Page 86 of The Wildcard

“The food was delicious.” She said as she twisted the tap to wash the plate with the water. The crowd had made space for her to do as she wished. So, Ray scrubbed her plate clean and placed it on the rack right next to it. She wiped her hands on her pants and turned to face the woman with a small smile,

“That’s all I came here to say.” Ray said, matching those doe eyes with her own. The woman’s eyes narrowed, a tick in her jaw visible as she bowed her head in compliance. Ray breathed out, her brows scrunching at this entire situation.What in hell was going on here?

But also, what had she been expecting?

Ray cleared her throat and turned to the rest of the crowd, “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just taught to wash my own plates.”

The silence didn’t break.

Ray sighed, and turned back to the woman, “Do you have any protein bars? I’m not allowed to eat any chocolate.”

For a second, no one responded. But then a smaller voice broke free from the crowd,

“Why?”

All eyes whipped in the direction of that voice, and Ray could swear she saw all of them glare at the young boy who was standing behind the man who’d led her in. Ray’s eyes zeroed on him, and she saw him squirm under her gaze. She blinked at his actions and shrugged,

“I got hurt badly. So, I can’t have too much sugar because my blood pressure needs to be maintained.” She replied easily and the boy revealed himself inch by inch.

Ray didn’t miss the way the man acutely angled himself to stand in front of the boy. She sighed at the gesture, understanding exactly where it was coming from but bothered, nonetheless.

“So?” Ray turned to the woman, suddenly exhausted and exasperated, “Any protein bars?”

“You shouldn’t give up on chocolate.” The boy said again, and Ray turned to him with a small smile, her shoulders relaxing at the boyish innocence on his face. The man in front of him ruffled his hair and the boy’s lips bloomed into a full grin, “Chocolate’s heaven.”

Ray hummed, the boulder of pressure leaving her shoulders, “Fuck yeah,” she murmured and turned to face the woman again, “Got any chocolate?”

The woman finally showed a reaction by turning on her heels and striding away from her. Ray watched her walk away and pressed her lips together, turning to face the young boy. Now that she looked at him, he looked like he wasat leastten years old. His round eyes were brown, his blonde hair matching the man who was standing in front of him.

She smiled as the boy stepped forward with a toothy grin, “How’d you get hurt?” he asked, and Ray blinked at his question, “Can I see it?”

“Uh,” she started but was thankfully stopped from responding as the woman from before walked before her and grabbed her hands forcefully. Ray heard the man hiss from beside her as the woman hauled her figure forward and looked at her with her wide, angry eyes,

“Cecilia.”He said just at the same time the woman started speaking,

“No chocolate.” She said in broken English as she put something in her hands. Ray looked down at the two protein bars and a bottle. The woman,Cecilia,followed her gaze and hummed,

“This for your neck.” She said and Ray’s lips parted in surprise, “Rub. And it will heal.”

“Ah,” Ray started, her eyes starting to well up in tears as she pointedly looked down, “But my skin’s torn up there. If I put it on it, then won’t it burn?”

Cecilia hissed in annoyance, “Stupidgirl,apply on the sides for now. When skin heals, apply on top. Ointment.” She said and Ray couldn’t help but let out a choked laugh. Cecilia grunted in front of her,

“Next time, don’t jump in between.” She said and Ray’s eyes snapped up in surprise. But Cecilia’s eyes were narrowed in seriousness, “Never interfere in business. Others business isnotyours.”

Ray smiled at her words, a bit sadly as the rest of the crowd broke into whispers around her, “I don’t have a choice.” She said and Cecilia’s eyes widened, “I was brought up this way.”

“Ray?”

Her head snappedin the direction of Angel’s voice from outside the kitchen. Ray jerked, “Shit.”She swore and swiped at her eyes hastily to stop herself from crying. Cecilia didn’t say a word as Ray sniffed and let out a breath, turning to look at the boy standing there and then at Cecilia.

I’ll get you out,she wanted to say,I’ll make things better.

But she only said, “Thank you.”

Cecilia’s eyes softened, just a fraction. And then she was lightly pushing Ray out of the kitchen. She laughed as the boy waved at her and Cecilia pushed her out with one last shove and some words that would stick with her forever,

“You,” she heard Cecilia say as Ray turned to see Angel standing a few feet away from the door. His eyes snapped in her direction at the same time Cecilia continued, “And him. Good people. Stay good people.”

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