Tank’s voice echoes from the top of the stairs, “Diablo thought that the best way to get over losing Beth was to go to the Pit.”
“Fuck,” Tipo says, “the Pit? I thought we all agreed we were done with that shit?”
“That’s not all,” Tank says, walking over to the table and slapping me on the back.
I wince as pain shoots through my torso, granted, I deserve it.
“Tell me,” El Jefe says.
I look up, making eye contact as best I can. “Firstly, I didn’t lose Elizabeth, she ended it. And… when I got to the Pit, Carter told me someone had requested me.”
“Requested?” Tipo asks, “But you haven’t been there for what, six months?”
“Alejandro was there,” I mutter, knowing they can hear me, but also knowing how much I’m going to disappoint them.
“You fucking pendejo,” El Jefe says, rubbing is hand over his forehead. “Right when we’ve got shit going on with Diablos Rojos, you decide to take out your anger over getting dumped on one of their men who flirted with her one time. For fuck’s sake, Diablo!”
“I know,” I say, “I fucked up… she’s got me all fucked up.”
“No way,” Tank says, “you’re not putting the blame on Beth for this.”
“She fucking ended it!” I shout.
“Yeah, and after seeing how upset she was, I’d bet my life on it being because of something you’ve said or done.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Enough!” El Jefe shouts. “It’s like dealing with fucking teenagers,” he mutters, and Tipo chuckles and nods. “Look, Diablo, I think Beth’s good for you, so of course I want whatever is going on with you two to get resolved. But I’m with Tank, there’s no way that her ending it is the whole story, so if you want her back, you need to figure that out on your owntime. But first, I need you to do some serious fucking damage control with Diablos Rojos, and then… you need to go and see Frank.”
“Frank? I’d already planned to go and see him this week, why are you asking?”
“He reached out,” Tipo says, “said he wants to see you.”
And even though none of us say it, we all know that can’t be good.
Chapter 23
Elizabeth
I’mwakingupaloneagain; I used to be fine with it, but I’m not anymore. I hate how ingrained in my life Angel had become in such a short space of time. I go through the motions of getting ready for college, but I can’t stop myself from thinking about the differences between when we were together and now.
Sitting in bed drinking coffee; we both take it black, but I add a spoon of sugar in mine. Enjoying a shower together, cuddling and getting all sudsy, sometimes more if we’d gotten out of bed early enough. Getting dressed, which was always a battle because he’d be trying to take my clothes off faster than I could put them on, but it always ended with us laughing.
Fuck, I miss him. I know giving him the ultimatum was the right thing to do, but shit, this really sucks. I’m grabbing my backpack when I hear Slim behind me, I’d assumed he’d left for the garage already.
“I’ll drop you off at college,” he says, like it’s a normal thing for him to do.
“It’s completely out of your way, don’t worry about it, I can take the bus.”
“You’ll get me in trouble if you do.”
I pause, turning to look at him.
“What do you mean… in trouble?”
“With Diablo,” he says, “I’ve been left with strict instructions; I need to take you and pick you up from college and then take you and pick you up from work.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
