Slim shrugs. “It’s not a problem.”
“Then that’s settled,” El Jefe says, “Beth will take Slim’s old room, if that works for you of course, Diablo?”
I notice the look El Jefe gives him as he asks, probably wondering why he’s taking such a vested interest in my welfare all of a sudden.
“Yeah, thanks Slim,” Angel says, “you want us to help you move?”
“Yes,” I say, “please let me at least help you move, or help you decorate or something.”
Slim nods. “Sure.”
“Great,” I say, “anyway, I should probably be getting to class. Are you still okay to help me pick up my stuff later and sort out my contract, Diablo?”
It feels so strange to call him that after using Angel so often.
“You don’t need to worry about that,” he says, “Tank and I will drop you off at college and then go and deal with everything.”
“Yeah, leave it to us,” Tank says.
“Okay, thanks, I really appreciate it.”
They finish their coffee and breakfast, before we head out to the car, the same one Angel had borrowed the week earlier. Tank goes straight to sit in the back, leaving me with the passenger seat.
It’s different having Tank in the car with us, usually Angel and I chat, hold hands over the console, or rest a hand on the other’s thigh, but today we feel distant, and I don’t like it. I also feel empty at the thought that I won’t be able to kiss him goodbye when we get to the campus.
Angel must have also had the same thought, because after saying goodbye and making my way across the grounds, his voice calls out behind me. The next thing I know, I’m gently being pushed behind one of the large trees, so we’re hidden from Tank’s view while he presses me against the trunk and kisses me deeply.
As he breaks the kiss for a moment I manage to ask, “And what exactly does Tank think is happening right now?”
“He thinks I forgot to get your apartment key. It’s such a shame it’s gotten all tangled in with your other keys too,” he chuckles, “it’s taking forever to untangle them.”
He stays pressed against me, kissing me until I’m breathless, only stopping when the giggles and cheers from other students get too loud and draw more attention to us.
“Alright princess, I’ll pick you up later this afternoon, okay?”
Still reeling from the kiss, I can only nod and smile as he gives me another quick peck on the lips before heading back towards the car, leaving me trying to figure out what class I have and where I’m meant to be going.
Diablo
“This is where Beth was living?” Tank asks, as I park the car at Midtown Apartments.
“Yeah,” I say, slamming the car door behind me. “Come on, we’ll get her stuff first, then go and speak to the landlord.”
I lead him up to her floor and find the door still broken in; I’d managed to wedge it shut before we left, but still, anyone could have wandered in.
Tank doesn’t question how I know where everything is, which stuff belongs to her, and what needs to stay. I’m trying not to take my anger out on the things we’re leaving behind, reminding myself that breaking the table won’t solve anything. But the more I look around the place the angrier I get. I’d planned on trying to have a friendly conversation with the landlord to make sure Elizabeth gets her deposit back, but now I’m thinking he needs to be taught a harsher lesson.
“Come on, let’s find this asshole,” I say.
The office door cracks under my boot as I kick it open, wood splintering over the floor. I’m met by a weedy little man trembling on a sofa with his hands raised.
“What… what are you doing?”
“Not fun having your door kicked in, is it you piece of shit?” I say.
I’m across the room in a couple of strides, his collar in my hands as I pull him to his feet. The man’s eyes glance down at my patch and over my shoulder to Tank; his bottom lip starts to shake… fucking pathetic.
“I didn’t know anyone from the MC lived here,” he says.
