Page 39 of Miguel
His warm, dark eyes softened and I almost melted into a pool right alongside them. “You’re a good friend, but Desiree is with Mayan. I promise you, she’s safe now. And I don’t think he’s going to let her out of his sight.”
I’d seen the way he’d looked at her and a ferocity rose inside me. The truth was, Desiree was right. We didn’t really know these people. My body’s reactions to Miguel were primal, but I didn’t know anyone here on a deeper level. I didn’t know what Mayan’s intentions with my friend were, especially after she’d pelted him with that pan. And they didn’t know sign language. What if someone grabbed her hands again?
“She needs me.”
“She’s a grown woman.”
I bristled at the words that felt like an accusation. “I know that. Just like I know she’s completely capable of taking care of herself, but she’s my friend. I want to be there for her.”
Miguel sighed. “Take a breath, nena. Get yourself settled,breathe. Then you can go check on her. I promise Mayan isn’t going to do anything to her.”
“Okay.”
He was right.
Desiree and I had been scared out of our own home. We’d run away with our tails tucked and a bag packed. I needed to let the shock of finding my home in shambles seep out of my system.
Who could have done that to us? And more importantly… why? Questions raced through my mind at warp speed and were only interrupted when Miguel rapped his knuckles against the top of the dresser.
“You can put your clothes in here,” he said. “Bathroom’s over there. If you need anything you can let me know or just tell a prospect to run errands for you.”
I opened my mouth, closed it again. Everything suddenly felt very overwhelming as the events caught up to me once again. And Miguel was giving me orders, bossing me around, and it made everything even more staggering. I tried to breathe through the sudden panic nestling in my bones.
I was grateful. Miguel and his club were offering their help. But I’d been independent my entire life. I’d moved across the country to study in Tlaxcala, a place where I had no friends, no family. I’d left behind my own, became independent. Now I was going to have to rely on them for the next few days.
It should have been daunting.
But as I took Miguel in, there was nothing but warmth spreading through my chest, and that scared me more than being at the compound ever could.
“I’d like to see Desiree.”
He stared a moment and it made me wonder if he could see straight through me, if he could see the pulse jumping at my throat that mirrored the frantic pounding of my treacherous heart.
“Mayan’s room is across the hall,” was all he said.
I nodded gratefully and all but rushed away from him. I didn’t knock on Mayan’s door. I threw it open and burst inside. Desiree was alone, sitting in the middle of a massive, rumpled bed, staring down at the palms of her hands. I waved to get her attention and she startled, a sound of distress coming from her throat. When she noticed it was me, she bit her bottom lip tightly enough that blood dripped down her chin.
“Oh, honey.”
I walked into the room, my own plights forgotten, dropping onto the bed next to her. I wanted to pull her into my arms, give her a hug and remind her that we were safe now. Her eyes were guarded and her posture tense, like her fight or flight instincts were on the edge of her consciousness, even after the danger had passed.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Her breaths shuddered and her hands trembled as she signed. “Not really.”
Tears pricked the backs of my eyes. “I can’t imagine how scary it was today.” Her eyes darted away and then back. “But you know I’m here for you, right?”
“I know.” She rubbed a hand across the back of her neck. “I just… I want to be alone right now. Is that okay?”
My heart broke. She was retreating into herself. I’d never known Desiree to do that. Sure, she had her walls, but this felt different. It felt like I was watching my best friend weave herself slowly into shadows. Shadows that didn’t belong around such a light-bringer like her.
“You know it is. But remember, I’m here if you want to talk.”
At that, her smirk kicked up on the side of her mouth. “You meansign?”
Relief made the ache in my chest ease a fraction. “Sarcastic bitch.”
She snickered. “You love me.”
