“You’re gonna need to trust me, Chiquita.”
“I don’t trust anyone.”
“Yeah, I sensed that.” He jerked his head at the girl. “Letty will take care of you. Stay with her, and I’ll be back.”
Suddenly, panic exploded in me. I clutched his black T-shirt in my hands. “Where are you going? I don’t know anyone here. You can’t leave me!”
“Shh, Mija. You’re safe here. Is this you freaking out?” His warm lips pressed against my forehead and the gesture felt very different from when my brothers kissed my head.
“You’re not funny.”
“Un poco funny.”
“Stop it!” I hit his arm. “You really aren’t funny.”
“Okay, okay. Listen to me, Silvia. Anyone messes with you, they’ll have me to answer to,” he shouted as if making sure he was heard. “Do you believe me?”
“Yes. I believe you.” I didn’t but what choice did I have? I let go of him and backed up. “It’s been a stressful day. I’m not sure what’s gotten into me. I’m fine.”
Just keep lying, Vee.
Everybody duck. Lightning is about to strike.
“Come with me,” Letty said with a smile.
“Okay.” I glanced over my shoulder at El Jefe. He was watching me with an intense stare. Not a grumpy expression, but a serious one.
“Silvia, right?” Letty asked, drawing my attention away from her boss.
“Mhm.”
“More like, puta,” Sugar Lips spat as we walked by her. “That means slut. Or bitch. Take your pick. They both work for you.”
Letty made a soft gasp but said nothing.
“Eres ridícula.” I waved off Sugar Lips. “So ridiculous.”
“You know Spanish?” Letty asked.
“Un poco.” I gestureda littlewith my fingers as I had with Jefe.
“Not me. I’m one of a few white girls in the club. I took French in high school. Don’t remember anything except bonjour.” She grimaced, then pointed down a hallway inside the clubhouse. “My room is this way. I live here. All the sweet butts do. Makes us easy access for the guys.”
My stomach turned. I wanted to ask her a million questions. Like what was a sweet butt and why did the men need easy access and if Jefe was one of them, but I refrained. I didn’t see the point when I wasn’t sticking around.
“Letty, I won’t be here long. Let’s not get too friendly or personal. Okay?” I hope I didn’t sound rude. She was nice and all, but I planned to be gone by tomorrow morning.
And truthfully, I was excited to leave California. Never been out of the state before. I’d love to travel and see the country. Heck, see the world!
“Sure, but none of us planned to stay here for very long, we just sort of do.”
Oh, Lord! This was bad, so very bad.
4
El Jefe
I bit down on my back molars so hard they probably cracked. That damn Yoli. She never kept her mouth shut. I only kept her around because she gave good head and I grew up with her. She was loyal to me, and that mattered more than her fucking sarcastic mouth.
