“Deal,” I say quickly, ripping myself from his grip. Mickey’s eyes widen just slightly with delight and laughs.
“I’ll be in touch,” is all he says before he disappears into the crowd. He fucking vanishes as if he’s a ghost.
“Cariño,” Ty’s voice fills my ears and chases all the ickiness I felt from having Mickey that close. “Baby, are you okay? Where’d he go?” He’s breathing heavily, bleeding from his eyebrow, nose and lip, and all he’s worried about isme. His eyes are taking in everything around us, searching for Mickey and keeping an eye on the crowd at the same time.
“Yeah, I’m okay. It’s fine, he’s gone. Just wanted to tell me what a piece of shit I am, but whatever,” I lie, turning it back to him. “Are you okay?” I ask, looking him over, cataloging all the injuries and bruises that are already forming over his ribs and arms.
“I will be. We have to get out of here, where’s Mario?” He cups my cheek, pressing a bloody kiss to my forehead before looking around.
“I don’t know. He’s been gone since the first few minutes. Let’s get your winnings and get out of here.”
Just as I say that, Mario comes crashing into us, obviously high as fuck if his blown out iris’s are any indication.
He starts talking to Ty quickly in Spanish, so quickly and slurred I can’t understand anything he’s saying, but Ty must because he pulls me into his side and snarls at his brother before answering him. He’spissed. Mario shrugs and tosses Ty the car keys before wandering off.
“Come on,vida, let’s go.” Ty fists the keys hard and I see the blood start to drip down his knuckles from the open cuts.
“He’s not coming?”
“He’ll find a way home.”
“Let’s get your cash,” I say, trying to steer him towards the middle where the Ringmaster sits, but he just shakes his head and pulls me quickly towards the staircase that will lead us out of here.
“Mario has–had–it,” he says through clenched teeth and I gasp softly.
“No.” Just that one word. Just that. I clench my fists and turn back into the sea of people intent on finding his brother.
“Roxie! Roxie, wait!” Ty’s calling for me behind me, but I won’t let this shit slide. If it ruins his family’s opinion of me forever, I guess I’ll have to live with that. But I won’t let Ty live with this.
I can feel Ty following me, but I’m faster.
I see a stumbling head of dark hair and dart that way. When I get closer, I see him making a beeline towards a group of hookers. He’s young, probably too young for the kind of life he’s started on and it almost makes me feel bad, but at the same time, he’sgotta learn.
“Mario!” I call out, and his stumbling ass turns around wobbly, hands out like he’s trying to figure how to stand without falling.
“You!” He points at me like we’re friends and I storm up to him, socking him right in the eye. He crumples like a piece of paper and falls to the ground, crying and holding his face. Goddamn, Ty really protected him fully. A hit like that wouldn’t even phase Ty.
That thought makes me furious. Ty shouldn’t have had to takeall those hitsfor him.
“What the fuck, you crazy bitch?” he screams, tears streaming down his cheeks and I’m already proud of the bruise forming. But I’m not done.
He tries to move back away from me, but fuck that.
I stalk over him, grabbing him by the shirt and pulling him closer before hitting him again. His head knocks back and he falls against the dirt, eyes wide in fear but he’s too fucked up to try and defend himself.
“How dare you! Your brother’s done nothing but care and provide for you and this is how you repay him? Taking the money meant for your family and spending it on what? Blow and a quick fuck because you know that’s the only way someone would ever touch you?” His lip curls up in a snarl, but I press my knee into his chest and step on his hand while holding his other down onto the ground easily. He’s so weak, it’s not even funny.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,perra,” Mario snaps and I don’t need to know Spanish to know that he’s cursing me out.
“I know enough,” I growl, the words leaving my lips angrily and intentionally. “I know he’s killing himself to help you while you donothing. I know he loves you guys regardless of the fact you’ve shown himnothingin return. I know he started fighting again to provide for you and your family even though you wouldn’t lift a goddamn finger. You don’t deserve him, but you’re a lucky fucker. Because Ty’s decided he cares for you so he’ll do everything he possibly can to help you.” I take a deep breath to try and steady my anger. “But me? Ilove himand I refuse to let you treat him like this. So, the next time heputs his life on the lineto help keep food on the table and you think it’s a good idea to buy some drugs with that money, I hope you remember this. Because next time, you won’t walk away with a broken nose. You’ll be crawling out on broken knees. Understood?”
His eyes widen more with each word I say as I pull him higher and higher, my knee on his chest making him hinge, before he nods in fear.
“Good,” I snap, dropping him roughly onto the ground. “Don’t you fucking forget it or you will be dealing withme.”
He doesn’t move as I push into him a little more, just enough to cause a wince and a wheeze from his chest.
I turn back around, intent to go find Ty, but he’s right there. Staring at me with narrowed eyes, his nostrils flaring, his arms at his sides bloody and clenched tightly. My heart stops and it finally catches up to me; what I’ve done, what I’ve said, just how much I overstepped.
