Page 59 of Crime Lord’s Captive

“Go on,” Carmen said, squeezing Lyla’s trembling hands.

Lyla brushed away the tears and continued. She told Carmen about Gavin’s rescue, how he stayed by her side all these days and about the test results from the doctor. Carmen hugged Lyla and bawled her eyes out. Lyla felt better now that it wasn’t festering in her chest. Carmen raged enough for the both of them. They went through half a box of Kleenex before Lyla felt a very basic urge.

“I’m hungry.”

Carmen snapped to attention. “Yes. You need to eat. I’ll cook.”

“You cook?” Lyla asked as Carmen led her to the kitchen.

“Is pouring milk in cereal cooking?”

Lyla cracked a smile as she sat at the dining table. Carmen rummaged through the fridge.

“We’re in luck. There’s breakfast burritos already made that we just have to heat up. Thank God.”

Carmen set the oven and then made coffee. She sat, grabbed Lyla’s hand and teared up again.

“God, I’m so sorry—” Carmen began again.

“Carmen, I’m okay,” she said.

“How can you be? You were kidnapped, nearly raped... or raped. We don’t know.” Carmen’s eyes flamed. “I’m glad that fucking pervert is dead. Gavin should have shoved a rusty spike through his asshole and let him suffer for days until the Devil came to drag him down to hell where he belongs.”

Lyla blinked. “Wow. Gross.”

“What about the other fucker?”

“Gavin’s looking for him.”

“Good. I want to know when he’s dead,” Carmen said.

Carmen fetched her purse and pulled out a hand mirror with her name spelled on the rim in rhinestones. She repaired her makeup and squirted a fresh wave of perfume on her chest. When the bell dinged, Carmen jumped up to put the burritos in the oven. Lyla drank her coffee and tried to recover from the draining talk.

“So you’re here instead of at Manny’s,” Carmen commented as she put her makeup away.

“Yes. Gavin stayed in bed with me for days. Whatever I needed, he was there.”

Carmen clasped her hands over her heart. “I’m glad.”

“Yes.” Lyla turned the cup between her hands. “But, you know why I left the first time and now this... I can’t live like this, knowing what he does at night, risking himself. You don’t know what he looked like that night. He’s so distant. Nothing can reach him. He’s just cold. He shuts off. It scares me.”

“That’s what he needs to do, Lyla.”

“I don’t want him to do it so... He said he would give it up if I stay with him. Permanently.”

Carmen goggled. “What?”

“And so he’s giving it up.”

Carmen held both hands up like a traffic cop. “So you’restaying?”

“If he gives it up.”

“Which he will since he’s in love with you.” Carmen erupted from her seat and did an energetic twerk, which was interrupted by the oven buzzer. Still shaking her ass, Carmen pulled the burritos out of the oven and made them both a plate. She slapped the plate in front of Lyla, kissed her on the mouth and did a shimmy. “Yaaaaaasss! Go, Gavin, go Gavin. You can do it, you can do it. You’re a bad ass, yes, yes! Get yo girl! Woo hoo!” Carmen plopped down in her seat and forked up a mouthful of burrito, eyes shining. “I am so happy!”

“No kidding,” Lyla said with a smile.

“This is amazing. Who knew this kidnapping business would have a good outcome?”

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