Page 12 of Rage & Paradise
When my stepfather gave me the choice between being on my own or going there, leaving seemed like my only option.
As a last ditch effort, I cornered my mother and demanded to know why she wouldn't believe me. How she could let her new husband treat me like that. I don't know what I was expecting her to say or do. By that time, my mother had already become an alcoholic. She could hold it together most days but it was rare that I didn't see her with some kind of drink in her hand. Shit was just so much better when it was just the two of us but she didn't see it like that. That man was her salvation and she was willing to do whatever she had to in order to hold onto him. Even letting him be rid of me.
I remember the last time I set my eyes on her.She didn’t even look at me when she packed my bag. Said it was for my own good. Said El Refugio would make me a man. When I told her that I'd rather die than go to that place she looked up at me with glassy eyes and said, "then you better pack another sweater. It gets cold on the streets at night." Her hands shook, but her voice didn’t.
So at fourteen, I was on the street, on my own. All because Estrella was a dumb, self-centered cunt.
I hate her.
I hate the very air she breathes. She has had it good her entire life. The mere fact that she’s standing here, begging me to help her, makes me giddy with excitement.
She thinks she’s desperate now. She hasn’t seen what desperation really looks like.
SEVEN
Oro
I walk back into the clubhouse with a million and one ideas rushing through my head.
I’m going to make this as fucked up for her as I can without putting her ass in the hospital. It’s going to be a thin line for me to tread.
Vado, hell, all of the brothers in here, know not to take the club bunnies too seriously, but straight-up abuse isn’t something they’re going to allow, no matter what my history is with her.
“Coño, what the hell were you two doing? I don’t have time for this shit.” Vado walks in my direction from the small bar on the opposite end of the main room.
There were a few alterations made to the floor plan after we had to renovate because of the fire. One thing we all made sure came back was the portable bar and stool set. We have too many parties and get-togethers in here not to be able to have a bar set up.
“It’s all good now.” I nod my head and walk by him back to my seat. He stares at me for a second, probably trying to read the underlying meaning of my words. I don’t want him guessingshit, so I continue. “I just had to make sure our little Starlight here understood what she was getting herself into.”
My eyes snap over to Estrella. She’s got her arms crossed over her chest and her jaw is clenched tight.
Starlight.
She hates when people call her that.
“Pues? Does she?” Digger sits forward in his seat.
“She says she does, but I think we should give her the full treatment. This one is going to need to be run hard.” I smirk in Digger’s direction, and his eyes light up.
I’m basically giving him permission to act a complete fool. He was right before. If the new hires can’t handle us at our worst, then they don’t belong here.
“Come, front and center.” I shout over my shoulder, not even bothering to look back at her.
Estrella slowly makes her way, but it’s not fast enough for me.
“Are you intentionally trying to get rejected?” I snap my eyes in her direction. Her brows furrow in confusion. “When any of us call, you move your ass. Come now.” I bark at her.
Estrella jumps, startled, but that lights a fire under her ass, and she nearly jogs to stand where I want her.
For a second, she looks uncomfortable, but when her gaze drifts from me to the others sitting around, I see her I’m so perfect mask fall into place. It’s nearly scary that she can change that fast. No wonder my mother and her father never bothered to question her accusations of me. She’s a fucking pro.
I look down at the notes and papers I have in front of me—questions I had planned to ask all the women who came to interview. I toss them aside. I’ve got something else planned for Estrella.
Leaning back, I let my eyes roam over her body once again. She truly grew up into a fucking beauty. I knew she would. Evenas a young girl, she was pretty. There was no awkward puberty phase.
Now she’s standing in front of me with her grass-green eyes, dark brown hair, and pouty lips. A beauty mark right above her top lip somehow brings more attention to her mouth.
She’s got maybe a handful of tits and her waist is narrow, but the main attraction on her body is that ass. Her hips and ass are full, curving out like one of those fancy wine decanters.
