Page 101 of Moose

“Are we all done talking about me like I’m not here? You got a fucking problem with me, then you can say it to my fucking face,culo.”

Javier pushed me behind him as Marcus moved toward me.

“Enough! Stand down!.” He turned back to face Moose and I. “Do what you need to do. We voted when you left and you’re safe here, Lil.”

Moose sat back down while I stared out at the crowd. Javier sat down next to Moose and looked up at me.

“Leave it, Lil. A lot of shit went down when you left. Let’s just focus on the kids. I don’t stand for people who hurt innocents like them.”

“Just innocent women.”

Javier glared at me. “Are you fucking done with the attitude? You can’t just come blazing in here thinking that you still fucking run this shit! You fucking left!”

I threw my hands in the air. “Because I was fucking beaten and raped, J! Because of everybody fucking around us!”

Moose stood up and Javier got closer to me.

“It was because of one fucking person and I made sure they died at my hands. I live with that every fucking day. I changed this whole goddamn place around to make you fucking happy!”

I shook my head as tears threatened to fall. “I never wanted this. Who fucking dreams of being a gang bangers fucking wife? Or running a fucking cartel? No fucking little girl wants that, Javier.”

Moose pushed me behind him. “Enough! You two need to work your shit out at a different time. We’re here to save my fucking kids from being sold into sex trafficking!”

He sat back down and typed away. I took a deep breath and walked out back to where there was a small outdoor courtyard.

Sitting down on the bench, I closed my eyes and turned my head up at the sky, letting the sun beat down on me.

Being here brought up so many terrible memories and I was letting it get the best of me. I needed to focus and find Nova and Maddox.

Somebody cleared their throat, and I looked up to see an older man coming out from the corner. I squinted and realized it was Matias, my father’s right-hand man.

I smiled as the old man walked over and sat down next to me.

“My Lily. You and Javier are still so explosive.”

I laughed and turned to face him. “That we are, Tio Matias. How have you been? I’ve missed you…”

He put his hand on mine. “I’ve missed you too, my dear. But I knew you needed to fly on your own. Your heart was never in this. Are you good? Does that man treat you right?”

I leaned on his strong shoulder, just like I used to do when I was little.

“Moose treats me wonderfully. He makes me happier than I ever was.”

“Are you clean? I’ve always kept an eye on you, ya know.”

I laughed and looked into his eyes. “I am. No more drugs, just wine.”

“Good, baby. I’m proud of you. And your father would be too. Let’s go in and find your babies. Me and you?”

I smiled as he stood and reached out his hand for mine. Placing my hand in his, I stood.

“Me and you.”

We walked back into the building and headed toward Moose and Javier. They both looked up as Matias and I moved toward them.

We sat down across from Moose as he typed away. Javier leaned over and looked at the computer screen.

“Fuck, man. This system is tight. Where did you get this?”

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