Page 6 of Mabilia

You asked a question last night. I want to give you the answer.

She reads the message but doesn’t reply. I’m ready to get up and go looking for her when I see her walking out. “Are you stalking me now?” Mabilia asks before stopping right in front of me.

My eyes hone in on the big fucking bruise on her face. “What the fuck? Who did this?” I ask, cupping her cheek.

Mabilia steps back. “You should see the other guys.”

“Guys?” I raise an eyebrow. I’m ready to fucking kill whoever laid a hand on her. “Who?”

“Why? So you can go and kill them in my honor?” She laughs.

I lift a shoulder. “I’m not opposed to it.” I’ve never killed anyone before, but the thought doesn’t bother me. You don’t grow up where I did without knowing how the streets work, how to fight.

“You’re too late.” Mabilia leans up on her tiptoes and whispers in my ear, “My Papa taught me how to defend my own honor.”

“Are you okay?”

There’s a slight tremor to her bottom lip, but that’s the only sign I see that she’s not. “I’ve been better,” she says. “What’s the answer to my question?”

“I play poker,” I admit. I’ve never told anyone other than Denny how I make my money. My mom thinks I have a respectable job, and I plan to let her keep thinking that.

“Poker? You make money playing poker?” Mabilia laughs.

“In underground tournaments,” I add. Maybe the reason I’m telling her is because I know who her family is. This isn’t a girl who’s going to blanch at me partaking in illegal activities.

“Of course you do,” she says. “Can you do me a favor?”

“Sure. What do you need?” I ask.

“It could end up with you dead,” Mabilia says with a smirk.

“Walking the streets of this city could end up with me dead, babe,” I remind her. “Now, what do you need?”

“A hug,” she whispers, and her voice breaks a little at the end.

I reach out and tug her to my chest. “Giving you a hug is going to risk my life?” I ask when her head rests against my shoulder.

“If you knew my papa or nonno, you’d understand,” she says. Her arms wrap around me and she holds on tight.

Chapter Five

Why does being held by Tommy feel so damn good? I don’t want to let go, but I force myself to take a step back. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s not a hardship having you pressed up against me.” Tommy smirks, looking me up and down before adding, “Especially in that outfit.”

“Thisoutfitis a uniform.” I laugh.

“Exactly, hot as fuck,” he says.

“You’re taking me to get food. You got a car here?” I ask him.

Tommy smiles and nods. “I do.”

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.” I turn around and jog back into the school building. I need to find one of my cousins to take my car home for me.

The first one I stumble across is Aurora.Yeah, not her.She’ll follow me just to find out what I’m doing.

“Hey, you seen Dante or Orlando?” I ask her.

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