Palo’s face went beet red. “That’s not the same. The guy’s a safety risk and it’s not a good idea.”
“Why isn’t it? Why do gangs have to be rivals? Why is it they can’t just be connected? Since you’re so community-minded and all…” I jutted out my chin at him and stood sideways. I had silenced my brother. At least for the minute, anyway.
“Look, I’m going to get to the bottom of it. Let me handle things, it’s definitely too dangerous for you to be involved. Don’t even think about doing a goddamn thing.” Palo’s stern voice meant business as he pointed his finger at me. I watched as his small compact body stormed away and walked inside. I followed closely behind him. He grabbed his jacket from the couch out front without turning around. He lifted two fingers as a departing salute.
“I’ll be back later. I gotta take care of a few things.”
“I bet,” I punched out as he closed the front door.
I licked my lips and put two hands to my temples, breathing out an anxious breath. I looked around aimlessly for a minute as I worked out what to do next. Instinctively, I moved to the study where Palo worked from home sometimes. He had computer drives and IT discs and hardware stacked everywhere. I went into the office and shuffled the loose papers on the desk around, looking for clues. Anything that might be a lead to the names of two deathlords. Too many pieces of paper. Palo was a messy dude. I stepped back and looked at the desk. Where would I hide the details of two former chapter members? I pulled the two drawers open on the left. My heart pounded in my chest. If Palo walked back in the door, I would be dead meat. Top drawer, I stared at paper clips, a box of matches, pencils, tape and other stationery items. I pulled out the second drawer. A small notepad with two names on it. I held it in my hands and stared until the names forged in ink blurred from my gaze.
Jimmy Santos and Blaze Hernandez. Shakily I removed the notepad and took it with me to my room. I closed the door and switched on my laptop. Felt like a million years before my laptop loaded up.
“Come on,” I muttered to myself. I typed in both names. The shock of what I found made me want to vomit. The fat guy I saw at the club that approached me was part of an article. Jimmy Santos from Merced sentenced to two years’ jail for the sexual assault of an underaged minor. I clicked on images and yep, that was him. I clutched my stomach and forced myself not to hurl.
I clicked out and made myself keep looking on the internet. I typed Blaze Hernandez’s name in the search bar. No criminal records or charges that came up but images came up with none other than El Diablo. The depth of darkness in their eyes was hard to describe, but it permeated both their faces. The image came from Facebook. I clicked on it and it led to Blaze’s Facebook page. Tempted, I hovered the mouse over his name but didn’t click. I was in half a mind to bait the guy and create a fake page to corner him. I closed my eyes as my legs shook under the table. That might be the only way to draw them out and distract them from coming after Diego. I decided to call him. I peeked out my door again to check Palo wasn’t there. Only the whirring of the fan he left on in the front room. I walked down the hallway and turned it off.
I walked back to my room with my legs wobbly. I picked up my phone and dialed Diego.
He answered on the fifth ring. “Hullo?”
“Hey, baby. I have some news.” My mouth was dry like cotton.
“What news do you have?” His voice sounded tired and suspicious.
“I got the names of the two guys. Hopefully your crew knows them. But I have a solution if you let me get involved.”
Diego huffed on the other end of the line. “Mamacita! I told you no. Give me the names and we’ll take it from here. I gotta get in touch with Ryder, it's gone too far anyway.”
“The names are Jimmy Santos and Blaze Hernandez.”
Diego fell silent for a moment. “Jimmy Santos, Jimmy Santos… Why does that name sound familiar? I know that name…”
“He was brought up and convicted of sexual assault charges when he was younger. Served time in juvie from what I read.”
“Fuck! I should have known. That was the thirteen-year-old girl. Yoda told me about that a while back when we were at war with Las Balas. Shit’s making sense now. I gotta get rid of these fuckers. Get ’em off the motherfucking streets. I don’t want you near this. You hear me?”
“I know. Same thing my brother said.” I sighed helplessly.
“What? What is your brother doing?”
“Well, he said he took care of it. Obviously he didn’t. I was thinking I could set up a fake profile picture or something and catfish one of them. Should be easy enough and lure them into the open. You can handle it from there. That’s what I was going to suggest. You don’t have much time to waste, papi.” I realized I was biting my nails, so I dropped my hand from my mouth.
“I don’t even want to tell you it’s not like I haven’t been through this before because I have. We got it covered. But that’s not a bad idea. I spoke to the pro’ who knows who was setting it up and they were hanging around The Partition. Just might work. I want you to stay out of it. Thanks for the names. Let me work on it.”
“Okay. Please be careful. I feel- I feel like this is my fault.” I felt the tears welling up in my eyes.
“Baby, like I said, it’s not your fault. Are you kidding me? I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he said fiercely. “Besides, I love you. It’s too late now.”
“You love me?” I let the words sink in. “I love you too, Diego. Please be safe.”
“I will. I promise.”
NINETEEN
DIEGO
I shook out my shoulders, the knots forming in quick succession once I got off the call with Misty. I shook out my hands and opened my fridge as normal. I looked at the beers, closed it shut and re-opened it again, pulling one out. The whooshing sound let off as I popped the beer open.
