Page 20 of Punished

“I wanted you both here for this. I have been doing some digging into Constance.” He holds our gaze, pausing for dramatic effect as he continues.

“Now, I love Mireya dearly, despite her fashion sense, and I know Thalia does as well. So, as much as I hated Constance and her fake designer wearing ass, I never tried to dig deeper into what she was up to. She’s always been like a cucaracha around here, but it’s time we bust out the Raid.”

“I’m missing my hair appointment because Constance offended you with fake designer clothes?”

“No. I was concerned she had something up her sleeve. The way she was looking at you, Adrian–I did not like that. So, I called my resources, and sure enough, she’s up to something. One of the valets told me she was calling someone and talking about Adrian. So, I pulled up the camera footage for that day.” He turns his laptop around to show us a video on the screen. When he presses play, a panicked Constance dialing a number on her phone fills the screen.

“Adrian is out, and he is working at the Calavera Hotel,” she says into the phone. She’s panicking and asking the recipient how I got out and how I figured out I was related to the Consuelos? I can barely make out the rest of the conversation.

“Who could she be talking to?” Thalia asks.

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I sent the footage over to Patricio, so he knows, but I want both of you to keep an eye out for her.”

I need to keep an eye out for Mireya. Figure out what her relationship is like with her mother. It wouldn’t be hard to hack into her phone and see if they have been plotting something together. She very well could be the one Constance called. For all I know, they could both be trying to set me up again.

After classes, I meet Alma for lunch. I texted her the night before that I was staying at Thalia’s, but I knew Thalia enough to know she had already told the world she saw me leaving Adrian’s penthouse this morning. I wouldn’t put it past her to pay for a large billboard announcing it to all of Houston. When I get to the taco truck, Alma is already sitting at a table with her plate.

“Have fun at Thalia’s?” She smirks, and I roll my eyes. I know she wants details. That’s how we are. We love to hear each other’s stories of failed dates and spicy hook ups. Well, mostly just Thalia’s stories. Alma barely goes on dates, and I haven’t even hooked up with my vibrator in months. Thalia claims I have become a virgin all over again. That my hymen closed up and grew cobwebs on the front with a caution sign. The same caution sign Adrian forged pastmultiple times last night.

I order three tacos and an horchata and make my way back to Alma, who is all too eager to get the tea. Her eyes go wide as I recount the details of the savage way Adrian fucked me. She gasps in horror about the spanking and gasps again when I admit to her how much I liked it.

“Was that how intense it was with Bryan?” The name alone ruins my meal.

“I don’t think I even knew what an orgasm was with Bryan. At least from what I can remember.” I grimace. I really assumed my experience with Bryan and his friends was the extent of sex, which is why I avoided exploring it. I didn’t need someone just humping me like a rabbit while I lay there, bored on my back. Now that I’ve been with Adrian, I could easily become addicted to it.

“So, what’s going to happen now?”

“I honestly don’t know.” I sigh. “All I know is I’m worse than Rosie. I could walk into a room full of Ritchies, and I’d still pick Bob.” Alma laughs. She lives for a goodLa Bambareference. She was usually the one making them.

“As long as he doesn’t hurt you, like Bryan, then I support you. Don’t pressure yourself to make it anything more than sex.”

She was right. I’m not sure if this will lead to anything other than that. A lot had happened since I’d seen him last,and it was a lot to unpack for both of us. I’m still not sure why Bryan had set him up or what my mom had to do with it.

“I feel like he’s closed off and private about his life. It may never go past anything more than sex, even if that’s what I want.” I frown at the thought.

“Well, then, it runs in the family,” Alma says, her expression shocked, as if the words weren’t meant to be spoken aloud.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

She looks down, so I ask again, “Alma, what are you talking about?” Her cheeks flush red at her mistake.

“Oh my god. I’m sorry. I don’t want to be a chismosa, at least not when it comes to my friends, but I am really worried about Thalia.”

“Thalia? Why would you be worried about Thalia?”

“I never brought it up because I would love her regardless, but I once heard through maid chisme that Thalia had been pregnant and went to California. They say when she came back, she never brought the baby back.”

“That’s a touchy subject, Alma. Not just as her friend, but as a woman, I trust she did what was best for her.”

“I know, and I would never judge her. I never paid attention to the rumor because I felt the same, but a few days ago, I overheard Doña Clara and Enrique talkingabout someone blackmailing her.” Her brows furrow, and I can see the worry etched in her face.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, someone is blackmailing her, and I can’t help but think it has something to do with the whole pregnancy thing. I don’t want to bring it up because I don’t think she knows. Doña Clara has been covering it up.”

“Whatever it is, Alma, you have to stay out of it.”

“I know, but Thalia was there for you with Bryan, and she helped me with everything with my mom. Maybe we can help her with this?”

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