Page 7 of Broken By It

“Wise beyond your years, Maritza.”

“Nah, just seen up close and personal two people with love, willing to ride life out through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not just my parents, but a lot of the club people. To live this life, it’s a commitment to everyone. Not just the brothers, but you wear the cut, you take a vow to look out for your brother yes, but more than that you are taking on their family as your own too. It’s a beautiful thing.”

“You make it sound so easy, like a damn fantasy.”

She reaches out and gives my forearm a squeeze. “Nothing about this life is easy. The bigger the family, the bigger the responsibility. All of it though, it’s worth it. I don’t know where my life, where my parents would be if my dad hadn’t joined all those years ago. Every person around is this extended family. People we can call on and count on. You can count on all of us, Dillon. So can your wife and your son.”

Unable to speak, I continue to look to the carpet as she rises from her spot on the bed beside me. With one final soft squeeze to my forearm, she whispers, “don’t give up on Anna. Don’t giveup on yourself. This club, this family will see you both through to better days.”

Without another word she exits my room leaving me sitting there in wonder.

“Family,” I whisper to the empty space around me, “it’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

THREE

MARITZA

“Where are you going tonight?”Mariella asks me while curling a piece of my hair in the back. “What are the plans? Give me the scoop, hermana.”

I shrug as I continue pressing the sponge to my face applying foundation. “He didn’t say. Just asked to take me out tonight.”

She lets out a laugh, “hermana, you can’t do this. You know the rules. I need the details, all of them, and location turned on. We can’t be too safe these days.” She’s my baby sister, but she can sometimes be smother mother. “You’re beautiful, smart, and a trafficker would love to gobble you up.”

Now I laugh, “Johnathon is nothing to worry about. He’s an accountant for goodness sakes. I will leave my location on, like always, chill out. And no one is going to scoop me up to traffic me.”

“I was watching that documentary.” She shakes her head at me. “Famous last words.”

I laugh, “you watch too much television. I have my pepper spray. I keep my eyes open and ears aware. I’ll be fine. Stop worrying, Mom.”

She releases the curl she is working on, “umm there is that movie about the accountant and he’s a psycho for the people who matter and the right price.”

“I was here, hermana, I watched the movie right beside you with Dia. I promise you; our family will be the ones to go psycho to find me if Johnathon doesn’t return me home safe and sound. And I’ll even make sure it’s before midnight, so I don’t turn into a pumpkin or lose a shoe or anything.”

“No offense, Maritza, but your track record in choosing good guys is umm, not so good. There is a reason for me to be concerned and you know it.”

“I met him at a job fair for school, he’s tame. Literally, he’s glasses, button up shirts, bow ties, and pocket protectors.”

She shakes her head at me and keeps curling my hair. “Bow ties are making a comeback. They can be sexy.”

“Where the hell do you come up with this shit?” I laugh.

“Romance novels, you should try them. Ties are hot, and can be used in many ways,” she jokes.

Mariella is my sister, only two years younger than me, she is my best friend. When it comes to my love life, she’s always honest with me. When I’ve had my heart broken by young love, she held my hand and dried my tears. When I got myself in a situation with a man who had ill intentions, she was there to ice my wounds and cover my bruises while I filed the report to keep him away. Thick and thin, she’s always looking out for me.

She’s been my sidekick from the day she was born. First boyfriends, first kiss, she’s been my confidant and picked me back up when a boy did me wrong.

My so-called high school sweetheart, she hated him from the beginning. I didn’t listen and I ended up with a broken heart and he got a broken nose courtesy of my sister. I sigh thinking back.

“Not like this, Bobby.” I mutter pulling away. We’re in my room and I shouldn’t have let him even come inside. My parentsare at work, and I’m not supposed to let anyone come over while they aren’t home. Bobby is my boyfriend. We have been together almost a year. He wants to take things further.

I thought I was ready.

I’m not.

Now it’s time to give in and I can’t do it.

Except he keeps trying. Kissing me, hands down my pants, then up my shirt. I push against his chest while pulling my head away from his.

---