Page 46 of Sold Blood
"They have come in handy in other situations too. How do you think I keep reeling you in like a fish on a hook?"
"Apparently I have a thing for damsels in distress," I respond.
We all erupt into laughter. It's good to finally break the tension that was taking over when Isaiah and I were alone. Joey takes a seat next to me, placing his hand on my leg and calms my body's restlessness. It makes it difficult for me to pull away. "Don't worry, big guy. The worst is behind us. They're stepping in our territory now."
He's right. They are coming into our world now and I can guarantee we'll be better prepared than they were.
Twenty-Six
Isaiah
I wanted to continue my conversation with Carlos, but the moment his brother leaves, he rushes off to his room with a few tacos in his hand and closes his door. The lock is so loud, I feel like it’s his way of making some kind of statement. Is he angry about what we did? Did we take things too far? I approach his room and attempt to knock, but I can't get my hand to touch the door.
Joey disappears back into the room and curls up in front of the TV, watching movies that have him laughing out loud. I remain in the living room, observing the type of books Carlos has on his shelf wondering if these books belong to the same man I used to know or if he’s a new man entirely. After staring out the window for what feels like forever and watching the sun go down, I place an order for food at a nearby sandwich shop a few hours later.
Joey takes a shower alone while I make the short drive to pick up the food. I hate leaving him alone even for a few minutes, butknowing Carlos is there gives me some reassurance he'll be okay. Joey doesn't need me coddling him like a child. Me being there for him is not the same thing as treating him with kid gloves and I need to continually remind myself of that.
There's a man in a yellow car who watches me the whole time I walk from my car into the sandwich shop. He's still there when I get back in my car. Instead of going straight back to the house, I drive in a different direction and the man follows me down the empty streets and I lead him down a back road that takes us to a dead end.
I turn off the engine and reach for my gun, slowly opening the car door. The man gets out of his car and that's when I realize there's also someone in the passenger side, but they don't get out.
A tall, lean man stands in front of me with a gun pointed at my head. "You must be the asshole who cost me my new purchase. I believe you owe me a boy. Maybe I should just take yours."
I laugh, shaking my head. "You really should get back in your car. I don't have the patience to deal with assholes like you today."
"It's a good thing I don't give two shits about whether you do or not. You have twenty-four hours to bring me my new boy or I'll kill you after letting you watch me play with your husband. I won't be gentle either and won't even promise he'll survive during it."
I scoff, pulling out a cigarette from my back pocket. It's not often I smoke, but this situation seems like the right one to pull one out. Spinning it between my fingers, I click my tongue and place the cigarette between my lips. I pull out a lighter, waving the flame under the tip.
The man laughs when I pull out a pocketknife, at least it's what I have him believe it is. "You really think you're going to kill me with that?"
I shake my head, smiling wide. "No," I say, pointing the ballistic knife at his neck and slipping my finger over the red button on the side. A long, sharp blade shoots out, going into an artery in his neck. "I know I will."
He reaches for his bleeding throat, choking on his own blood. The gun hits the concrete, alerting the other man in the car. He swings open the door. I puff on my cigarette a few times and flick it to the ground, putting it out with my shoe. Before he can step out of the vehicle, I quickly pull out my gun and shoot through the windshield, shooting him in the head. I pick up my phone, pressing my finger on my brother's name. It only rings twice before his voice comes on the other end. "Hola, mi hermano. Que pasa?"
"I need some help with a cleanup."
"Where did you make a mess this time?"
"About five minutes away from the big bridge. You know, where we used to play as kids on the road where it dead ends. The man was one of the auction's unsatisfied customers."
"Looks like Santana is making sure everyone knows who the blame goes to."
"Hopefully we won't have to worry about her for too much longer. It's hard to spread rumors and blame when you're dead."
He chuckles and releases a long sigh. "I'll send someone over soon. Get in your car and go home to your husband. It will be like you were never there."
I hang up the phone and yank out my blade from the dying man's neck before sliding back in my car. Time to go home. It only feels right to call it that. The word flows so well in my head.
The drive is short and I'm constantly searching the roads for other cars the whole way back. The minute I'm positive no one has followed me this time, I get out of the car and use the spare key to let myself back inside the house. The food is tucked in myarm and Carlos is standing in the kitchen downing a bottle of water.
"Someone’s thirsty. Where's Joey?"
"Sleeping again." He stares at me with an intensity so profound. The bottle crumples in his hand when his gaze drops to my blood covered hand. I got quite a bit on me when I’d collected my blade. I knew better than to leave it behind and it's also my favorite one. "Don't worry, it's not mine."
He steps closer to me with his eyes never leaving my hand. "Whose is it then?"
"The man who just threatened to kill me and hurt Joey."
