“Are we really stopping the wedding of Sanchez’s daughter?” Zig asks Rio. “You’ll be on his shit list for sure.”
“She’s gonna have your brother’s baby, Zig. That’s more important, don’t you think?” Rio doesn’t wait for an answer. “Mount up, boys. Let’s go get Blue’s baby mama.”
We roar out of the lot and race into town, backing our bikes to the curb in front of Melton’s Jewelry. When I come through the door, my brothers with me, the saleslady behind the counter backs up with fear in her eyes.
“Please don’t hurt me.”
“Doll, calm down. I’m here tobuya ring, not take one,” I say, holding my palms in the air.
Shelby pushes through to the front. “Don’t let these brutes scare you. We just want to get an engagement ring.”
The woman still looks nervous, but she gestures toward a glass case on her left. “Engagement rings are over here.”
I move to the case, and don’t have a clue what to pick. I glance at Shelby. “Help me out, will you, honey?”
She leans over the case, studying them all, and points. “That one. Do you know her ring size?”
“I don’t have a clue.”
She glances at the saleslady. “Can he exchange it if the size is wrong?”
“Of course. Most average rings we sell are either a six or seven. Does she have small hands?”
I shrug. “I guess.”
“Better get him a seven just to make sure she can get it on her finger,” Shelby suggests.
The woman looks at Blue. “That one is three thousand.”
Bandit whistles. “Damn.”
“I’ll take it.” I dig out a credit card and drop it on the counter.
In three minutes, I’m out the door with a little velvet box in my pocket.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Luisa—
The bride’s room is crowded as my mother puts the veil on my head, then hugs me. “You look beautiful, Luisa.” She pats my cheeks. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mama.”
“It’s time, ladies. Let’s go.” The wedding planner pokes her head in, and my bridesmaids and sister all hurry out the door to line up in the vestibule.
It gives me a moment alone with my mother.
“Mama?”
“Yes, dear?”
“Your marriage was arranged, wasn’t it?”
“Hmm mmm. By your grandfather.”
“Were you happy? In the earlier years, I mean. Did you love Daddy?”
She cups my cheeks. “I will tell you the truth, because it is your wedding day. I did not love him at first, not the way we do now. But he was very good to me, and we were happy, and then love came. It will be the same for you. Mateo is a good man. He will make you happy.”
