“Okay, great,” Palo said and turned to see me straining to look out back. “Where do you wanna sit? Out back? Is that why you’re looking that way?”
Diego’s lion mane was what I saw first. He had his back to me. His hair gave him away. I saw the outline of his hand wrapped around a beer. Next to him was a woman touching his arm tenderly and gazing at him.
“No, let’s sit out front,” I said bitterly.
“Lady, what’s up with you? You look like you want to kill someone.”
Latino fire raged through my body as I thought about bum-rushing Diego and telling him where to go.
“I just saw someone I know, that’s all.”
“Oh no, no. There’s more to it.” Palo circled a hand to my face. “I can see it.”
We sat looking out to the street and the coastline. “Drop it, Palo. I don’t even know who she is.”
“You taking up smoking again? What are you talking about?”
I sighed. I didn’t want my brother keeping things from me so I had to abide by the same rules.
“I’m dating someone and they’re here with another female. I don’t know who it is though.”
Palo pounded his fist into an open palm. “Where is he? Point him out.”
“Let’s just order, Palo. Sit down.”
“No, c’mon, show me what he’s trying to replace you with. He’s loco if he doesn’t want to date you!”
Palo walked a couple of steps to the right side and saw the back of Diego’s head.
He sat back down and I watched his jaw twitch. He looked me hard in the eye as the salty breeze swept my hair forward.
“There’s no way in hell my sister is dating a direct rival from Outlaw Souls! No fucking way, you hear me!” Palo’s voice escalated and patrons turned their heads briefly to see where the sound came from. The fire in his eyes danced like a naked flame.
I held his forearm and pulled him into the seat. “Keep your voice down. We’re in the restaurant. Didn’t you say you have no rivals? The club is supposed to be going legit?” I raised my brow at him.
“It doesn’t matter, there’s tension there. We got beef with them. You can’t be dealing with them right now. El Diablo is dead because of them.”
My mouth formed an O. “He’s dead because of Outlaw Souls?” The waitress came to the front table, breaking up our conversation.
“You guys ready to order? Can I get you some drinks to start?”
Palo looked like he was about to axle-grind his jaw off. “No, we’re just leaving. No offense, this was a nice establishment, until you let Outlaw bikers in here.”
The lady stepped back from Palo’s tongue-lashing in surprise. I back slapped him with my hand.
“Palo! Let’s go now. I’m sorry about him. He didn't mean it.” I sent her my pleading eyes.
She put the pencil back behind her head, mumbled, “Okay,” then left.
We walked outside. Now I had to deal with an angry brother and a broken heart.
ELEVEN
DIEGO
“How about Santa Cruz? You can take me on a ride for old time’s sake.”
I winced tightly. “Now’s not the best time for you to be coming up here. I got a lot going on with opening the chapter and getting set up. Maybe in a couple of weeks, huh?” I was in the warehouse, counting parts for inventory.
