“Of course, boss. Drive safe.”
I ended the call, and I sped ahead.
My ETA (estimated time of arrival): not fucking soon enough.
17
Silvia
Watching the clock didn’t make time pass faster, just like watching a pot of water on the stove didn’t make it boil any faster. It had been three hours since I talked to Andy. It felt like it was ten hours ago. I sensed the final hour would drag on at a snail’s pace.
I hadn’t bothered to leave his room. What would be the point? Nobody would talk to me or accept my help, so I hung out on his bed and played with the phone he bought me. I played games and watched cooking videos.
But now I was bored.
A knock at the door made me jump.
“Who is it?” I asked.
“Tito, the club’s chaplain. Can I come in?”
The club had a chaplain?
“It’s okay, Silvia.”
I recognized Quino’s voice and went to open the door.
“Thought you might want to talk to Tito. He’s a good listener.” The corner of his mouth turned up, but it wasn’t a full smile. I could tell Quino was trying to be nice, so I’d meet him halfway.
“I appreciate the thought. Sure, I’ll talk to Tito.” I waved in the man. He didn’t look like a chaplain in his black vest, worn out jeans, and Dodgers cap.
Quino nodded, then left.
“So you’re a chaplain?” I asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Not officially. It’s just the position I hold in the club. I studied anthropology in college and served in the Army for eight years before joining the club. Guess you could say, I’m the sensitive type.”
“No shame in being sensitive. In a world that is so hateful, we need kindhearted, sensitive people too.”
“I know you’ve suffered a lot in your life.” He got right to the point, skipping all the pleasantries. I liked his directness. “Care to talk about it?”
“You heard about the nuns, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” He looked at me with compassion. “It’s tragic.”
“It is. They were the only people I had left. I’m homeless and an orphan now.” I teared up but wouldn’t cry.
“Family isn’t only blood related. Sometimes the best family is the one created during your life journey. Your found family.”
“Wow, that’s deep. I like it, a found family.”
“Here in the MC, most of us were strangers before we became each other’s family. It’s hard to be alone in the world.” Something buzzed. He reached into his vest and took out a cell phone. He read the message, then looked at me.
“Is everything okay?” A chill shot down my spine sensing something was terribly wrong.
Suddenly gunfire ensued and Tito knocked me on the ground and covered my body with his.
“What’s happening!” I screamed as the windows were shot out and glass shattered around us.
