Page 25 of Forbidden Hearts

On the downside, he said I have to come in earlier on Friday. I’ll have to break the bad news to Isabella and her friends next time I see them.

“That’s hard to believe,” Alonzo says. He glances in my direction as if he’s trying to read my face. “His men were upset when he pulled you off the stage the other night.”

I don’t know if Alonzo is fishing for information or if he suspects anything, so I keep my reply short to play it safe. “He didn’t like it, but it’s not like there’s anything he can do about it. He said he’s going to call another girl to cover for me.”

Alonzo’s eyes study me. It makes me nervous to think he can read my lies. And I’m equally nervous that his eyes are on me instead of the highway ahead. We’re driving at 75 MPH, and I don’t have a death wish.

“Mind keeping your eyes on the road? I’m not looking to die this close to graduation.”

His eyes linger on my face for a few more seconds before he turns to look ahead. “We’re almost there,” he says.

A few exits later, we get off the highway just before reaching Austin and pull into the parking lot of a small Mexican restaurant.

“You hungry?” I ask Alonzo, feeling a bit hungry myself. “I thought you were going to show me where your money came from.”

“It came from here,” he says, parking his car in a slot with a RESERVED sign. “I own the place.”

Chapter 12

Alex

A teenage boy greets us as soon as we enter the restaurant. He has a big smile on his face. “Mr. Alvarez,” he says, “I thought that was your car. Would you like me to give it a wash?”

Alonzo smiles back at him. He pulls out his wallet and hands the teen a one-hundred-dollar bill. “Sure, it’s been needing a wash. Think you can give it a nice scrub?”

My jaw almost drops. How much money does he have that he can just hand out hundred-dollar bills like nothing?

The teen takes the bill and smiles at Alonzo again. “Of course! I’ll have it ready by the time you’re done eating.”

“Emilio!” a woman’s voice cuts through the ambient Spanish music playing overhead, causing the teenage boy to startle. I follow his frightened eyes to the back of the restaurant, where an older woman appears out of the kitchen. Her silver hair almost matches the white color of her apron. “Mendigo chamaco!”she scolds him as she approaches us. I don’t understand what she’s telling him, but her voice and face say it all: she’s pissed.

“It’s fine, Mrs. Agustina!” Alonzo calls to her with a calm smile. “He’s just helping me out. Right, Emilio?”

Emilio nods, and his smile returns. “I’ll get started on your car,” he says before heading to the back of the restaurant.

The woman shakes her head at the teen, who is much taller than her, as he walks past her.

“Alonzo,” the woman says when she reaches us. She gives him a tight hug, which he reciprocates. “We haven’t seen you in a while. We thought you forgot about us!”

“I’ve been a little busy lately, but I could never forget about you, Mrs. Agustina. I brought a friend for dinner,” he says, motioning to me. “This is Alex.”

Friend? Is he ashamed to admit I’m his student? Interesting.

Mrs. Agustina looks at me. She struggles to hide her surprised expression. “Agustina Lomas,” she says, reaching out to shake my hand.

“Alex. Nice to meet you,” I say, taking her hand.

“Since you brought company tonight, would you like a different table than where you normally sit?” Mrs. Agustina asks Alonzo. She turns to look at me again. Her eyes linger on me a little too long, making me slightly uncomfortable. I wonder if there’s something on my face.

“Yes, please,” Alonzo says. “I need a table for two.”

Mrs. Agustina leads us to a small table by the front window. She hands us menus and asks what we want to drink.

“I’ll have the usual,” Alonzo smiles at her.

“And for you, miss?”

“A coke is fine. Thank you.”

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