Page 76 of My Darling Mayhem

My stomach flipped around, trying to find purchase, but it was like a fish on land. “What do you know about it, Mama?”

“I know he’s been a problem for far too long.”

I stirred the frying tortillas so they didn’t burn. “What is that supposed to mean?”

With a lowered voice, she murmured, “He uses territory in the city to run guns and pharmaceutical drugs…it’s been going on long enough and has been growing so that someone needed to intervene.”

I had a lump forming in my throat. “Who?”

My mother’s lips pursed while turning away from me.

No.

I followed her as she turned away and lowered my voice to a harsh whisper, confirming the fears that had been stirred up last night. “Are you saying my neighbor is running illegal activities through territory that belongs to my…brother?”

My heart felt like it had galloped straight through my chest. This was why she’d come. Somehow, she knew I was in close proximity to Archer…I had no idea how she knew unless I was being followed or he was, and I fell into the report. But why was she even still working with Juan? She’d left my biological father because of this life, but my father had yanked her and my stepdad back into it without a choice. It wasn’t until he died that she finally started living freely…but as soon as Juan resumed the role, it was like she happily stepped right back into it.

“It’s more complicated than that, Henrietta.”

My fingers were shaking from how angry I was. How dare she only come here to keep tabs on me. How dare she use our relationship as a way to communicate something from Juan.

“Did he send you?”

Her silence was deafening, which meant he had.

“He’s worried about you now that he’s aware of your connection to the problem.”

“How come he won’t just come himself?” I still refused to think through what it meant that he’d called me or considered it an attempt to reach out. Why now when there’d been nothing for so long?

My mother shook her head, flipping her burner off and spinning to grab bowls. “Because it’s not his decision regarding what happens to you. We both came here to protect you and Cruz.”

Fear pierced me like a bullet, shallow and dull.

“What do you mean, whose decision is it?” My mind tugged at her other words that implied my brother had also traveled here.

My mouth was so fucking dry. Anger surged and swirled inside my chest like a hurricane. It slammed against my reasons, my past, and all the hurt I’d filed away where Juan was concerned.

“Cruz, come eat.” My mother moved away from me and joined my son at the table. I hadn’t even realized she’d finished the chips and ensured everything had been cleaned and put away.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket with a text, so I moved to the laundry room to check it.

Archer: I’m sorry, beautiful. I’m back, at home. Can I come see you?

My fingers moved briskly as my heart continued to pound.

Me: No. I’ll come to you. My mom is over and staying with Cruz.

Archer: Okay, I'm hopping in the shower, but my door is open. My men are parked up and down the block, but none of them will bug you.

Tucking my phone back into my pocket, I returned to the kitchen, seeing my mom and Cruz already about to eat. “I uh…I’ve been waiting for Archer to get in all day, and he just texted me that he’s back. I need to ask him about a school email I got regarding Cruz’s class.”

“You can’t just call him?” My mother quizzed, watching me as she scooped soup into a bowl.

“No. I need to see him in person. I might be out for a bit. Do you mind putting Cruz to bed?” I walked up, pressing a kissto the top of my son’s head. My mother’s gaze was cold as she watched me.

“I suppose, but we need to talk at some point, Henrietta, and it needs to be tonight.”

My answer came in the form of a slight nod. I knew she was right, and deep down, I knew there was a chance I’d even encounter my brother over the next few days if my mother’s arrival was anything to go on. I just needed a second to withdraw from the situation and check in with Archer.

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