Efren laughs again—a cruel one.
The whole table is quiet. I look to Raquel, and her eyes soften on me, and then I look at the patio doors.
“We should go,” I whisper under my breath.
“Nah, Almita, you stay. Patricio can get his old ass up and leave,” Silas says.
“Excuse me? Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” Patricio replies.
“If you have a problem with me, Patricio, we can handle it like men,” Efren says, leaning over the table.
Everyone watches in silence as the tension between the men builds. Silas leans forward, his face calm, but I can hear the challenge in his voice. “Shit, if you’re feeling froggy, Patti, then jump,” he challenges Patricio.
A sharp laugh cuts through the air, cold and humourless. Patricio stands, pulling a pistol out of his waistband andaiming it at Silas. Mireya and I both gasp. Thalia sighs while Silas smirks, looking up at the barrel pointed at him.
“Patricio,bájale,” Sandra cries out.
“No. This fucker I’ll tolerate for Thalia and Lucia.” The gun aimed at Silas shifts, aligning with Efren. “But this kid? Why is he on my fucking property, Adrian? You know how I feel about him.”
“This is my friend. Lower your fucking weapon,” Adrian warns his uncle.
“Nah, homie. It’s fine.” Efren puts his hand out to calm Adrian, but his eyes are fixed on the man in front of him. “Tell me, Patricio, what the fuck do you think gives you the right to judge me?”
“Because I know punks like you,” Patricio responds. “Adrian has so much fucking potential, but it’s friends like you that come in and want to ruin where he’s going or mooch off the inheritance he’s been offered.”
“I don’t need shit from Adrian.” Efren scowls. “In fact, I don’t need shit from any of you.”
In a quick turn of events, Efren stands, and Patricio clocks his gun. Silas pulls out a gun from the holster in his suit jacket and aims it at Patricio. Like a domino effect, Adrian and Ignacio pull their weapons and aim them toward Silas. Thalia pulls out two guns from under her skirt and points one at Adrian and the other at Ignacio.
Mireya gasps, Sandra cries out, and Raquel continues eating her meal like nothing has happened.
“Really, Thalia?” Patricio says, his voice lowering.
“Don’t think for one second I won’t defend my husband,” Thalia responds.
“I’m gonna go check on the kids,” Mireya says, swallowing hard. “Before I get back, I want everyone out of my house!”
Adrian drops his weapon when Mireya passes by himwith a cold glare. Thalia drops hers, and all the weapons disappear.
“Ya bruja, vamos,” Silas says to Thalia.
I stand and grab Efren’s hand. “Can we go please?” I beg.
He squeezes my hand and gives Patricio one last glare. We’re halfway to the door when I hear Kami behind us.
“Wait! Wait!” she calls. I turn to find her holding up a picture. “I made this for you.”
I look down at the drawing of me. One eye is much bigger than the other, but she’s captured everything else: my blue shirt, my evil eye necklace, and my sopa de maruchan hair.
“This is beautiful. Thank you, Kami.”
I give her a hug before I reach back out for Efren, who’s watching the whole thing quietly. There’s a storm building in his eyes, and I can tell that if we don’t leave soon, he’ll unleash it on everyone here.
He doesn’t say a word. His hand holds mine tightly as he opens the car door and clicks my seatbelt into place. The car roars as we exit the property.
“You okay?” I ask.
“That whole fucking family is cursed,” Efren mutters.
