“You can’t do shit with emotions,” Andres points out.
“You tried to have me killed!” I yell at Elmer.
Elmer just shrugs his big shoulders and drops in his chair. “You have no proof of that.”
“So the man who held me at gunpoint and gave me this concussion and bruises said your name for shits and giggles?”
“And trust me he was sloppy,” Andres added while checking his phone.
“It could have been Oran,” he points out like an asshole.
“You expect me to believe my best friend tried to have me killed to get at my wife? A woman who he didn’t know how she looked until she planned his wedding?”
“Also, watch how you lie on my son-in-law,” Andres threatens and puts his gun on the table.
Dondi slaps the table and I look his way. “Let me get this straight. Elmer tried to have you killed to make my daughter a widow so he can try to get her?”
“Yes,” Andres and I say in unison.
Dondi jumps up but Andres speaks again. “Cálmate, Don.”
Elmer glares at me like I wronged him. “This is your play? Pull the treason card because you don’t want competition?”
“THERE IS NO COMPETITION! YOU CRAZY FUCK! She’s my wife. Mine. You can’t have her. She doesn’t want you!”
“I SAW HER FIRST!” he hollered.
“Of course you did, sicko. You were there when she was born jackass. I was five by the way.”
“That’s it that’s enough!” Dondi stops the conversation. “Andres, is it true?”
“Very. His hired gun squealed. Good talk, but my time is valuable. I already texted Oran and congratulated him on his new position.” He rises and buttons his blazer. “We’ll see you outside, Elmer.”
“You two are going to side with this little shit over me?”
“My son didn’t break the law. You did,” Dondi hisses. “Now accept the consequences.”
It warms me more than I thought it would to hear Dondi refer to me as his son, at least someone wants to give me the title. I take a sip of my whiskey. I want to crack Elmer’s jaw but this is a neutral territory.
“I don’t need to side with anyone,” Andres points out. “You did this to yourself.”
Elmer’s face pisses me off. I want to beat his ass but the moment he steps outside he’s in the Bishops’ hands.
“What do we mean by ‘neutral’, exactly?” I probe as my fucking eye twitches.
“Meaning anything you’re thinking isn’t allowed, son,” Dondi assures me.
We look at each other. His eyes have the warmth of Karessa’s but are brown. I see the tightness of his lips and know he’s just as triggered as I am. The predator amongst us needs to go.
Dondi rises and I do as well, Elmer can’t sit in here forever. He has to come out at some point. I open the door for Dondi.
“I just need a moment,” I tell him.
Dondi gives me a warning look. “Follow the rules. They’re in place for a reason. There’s video but no audio. We’ll see if you break them.” He looks at the back of Elmer’s head. “It’s a shame El. You’d think with all the time we’ve spent together you’d at least respect us. While I’m glad Oran isn’t like you, I hate that he has to join us under these circumstances. You missed a relationship with a great kid.”
“Shut the fuck up, Dondi. You’re a traitor,” Elmer spat.
It’s amazing that someone can fail to see how they do things to themselves. Dondi shakes his head and pats me on the shoulder. Elmer has been a lost cause for a long time.
