Page 24 of Puma's Pride

Spark hits play, and we hear Juan’s threats against Alisa and her responses. I have to clasp my hands on the table to keep from throwing Showtime’s phone across the room. We listen all the way through before the questions pop up. Questions that circle around the one key statement of why Juan wants Alisa.

“What does he mean by Alisa’s pedigree being the key to him gaining his birthright?” Wildcard asks.

“Let’s get Diego in here and see if we can find out.” I demand.

“He’s not here.” Spark says. “He went with Desdemona to 1% to check on the auction items that were delivered yesterday.”

“Ok. I’ll call Sal and let him know about Juan’s attack today. I’ll talk to Diego when he gets back.” I state. Since we can’t make progress right now, I bring up the topic I’ve been mulling over.

“I have something unrelated that I want to bring to the table.” I continue. “When some of us were out in San Diego, we got to see the subdivision they’re building out there for their members. I think we should do the same here. Alisa hasn’t complained about living in the clubhouse and none of you have complained about having to change your lifestyle because they’re here, and I appreciate it. But I want to build us a home. I want to see if anyone else has a similar interest.”

“I think that’s a great idea.” Wildcard says.

I nod. “Good. We own this property, which could give us enough space for a handful of homes. But I want to look into acquiring land that would give us more options. Maybe see if any of the property next to ours is looking to sell?”

“I can crunch the numbers before we take a vote.” Rush offers.

“Good.” I end Church with a plan to contact Sal, but when I open the door, I have to change my plans.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: ALISA

As I help Corinne change the sheets on Mal’s bed, my mind slips back into the parking lot and my discussion with Juan. I play over his words, but I can’t make any sense of them. I try not to think about his threats against Puma and the club, but focus on his crazy claim that I’m the key to his taking over Mexico. Since my father worked for Sal, I can’t see how I bring anything to the table. Which leaves my mother. I know very little about her.

“I wonder if he’ll ever outgrow the Avengers.” Corinne muses, drawing me out of my head.

“What?” I ask her as I glance around the room. A Black Panther comforter covers the bed while lamps with the same theme stand on each nightstand. A Wakanda bookcase sits in the corner next to a Black Panther bean bag chair. Showtime is putting together a cubby while Mal attaches Black Panther decals to the storage bins. “I am sensing a theme.”

“Do you think Puma will like it?” Mal asks me.

“I think Puma may kick you out and claim the room for himself.” I tell him. He rewards me with a beautiful smile that reminds me so much of his father.

I glance over at Elina, who is sitting on the beanbag chair, flipping through a book. When her eyes droop, I glance at Corinne and grin. “Think we should show them the surprise?”

I laugh when both kids pop up and run to us. “What surprise?” Elina asks.

“Let’s go see.” I tell her, taking her hand while Mal grabs Corinne’s. We lead them into the game room where Max is finishing up the surprise. In one corner is the castle Puma had built for Elina so she can play warrior princess. Across from it now sits a massive tent with two brand new sleeping bags inside.

Both kids squeal and dive into the tent.

“If you get into the sleeping bags and lie down, we have another surprise for you.” I tell them. They both climb into the bags without bothering to unzip them. I nod at Showtime, who switches off the lights just as Max switches on the laser show. Across the canopy of the tent flashes several sea creatures as the kids ooh and ahh.

“It also does galaxies and clouds.” Max tells them, using the remote to change the images. When a galaxy flashes overhead, the kids both yell for him to stop. There is so much to see in the image that I’m afraid it is too stimulating, but I can hear their chatter slow down and soon they’re both asleep.

“Good call on the projector.” I tell Corinne as we leave the room.

“My sister has one and swears by it. I’ve considered buying one for Mal, but it seems I always have other expenses that take precedence.” Corinne says. “Are you sure we didn’t spend too much?”

“Positive.” I assure her. “Puma’s loaded and besides, he’ll have as much fun with what we bought as the kids will. I’m just afraid we won’t get the kids out of that tent.”

Corinne laughs. “I can’t believe how quickly they’ve bonded. It’s like they’ve known each other their whole lives.”

“Elina loves having another kid around. She had friends back in Yuma, but since we moved here, it’s just been the prospects. Not that they aren’t kids themselves.”

“Puma mentioned Mal asked Elina to be his old lady. Not sure what that means.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it.” Laughing. “I finally agreed to be Puma’s Old Lady today, and the kids overheard us talking. Elina was unhappy because she wanted to be Puma’s Old Lady once she grows up. Mal offered to make her his, and she accepted. Neither of them really knows what it means.”

“But what does it mean?” Corinne asks. “Like a girlfriend?”

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