Page 39 of Sold Blood
I'm not sure how much longer I can keep blaming this place or ignoring what I've known all along. Carlos is in love with Isaiah and I'm beginning to see why Isaiah has always kept him in his life at arm’s reach. The same reason I'm not ready to see him leave.
The word I’d whispered to Carlos not long ago replays in my head,safe.
Twenty two
Isaiah
I was glad when the plane finally landed. We’d made a stop at the safe house, dropping off the boys, and plan on checking on them in a few days. Trenton had called his family and let them know where he was. His mom screamed loudly on the phone which only had increased his tears. She’s happy to finally find her son and I'm happy to be able to give them this. Not everyone gets a second chance. Not everyone comes back. His brother unfortunately didn't and Joey wishes he could somehow make that pain go away for him.
As much as we want to go home, I’m not sure it’s safe for us. At least not yet. Staying in my father’s large house still feels foreign to me and Joey isn’t ready to be surrounded by so many unfamiliar people. I am grateful when Carlos invited us to stay with him in his house where he barely stays himself.
“I have a spare bedroom you two can stay in for the night or however long you need. As long as Santana’s alive, there’sno guarantee he won’t come after us. Especially after we pretty much destroyed his largest business deal and killed one of his best men.”
I run my finger over the dusty bookshelf. “He should probably look into hiring a better one next time.” I release a sigh, turning toward Carlos who holds a sleepy smile on his face. "I never did say thank you did I? Not this last time at least. Thank you. Joey wouldn't be laying a few feet away from me right now if it wasn't for you."
He shuffles where he stands, dropping his gaze to the floor. “It’s been a long day, pendejo. We better get some rest. There’s a shower in the guest room. I’m sure you both want to get cleaned up first. I’d also appreciate you not staining my sheets with blood.”
I nod with my gaze landing on a yawning Joey who’s rubbing his eyes and making himself comfortable on the gray suede couch. He had already stripped his clothes off at the door and normally I’d hate anyone else seeing him in nothing but a pair of black panties but I know it wouldn’t be the first time Carlos has. The more I think about it, the more I realize it doesn’t bother me and neither does the thought of them having to do whatever it took to get them closer to freedom.
We haven’t talked about it yet and I’m not sure we need to. Nothing else matters now that Joey is back where he belongs—with me. “Come on Roo, let's get you cleaned up and to bed."
“I’m not sure I can stand long enough to shower.”
“Then maybe we will have a bath instead.”
Carlos is already gone when I turn around. I try not to take offense when he disappears into his room and the door slams loudly behind him. I’m sure he’s as exhausted as we are, if not more. I doubt he had much sleep ever since he started his search for Joey.
“Are you coming, Izzy?” Joey's voice is soft and low as he leans against the door frame. “The bathtub won't start itself you know, and you usually know how to start it better than I do.”
I laugh, wrapping my arms around his waist and pulling him into the guest room. He sits on the bed, watching me lovingly with soft blinking eyes as I walk into the bathroom to turn on the faucet. “Make sure there are lots of bubbles.”
“Do you seriously think someone like Carlos would keep bubble bath in his house? The man hardly lives here. I’ll be surprised if I can find a bar of soap in the cabinets.”
He shrugs. “Any soap would work and I’m not too picky at this point.”
I nod, smirking while I search for body wash. I'm surprised when I find ten different kinds of soaps, and an equal amount of shampoo and conditioner in the bottom cabinet. “Old habits die hard,” I mutter to myself. I grab one of each, along with two spare toothbrushes. I used to give Carlos a hard time when piles of coupons would fall out of his glove box every time we would go for rides in his car.
He had never struck me as the savings type of guy and people never worried about stuff like that at our age. So I always found it comical and to this day it still makes me smile. I remember when I’d first asked him why coupons and his response plays so clearly in my head as if he only told me yesterday.
“It’s one of the few things that makes me feel like everyone else, connecting me to the normal life I once dreamed of living. One day I’d have a family, fall in love, buy a dog, live in a white brick house and be one of those men who took simple joys in things like couponing.” I guess he had never let that dream go and I can’t help but smile at the thought.
When the bathtub is full of water I help guide Joey through the bathroom door and hold onto him as he lowers himself into bubble filled water. “Just how my Roo likes it.”
“Almost like being home again,” he says, scooting forward to make room for me. I climb in, letting my knees fall against the porcelain so he can slide his body between them. He leans back against my chest and hands me a white wash rag. “Help me get clean?”
I nibble on the top of his ear. “Always.”
I dip the towel into the warm water and cover his chest in bubbles, lightly brushing over each nipple. “Lower,” he whispers.
I slide the wash cloth lower, running it over his belly button.
“Lower,” he says again between moans.
I move it below his navel, sliding it across his pubic bone.
“Again,” his voice comes out hoarse and he’s pressing the back of his head into my shoulder.
“Are you sure, baby?” I whisper in his ear.
