I had thought it was just drugs and prostitution. And whatever corruption occurred in our city with Carlos as the mayor. But Javier had explained last night that there were seven jefes—seven different leaders working as one criminal organization across Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. I had no idea what they actually did other than knowing my brother was a drug dealer, Carlos was one of the seven leaders, and they also owned gentlemen’s clubs in the Austin metro area. And, apparently, there was such a rank as a sucesor, something my brother had been working towards for a while.
I couldn’t help but ask my brother what other shit they were making him do. I thought getting him tipsy with beer would loosen his lips, but he didn’t divulge anything. If he could withstand getting his fingernails ripped out during his loyalty test, it must have been easy keeping secrets from his little sister when she drunkenly whined for answers.
And, of course, drunk me last night had to remember the idiot I had tutored the day before. In true brotherly fashion, Javier had to ruin my piss party. Javi was really excited for me because he thought I was making a friend. I obviously told him to go fuck himself. And he disgustingly replied he would, if we didn’t share a fucking bedroom.
The doorbell rang and I heard someone answering it. I sighed in annoyance and decided to hurry up and finish preparing everything so I could get to my room.
“So, what’s your friend’s name?” Javi asked as he grabbed the tortillas from the fridge. “You never mentioned. Although you did call the kid a fucknugget.”
I rolled my eyes and traded him the tortillas for an onion. He nodded in understanding knowing that if I cut it my eyes would tear up. I couldn’t help but eye his bandaged fingertips as he wrapped them around the handle of the knife. He had shown me his bloody nailbeds last night and the mental image made me shudder. At least Javi had never used that technique during one of my pain-tolerance tests, I definitely would’ve thrown up.
“Well?”
“He was an idiot,” I stated plainly as I placed a row of tortillas on the stove. “And his name is Nox.”
“You know, not everyone can be as smart as you,” he chuckled.
“No, I mean he acted like a fucking idiot. I know we’re not exactly the poster children for politeness, but isn’t it common sense that you don’t fucking stare at someone with a deformity?”
He rolled his eyes at me, “Well, like I said, not everyone can be as smart as you.”
“He was a fucking dick. I’m gonna have to wear, like, fucking sunglasses or something if he won’t stop staring at me.”
“Shy,” he called, making me look over at him. He pointed with the knife in his hand to the stove and I cursed under my breath, quickly flipping the tortillas that had bubbled up. “So, you must not have scared him off if you’re expecting to see him again this week.”
“Anyways,” I sighed trying to change the subject, “how was your day?”
“Eh,” he shrugged, pausing his hand that was holding the knife to look in the direction of the doorway.
My stomach flipped and I froze in place for half a second before squashing the fear.What the fuck is he doing here? He’s never come to our house.
Standing in a sleek black suit with a navy tie was Carlos Solis, one of the seven leaders of the Los Siete ‘empire’ and current lead in the polls for the Spring election for mayor. Apparently, people liked him and wanted him reelected.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he chuckled, winking in my direction. “Looks like you’re celebrating, no? Grab me a beer, sweetheart.”
Were we celebrating Javier’s new rank? I thought it was because he was trying to apologize without actually apologizing. Fuck, what kind of sister was I that I hadn’t realized he might actually have been proud of himself? Javi clearlyreallywanted to be Carlos’ sucesor if his stitches and fingernail less hands were anything to go by. Should I have been congratulating him?
“Why haven’t you answered my calls?” Carlos asked my brother.
Javier cursed under his breath, grabbing his phone from his back pocket to check his notifications.
Carlos suddenly gripped my brother by the back of the neck, pulling him in close to whisper into his ear. I couldn’t make out what he was telling my brother, but whatever it was made Javi tense and nod his head.
When Carlos pulled away, I took the opening to respond to his command. “You have two hands. The fridge is literally right fucking next to you.”
I reeled, stumbling back a step as my head went swiveling to the left.
Fuck!
He slapped me. He fucking slapped me. I ground my teeth together with rage as I slowly turned to eye my brother.
“Watch your mouth,” Javi said with a cold stare.
I swallowed, shocked that Javier had punished me in front of Carlos. I turned my gaze to Carlos, who was studying Javier with a cocked head. He suddenly cleared his throat and straightened, looking at me.
“It’s alright, Javier.” Carlos smiled, his teeth unnaturally straight and white, as stark contrast to his brown skin and dark hair. “I see that your smart mouth wasn’t affected by Peter, Shiloh.”
I watched Javier’s jaw tick with tension, his hand gripping his phone so tightly his inked knuckles were turning pale.
