“Wow. Motherfuckers.” We looked at one another.
“They didn’t mean for it to go anywhere. They wanted to send a message. We are in a battle or the beginnings of it and don’t even know it,” Diego sighed, running a hand through his sexy bedroom hair as the furrow deepened.
“I feel like this is all my fault in a way,” I sighed, looking around the building.
“How do you figure that?”
“I mean, I don’t know us being together has started this.”
“Honey, this started because of two dicks in a bar who are starting a prostitution ring in a gang and you refused. I’m not letting you do that.” Diego grabbed my hand as we looked around inside the warehouse. Everything looked to be in order, nothing that my naked eye could pick up. “Sons of bitches. Anyway, let’s get out of here. I’ll be back in the morning. I’m getting Rick to have his boys stand guard here.”
I shook my head and walked hand in hand with Diego to the car. All of our secret night escapade plans had been ruined. I had a sinking feeling of desperation hit in the pit of my stomach. I wanted to go back home, to see if my brother was there. If he knew anything about this shit at all. This situation triggered memories of the lifestyle I’d shared with Carlos all over again...
We reached the car in silence and Diego gave me a funny look as I got in the driver's side.
“What’s wrong? You’re so quiet,” he said.
“I don’t know, it’s just a lot. I gotta get home and see what Palo knows about these guys. He has to know something,” I said desperately.
“Damn right he knows something,” Diego mumbled. I said nothing, which probably made the situation worse. I didn’t know what to say, to be honest. We drove back in relative silence as I thought about the situation. I stopped the car in his driveway and maneuvered to look at him in the moonlight. His demeanor made him look like a dark character out of Batman.
“Look, I gotta go home now. I know you think my brother did this but he wouldn’t be a part of this. I’m telling you. The quicker I can talk to him, the quicker I can get back to you.”
“Misty, I don’t know what to think right now. But if you’re lying to me, there’s going to be a different story going down. Find out. But you better do it now. Once Ryder finds out…oooweee, all hell is gonna break loose. Trust me.”
SEVENTEEN
DIEGO
I lay awake in my bed, listening to the sounds of the crickets outside my window. This moment felt a lot like La Playa – the old days. Worry about Misty crept into my mind. Her future and about her wanting to be a doctor. Whether I was being selfish pulling her into this lifestyle once again.
All I knew was that my body and soul ached to be with her. That was how I knew I loved her. I didn’t feel like this in my marriage, and I sure as hell didn’t feel like this with Crystal. I waited for her text message to come through. Twenty-five minutes later.
“I’m home safe Papi. Palo is here in the house. See I told you!”
“I’m glad you’re safe. xxxooo”
For all my tough-guy bravado I still didn’t have the kahunas to tell her I loved her. I looked out my window, searching for anything in the parking lot. I had no clue if they knew where I lived. This was getting beyond me now and I would need to call in the big dogs. I had no choice. There was no other way. I made up my mind and tried to go to sleep. I tossed and turned in a fitful state. I woke up in a cold sweat as I thought of the guys in my kitchen in La Playa. I wiped my brow and got up to go to the bathroom. I padded softly to the kitchen and grabbed a beer to calm the pulsating beat in my chest. I let it run down my throat as I ruminated over a game plan. Nothing came to mind quickly. I looked at the clock on the wall. Two-forty a.m.
I managed to lay my head down on my pillow and get a little rest. I woke up discombobulated. I tried to moisten my lips. My tongue was mighty dry. I turned over slowly and hung my feet over the bed to get my bearings.
I looked over at the clock. It said seven-thirty a.m, so I’d managed to get a little sleep. I took the rubber band from around my wrist and tied my shoulder-length hair back. I walked gingerly to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water. I stood over the sink and assessed how I’d begun shoveling the dirt in my own grave. I showered and got ready fast. My instincts told me to get to the warehouse as quickly as possible for some reason. I mounted my bike and let the cool fresh morning air wake me up as I rode over. I stopped off at one of my favorite cafés and picked up a breakfast sandwich. The smell of the bacon and egg hit my nostrils, making me salivate. I bit into it, ripping it to shreds before I got back on the bike. I dropped the wrapper in the trash and kept moving. As soon as I got into the parking lot, I felt something strange. Like the day was about to be different. The front of the warehouse was a reminder of the Molotov cocktail. I planned to wipe down the soot from the door a little later. I would wait for the tape to come through from the security company to see.
I went straight to the radio to turn it on and walked around the whole building on edge. This was the second time I’d packed my Smith and Wesson. I didn’t want to have to do that. But given the situation, I had no choice. I felt around my back to check it was still there and ran my hands over the smooth handle of the gun one more time. My palms were a little sweatier than I would have liked.
I couldn’t shake this eerie feeling I had. I walked to the office to turn the computer on. Nothing new but a message from Ryder with a receipt for the parts I’d ordered through the clubhouse. I moved some shit around the desk in restlessness. I was like a heavyweight boxer waiting in the ring. I had the other Honda to work on, but I just looked at it. I walked to the front of the warehouse again and took a rag to wipe down the walls.
That was when I saw it. The envelope tucked right under the front door. I picked it up, slid my hand over it and flipped it over in my hand. I opened the seal and inside was a note.
Did you enjoy that little fire we sent your way?
There’s more than that little spark to come if you don’t pay up in the next 48 hours.
This is a message from the Las Balas crew. We need $100,000 in cash delivered in the next 48 hours. We will be calling in to check on your progress. We hope you have life insurance.
Expect a phone call from a private number. If you don’t answer your warehouse will be burned down. Oh and if you don’t pay we will kill you.
Yours truly Las Balas crew.
