I wondered if a calming cup of tea might settle my nerves. I boiled some water on the stove and waited for it to whistle. No sound came from the other end of the house, but I knew Palo was here. I peeped out and down the hallway. The light was on in the office. The pot whistled and I threw a tea bag in and let the water trickle into the cup. I heard my phone beep and my stomach jumped a little. I quickly poured and went back to my room. I looked at the blue screen.
“Give your brother the heads-up. The chapter might get raided. I’m trying to redirect. Call you later k.”
I nearly dropped my cup. Some of the water splashed on my hand as I read the message again. Shit. I had to come up with something quick.
“K. Can you talk?”
“Yeah I got a few.”
I rang his phone and sucked in a deep breath.
“Hey, papi.”
“Hey, mama. How you holding up?”
“I’m not. I’m worried sick.”
“I know. Listen, I'm trying my best. I don’t think they will. I know those dweebs are trying to start the war and get the money.”
“They are. If I can get my bro’ to concentrate on finding them. I will. I have a plan.”
“Babe,” he pleaded.
“No, wait. Hear me out. I’m going to tell Palo they’re following me. That way he can work on finding them. I can find out where they live. I can let you know,” I begged Diego.
“Hmm. Might work, is he there?”
“Yep. He’s in the office. I’m going to talk to him. I’ll text you.”
“Baby, be careful. I don’t want this backfiring.”
“If Outlaw Souls start a war…what’s going to happen between us? We have to stop it!” I cried. “We’ll never make it.” Short breaths made it hard for me to get my words out.
“That’s my girl. Okay. Make it work. I’ll do what I can on my end. Keep me posted.”
“Diego. Please stay safe. I love you.”
“I love you too, lil’ mama.” The phone clicked off and I walked out to see Palo. As I approached the door, I heard him talking on the phone.
“The warehouse is at the back of Merced? Okay. That’s it. Time for a visit from Las Balas. Nobody messes with my sister.” I coughed loudly so he could hear me and watched him nearly fly out of his chair. The seat moved under him and he had to place his two hands on the table to regain stability. I just looked at his bald head. “How much did you hear?”
“All of it. I need to talk to you about something.”
He pointed to the spare chair in the office. “Have a seat.”
“I know who the two guys are.”
Palo’s two hands were in the shape of a triangle as he pressed his fingertips together. His brow was furrowed into a V shape, looking at me. “No shit.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “I mean Jimmy and Blaze, right? They aren’t gone. You didn’t do your job. They’re still following me.” I cringed slightly as I watched my brother's face. It was so hard to lie to him. I wondered if I should have just told him the truth. Too late now, I was already trapped in the lie.
“What the fuck! How? What did they say?” He sprayed spit towards me and it landed on my leg. I wiped it off quickly.
I licked my lips and said to him, “They threatened to follow me to campus. I looked them up. Why didn’t you tell me Jimmy Santos had a record for sexual assault? Now he’s after me?” I pointed to myself.
My brother looked down at his hands in guilt. “I didn’t think you needed to know that.”
“How the fuck didn’t you think I needed to know? Where are they staying? Who did you get to run them out of town?” I pressed him.
