"Color me impressed Carlos. I mean I know that I'm fucking crazy but you, you took the fucking cake with this one."
"Christ man, that wasn't the reaction I was hoping for!" I slap my hand against my face. "I just thought a little change in plans was what we needed."
"Well we do but it's a big friggin' risk."
"I understand that but- espera un minuto. Tenemos una pista sobre Ricky y estoy seguro de que ya ha encontrado a Kaz, así que ¿por qué diablos sigo aquí?"
(Wait a minute. We have a lead on Ricky and I'm sure he's found Kaz already, so why the hell am I still here?)
I yell at myself for waiting so long to notice. I jump up from my seat and the chair makes a loud noise that startles Yoyo. "Aye man, whatever you just said better be pretty fuckin' important. I bout pissed my mothafuckin' pants." He laughs and follows after me as I head for the door.
"If that hombre you were talking about earlier is still alive then we're taking your car. ¿Sí?" He waves his hand, "Well if course he's alive silly goose! Oh shit, is he?" His question seems aimed more towards himself than me. "Bah whatever! I'm sure he ain't lose that much blood." We walk to the parking garage and Yoyo pulls open his trunk. Inside is a man who's laying on a trash bag huddled up in a little ball.
"Holá pinchazo! Nice to see you're still kickin' back here." The man rolls around and my breath gets caught in my throat.
"Hola hermano. No pensé que te estaría viendo o me habría vestido para la ocasión."
(Hello brother. I didn't think I would be seeing you or would have dressed for the occasion.)
Yoyo looks at him them back at me. "Wait, y'all two know each other?" I sigh and hold the index finger and thumb to my head. "Yoyo, this is Pedro. My youngest brother and the biggest dent in our plan."
"Wait wait wait! We might can flip this bitch and have him work for us!"
I look at him in utter confusion. "So you have no questions? Like at all?" he looks up and strokes his beard, "Nope. Nothing. I don't care about family squabbles between other people because as you may already know, I have one too fucking many of my own."
"Huh, solid reasoning now explain."
"It's just like I said. Let's flip him out!"
"Um, you do know that I can hear you right?!"
"Te meteré un destornillador en los oídos y te reventaré los tímpanos. Si quieres mantener tu audición, cierra la boca."
(I'll stick a screwdriver in your ears and pop your eardrums. If you want to keep your hearing, shut your mouth.)
He snaps his mouth shut and scoots closer to the inside of Yoyo's car. "Damn, what the hell you say to him?"
"Just kindly asked him to hush. Now on with your idea."
***
"Let go! You're hurting my wrist!" I pull away but I can't seem to break free. His grip only becomes stronger and I cry out in pain. "Careful mami, it'd be a shame if one of your pretty little bone accidentally shattered."
"Gotdamnit! Where the hell are you taking me?!"
"Doesn't matter. Now shut up before I get pissed."
"You think I care if I'm making you mad?" He stops walking and a vein on his neck pops out, just like I thought it would. Looks like I'm doing something right. "Listen, I don't know why you're here or why you're dragging me along but there's still time to let me go. I'll leave this town and you'll never have to see me again, I swear. I know you hate me, just let go."
"How far along are ya know, huh?" He ignores my pleas and I rub my hand over my belly. He turns around and stares at me with those beautiful golden eyes that I've missed so much. "I know it's been a few months but you're already starting to show. Are ya excited Kazzie baby? Are you ready to become the mother of my child?" He smiles but nothing about it is friendly. The face he's making is one I remember all too well, the insanity and rage he's holding back is only seconds away from spilling over.
"Almost five months... Wh- why do you ask?" I begin to feel uneasy as his gaze unwavers and his lip snarls upwards.
"You've been away from me for five months. You left me alone and hurt for five months. You took our child and hid from me for five months. You were gone...for five. Fucking. Months." He lets go of my arm and squats down and covers his head. A loud and bone-chilling cackle echos through the empty hallway as he just stays there. "I can't believe that I loved you."
'Loved? Does that mean that he's done with me now?' My vision becomes hazy as tears fill my eyes. I thought I was stronger now, that no matter what he said or what he did I'd never let him get to me but I never expected this. I didn't predict that hearing him say seven stupid little words would utterly destroy all I've worked so hard to become.
"Aw, did I hurt your feelings mami?" He stands up and wipes away a stray tear on my face but I I'm too scared to react. He strides closer and lowers his head so that he's close to my ear. "I ain't falling for your bullshit tears anymore babe." His dark tone causes the hairs on neck to stand. "It's my turn to make you hurt my beautiful wife." I feel his arms begin to snake around me as I'm pulled into his chest. He strokes my back and inhales sharply then grabs my face. "But don't worry dear wife, I don't plan on laying a single finger on you." He smirks, "Unless you want me too of course."
He pulls me back in for another hug and I just stand there. My head and my heart are telling me two completely different things yet one still manages to outshine the other. My body stops shaking and my crying stops. Just what the hell do I do now?