Page 14 of Keepsake

He got me in my stomach, but I didn’t feel a thing. I blocked him after, and he retreated. He came back again, he wore that damn snarl I didn’t care about. I hit him in the face, happy when it was so strong I saw the skin on his cheek move. Taking my moment, I tried once again and hit him in the stomach.

Big man recuperated, taking me with a right hook. I tasted blood in my mouth, but I smiled at him.

More.

Just hit me enough so I forget what I’ve done.

I let Sofia die.

He swung so strongly this time the crowd winced, my eye burning, letting me know it would be completely swollen shut tomorrow.

“Come on, big man,” I called for him.

He came mercilessly, one strike after the other. He was getting predictable. Like a rehearsed dance, he did it again and again until my body memorized his tells.

I blocked once, even as sweat and blood covered my eyes. He was big, but he wasn’t trained. He wasn’t good.

So I punched him like he ended my sister himself, like I blamed him as well.

I released it all on him because I couldn’t do anything else. I couldn’t protect my sister.

I punched him because I couldn’t punch myself.

When my opponent dropped, my ears rang. Somewhere out there, Paddy worked the crowd, their chanting loud, calling EL TORO at the top of their lungs.

I looked down at him, and I felt nothing.

He wasn’t me.

And Sofia was still dead.

¿Queesesoentu cara?

I waited a full week until I dared to visit my parents’ home, but I couldn’t leave Logan waiting any longer.

Mamá looked sharply at the bruise covering my left eye, and I was quickly transported in time. Thirty years ago? Fuck. I remember sitting in this kitchen trying to tell them my trainer said I had a future.

“Where are the kids? We are doing this now.”

The woman who raised me walked toward me, unfolded the arms she had crossed over her chest and reached for my chin, moving it to the light.

“Mi príncipe, eres tan guapo. ¿Por qué?”

“Leave the boy, Caridad.” Papá arrived just in time.

Mamá let my chin go with a sigh, and I rolled my shoulders back, trying to not get affected by her. I didn’t have a reason. She asked me why, but I had nothing. Why did I still go to Paddy’s? It fixed nothing. It never brought me any peace.

Deciding not to think about it for a second longer, I fixed my gaze on my father. “Logan is coming again. Soon. But I think we should tell them before. Prepare them.”

Papá nodded, and we both avoided my mother’s eyes. She was against it, but I couldn’t make myself more clear. Logan was the person Sofia choose to take care of the kids. My mother couldn’t hold Lachlan for long. She had a bad back, and I bet anything Dash was taking care of his siblings while they were here. More than he should.

I didn’t point out to Mamá about her back and Dash’s responsibility with the younger ones. I didn’t want her to think she was failing. But I wanted to end this situation.

“I will call them to the living room,” Papá said.

“No,” Mamá started, and I swear Papá and I held our breath. “In the kitchen. That’s where family talks.”

I lifted a shoulder, not carrying much, but Papá nodded, mumbling, “Of course, mi amor.”

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