“Surely it’s worth a shot?” Pretty Boy says.
“Is everyone on board with trying this?” El Jefe asks.
We all speak at once in agreement, “Sí.”
“Good. Tipo, Walrus, you start reaching out to ex-members, we need a list of ten people who want extra work and would be willing to help Diablos Rojos on their runs, ideally more if we can find them. If we can take them extra people, it’s more likely that Pedro and Alejandro will go for it.”
“Shit,” Tipo says, “this could really work. Great thinking, Slim.”
Slim clears his throat. “Well, it wasn’t actually me, I may have had some help.”
We all look at him, but he just nods at me. I know in that moment that he means Elizabeth, it’s her plan. Even though we aren’t together, she found a way to help me get us all outwhole. I already knew I’d need to make a big gesture to earn her forgiveness, and now I know what I need to do.
“There’s something else I need to talk about,” I say, “something separate from Diablos Rojos.”
“Okay,” El Jefe says, “the table’s yours.”
“The reason that Elizabeth and I broke up… it was because I reacted badly to finding out that Donovan is gay.” I look up but none of them are reacting yet. “That weekend after my birthday, he was going to Miguel’s house to tell him and my mom, but he wasn’t expecting Elizabeth and I to be there. He was terrified of telling me, because he thought I’d react, well, like Frank… and I guess I did.”
“Fuck,” Pretty Boy says, “he’s gay? Now I feel bad for making all those jokes about him picking up college chicks… I had no idea.”
“Elizabeth was the only person that knew,” I say, “she kept his secret from the moment they met. And the reason I’m telling you all, is because Donovan’s my blood, and I don’t give a shit who he loves, or fucks for that matter. I know we have a rule about members and shit, so if me having a brother who’s gay means I can’t be in the club—”
“Diablo,” El Jefe interrupts, “is that what you think of us?”
I look up and most of them are smiling at me.
“Yeah,” Tank says, “rules can, and should change. Shit, if you’d kept the same rules as when the club first started, I wouldn’t be a member.”
“Yeah,” Pretty Boy says, putting his arm around Tank’s shoulders. “And we’d be lost without you now, brother.”
“They’re right,” Slim says. “Donovan’s our boy; he’s not a member, but he’s family. Fuck the rule.”
“Absolutely,” Tipo says, “fuck the rule.”
“Well we might as well make this shit official,” El Jefe says, “let’s put it to a vote. All those in favor of reviewing and abolishing shitty historical rules, say Sí.”
“Sí!” The word rings out unanimously around the table and I can’t stop a grin from forming.
“Then it’s agreed,” El Jefe says, hitting the gavel against the table.
Elizabeth
I’m sitting on the couch in Slim’s living room, reading over the message I got thirty minutes ago from Brian.
Sorry to hear you’re not well. I’ve found cover for your shift for the week, so we’ll see you next Monday. Listen to the doctor and make sure you rest up.
What the fuck is he talking about?
I want to respond and ask, but at the same time, I’m curious… someone has clearly gone to some lengths to arrange for me to not be in work. But while the thought of not working at the diner for a whole week is incredibly tempting, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous that something bad is going on.
I messaged Slim and asked him if he knows what this is about; he just told me to stay put and not to go anywhere. Which, yeah, doesn’t help my anxiety at all, but hopefully I’m safe here at least. The sound of two bikes pulling up onto the driveway draws my attention and I go to the window to peek through the curtain. The one bike I can see is definitely Slims and my anxiety lessens slightly knowing that he’s here.
When the front door opens, I call out, “Slim, what the fuck is going on? Has something bad happened?”
“No, nothing bad,” he says, stepping into the light of the room, and that’s when I see Angel standing behind him.
It’s only been a week since I saw him last, but the memory of his cold look as he walked by me in the clubhouse sends chills down my spine. His face is closed off today too, I can’t make out what’s behind the darkness in his eyes. The chill I’m feeling is countered by a warmth that also floods my body, like two waves crashing together. I catch the scent of his leather cut, take in the shape of his body, the way his hands hang loosely by his side… The energy he gives off is palpable, making it hard for me to breathe.
