Page 30 of Girls Night
“To where?” he asks.
There’s no point in lying to him.
He has eyes from here to the fucking border and beyond.
“Culiacán.”
Chapter Nine
Thirty minutes of begging and pleading, assurance that this wasn’t a suicide mission, a promise to call him every twenty minutes, and I finally got him to relent.
I understand his concerns.
He knows that I want revenge for what happened to my parents, and the only way I can get that is by going back to the place it all started.
I walk up the steps of the bus and head to the back, taking a seat near the window.
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that my wanting to go there was nothing more than a carnal feeling that’s been building inside of me since I was attacked.
I guess my body wants to feel normal again, and the only way to help it achieve that is to find a place where I can be myself without worry.
Granted, a few people might know who I am on sight, but since I’m alone, they won’t make an attempt on my life.
That is seen as a coward’s move, and every sicario, regardless of who they serve, would rather die than be seen in that manner.
An hour and a half and numerous phone calls later, I step off the bus with one hand in my pocket and the other shielding my eyes from the sun.
I’ll just walk around until I find something that catches my attention.
As I expected, a few people recognize me, which is amusing, considering I haven’t been back here since my parents were murdered.
Perhaps, in their praising my father, they saw a picture or two of Tati and me. Something that he’d have the head of the perpetrator for.
“Hola,” I greet a little girl standing outside of a mom and pop shop.
The way she smiles up at me as I walk by her, almost in awe, makes me hope and wish that she never has to become what I have.
She looks so happy to have just been acknowledged that I shake my head when she runs back into the store as happy as I once was at her age.
I’ll pray for you,I think, as a tinge of sadness begins to well inside of me. I linger in the doorway of the store for a moment, then smile when I see her mother hugging her.And I’ll pray for her too.
As soon as I start to walk again, the phone in my side pocket begins to vibrate. Instead of feeling slightly annoyed, I feel grateful to know that my father gives a shit about me.
Especially in a place that he knows I consider as the scene of the crime.
“I’m fine,” I assure him softly as soon as I answer his call.
“I wanted to be sure,” he replies gruffly. “You were supposed to call me ten minutes ago, Sofi.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Where are you?”
“Just walking around. Staying out of trouble like I promised.”
He sighs heavily, “Okay. I love you, mija. Be safe.”
He hangs up before I have a chance to tell him that I love him too, but he knows that regardless of me saying it or not.
