a few times, was unfairly good. Raf, too. The name rang a bell. Romeo had mentioned the name Sergio before, but he hadn’t elaborated. Probably because there was such evil in his eyes. Cold, hard mean. I tried not to let it bother me. Tried to keep laughing and have fun since I’d done a dumb thing.
A horrible dumb thing playing with a monster.
If it weren’t for Raf, that dumb thing could have been even dumber.
We played until the sun set behind the houses. We were all sweating buckets when Sergio called it quits. A car had pulled in a few minutes ago and he hadn’t stopped watching it. He said something to Raf in Spanish, and he nodded, glancing at me.
To me, Sergio gave me his hand. “It was nice playing with you, Rya.”
I didn’t want to shake his hand, but I did, a chill traveling down my spine when his palm touched mine. “Was it also nice losing to me?”
That made him laugh. His shoulders shook as he walked away, slipping his shades back on.
The moment he was out of ear shot, I sagged in relief. “Who is he?” I asked.
“El jefe,” Raf explained.
“The chief?” I mumbled, confused, until I realized what that meant. “He’s the freaking leader of the Kings?” I shrieked.
He shushed me. “Say it a little louder, would you? I think they heard it in Michigan.”
“Romeo’s going to be pissed.”
Raf didn’t deny it. “Take the kid back to the babysitter. I’ll be waiting here for you.”
“No. I’m going home. Just tell Romeo I came by.”
“You can’t go home.” He nodded at the end of the street.
There were more cars there now. And a ton of older men with Kings markings. Their cars were blocking the road out, there were so many of them. “What’s going on?”
“The elders and captains are having a meeting. Soldiers don’t get to participate. But we also have to be on hand, hence the blocked road. If the Snakes wanted to, they could wipe us all out tonight. The soldiers are on guard to protect the elders.”
My stomach rolled. “You mean I’m trapped here?”
“Yes.” He played kick with Antony.
“Until when?”
“Until they leave.”
“When’s that?”
He shrugged. “Probably not until the morning.”
“Oh, great,” I whined. “Come on, Antony. You need to go inside.”
He took my outstretched hand and tucked his black and white soccer ball under his other.
“Did you have fun?” I asked him, checking both ways before we crossed the street.
He gave me a toothy smile. “Uh-huh.”
His smile warmed my chest. “I had fun too. Thank you for playing with me.”
He squeezed my hand.
I brought him back to his babysitter and then ran across the street to find Enrique and a girl I didn’t know had joined Raf. She introduced herself as Patrice. Raf introduced me as Romeo’s girlfriend.
I liked her the instant she didn’t look at me weird for it. “I like your eyes.”
“I like your hair.”
She touched it, giving me a wink. “Thanks.”
Both boys rolled their eyes at us and then Enrique said something in Spanish.
When I glared, he laughed. “Oh, right. I said let’s go hang out at my place.”
His house was on the other side of the park, at the far end of the street. I wanted to ask where his parents were, but I sensed that wouldn’t go over well. Everyone fell onto couches and chairs in his living room. He put on a movie and I kept waiting for something awful to happen. But all they did was laugh and watch the movie.
“Relax,” Raf whispered in my ear.
“I can’t,” I whispered back. “Can I walk home?”
He shook his head. “I told you, you can’t leave.”
I tapped my foot, anxious. And hungry and tired. “I’m going to start whining,” I warned.
Enrique turned the movie up.
Raf sighed, grabbing my wrist and pulling me after him. I tore my arm free in the kitchen. “Would you chill out?”
“No. Would you stop being an inconsiderate jerk?”
“No,” he countered, opening the fridge. “Hungry?”
“Raf, please.”
He gave me a weird look. “Don’t say it like that. You sound like your sister.” He looked away. “How is she, by the way?”
“You want to know how Kenzie is?” I shook my head. “You never deserved her.”
“I know,” he admitted, surprising me. “I don’t regret it, though. I can’t. She showed me everything I could never have. Showed me who I was. Or at least who I wanted to be. For a brief moment, I thought I could have a different life.” His sad, empty eyes fell on mine. “But I was wrong.”
I hated how hard that hit me. I touched my chest. “Raf.”
What was it about the look in his eyes that Romeo had also possessed? That trapped, lost look. It tore at my heart.
“It’s okay, Rya.” He closed the fridge. “Let’s go hang out at the park.”
“You don’t want to finish the movie?”
He looked over my shoulder, grinning sloppily. I peeked to find Patrice and Enrique making out. His hands were all over her and she kissed him back with so much tongue, mine lolled out of my mouth in shock.
Chuckling, Raf took hold of my hand and we headed out back, and then around the side gate, ending up where we’d came from.
I ignored the curious eyes on me as Raf and I crossed the lawn and settled on the jungle gym. We both climbed to the domed top and perched on the center, staring out over the park.
“Do you love him?” he asked out of the blue.
I looked down at his question. “I’ve never been in love.” … right? “What does love feel like?”
“I think it feels like you’re choking and inhaling all at the same time. Like no matter what you do, where you go, or who you’ll end up being, you will always need that person in your life. Love is like a heart. You can’t live without it.”
I
sighed shakily, his response making me hot and cold inside. “Did you love my sister?”
He looked away, not facing me when he answered. “I loved her enough to know that no matter how long I lived, I’d never deserve her.”
My chest ached. Why did he sound so sure? “You could.”
“No, Rya. I couldn’t.” He gave me the saddest, heart-twisting wink. Poking fun at his somber mood. “Trust me.”
We were quiet for a stretch, his words dissolving in my heart. I let them settle, let them make up my mind. “Hypothetically speaking, it would feel good, though, right? Choking and inhaling over and over again. Unable to breathe as you can’t stop pulling in air?”
Raf let out a groan I felt deep, deep in my heart. “Never felt anything like it.”
I gasped.
And then I held my breath.
Raf nodded to himself, my response answering some unspoken question in his head. “You know he’s never getting out of here, right?”
I didn’t look at him. “I don’t know that.”
“I’m not trying to scare you away or piss you off. I’m trying to tell you the truth. His mom and siblings are in danger if he doesn’t do what Sergio wants him to do.”
My heart sloshed around in my stomach. “And what does Sergio want him to do?”
He held his arm out to me and tapped his tattoo.
I pushed his arm away. “That isn’t fair. How can one person force another to do anything?”
“Sergio doesn’t look at it as forcing. It’s something we have to do. He does a lot for us. Most of us would be homeless without his help. We sling his dope, but he takes that money to help the entire neighborhood. Not everyone hates him the way Rome does. They respect him. They need him. Rome sees the truth.”
“Do you?”
He looked around the park. There was no one close to us. The closest group were on the swings, but they were too busy talking and laughing with each other. The entire neighborhood was connected and entwined. There were families and friends, an interwoven society of good intention. But there was a foreboding that hung over the block as well. One not interested in anything good.
Romeo and the Angel: Impossible Crush Chronicles Page 16
