"And you"re positive this"ll work?""Well he gave me an address and told me to meet him there...alone. So yes, I think it will."
"A little c.o.c.ky aren"t we,
Mrs. Hernandez?"
She smiles,
"I could ask you the same thing, Mr. Hernandez."
I pick her up and she wraps her legs around my waist. I hold her up with my hands on the back of her soft thighs,
"You know Kaz, you are definitely the most beautiful, amazing, and wonderful woman i"ve ever met."
She nuzzles her face in the crook of my neck,
"I know. That"s why you proposed."
"Heh, no lie there. No let"s go meet Lina."
"Mhm, ok."
***
"Kazzie baby!"
"Lina!"
They run towards each other and hug.
"You literally saw her a few days ago..."
"Hey Ricky, how"s it hanging?"
"Stefano, what"s up man?"
He daps me up as we follow the girls to our table.
"So, I know you"re nervous about the wedding but i"ve been doing a little planning."
Lina snaps at me so that i"m looking at her,
"Look."
She slaps down a thick binder that reads, "wedding of a lifetime".
"Oh wow...you"ve thought of everything, Lili."
Kaz flips through the book.
"Well of course. My best friend is getting married!"
They giggle and talk amongst themselves as Stefano orders a drink.
"So, did she threaten you or are you here on your own?"
He chuckles,
"She may be my little sister but she"s mean as h.e.l.l. She needed a ride."
"Ah, I see."
I swishes around his cup.
"Hey uh, join me outside for a smoke, Ricky."
"I shouldn"t, i"m tryna cut back."
He looks at me with a stern expression,
"I really think you should."
I nod.
"¿A dónde diablos van ustedes dos? ¡Tenemos una boda que planear!"
(Where the h.e.l.l are you two going? We have a wedding to plan!)
"Chill. We"re just stepping out for some fresh air, we"ll be back in a bit."
Kaz catches my eye,
"What"s wrong?"
"Don"t know. I"ll be back soon."
"Be safe and is anything happens i"m ready."
"Wait...are you two talking with your eyes?"
"Whaa? No, let"s just keep looking at flowers. I think I really like the..."
Her voice fades as Stef and I head out doors.
"So, what"s up?"
He lights his cigarette and takes a puff,
"We got another offer. A better one."
"What?! Better than the one we have now?"
"Yup."
"And it"s legitimate?"
"Yup."
"Tsk, I don"t know man. Lina and Kaz are probably gonna spend a fortune on this whole thing and switching so soon might affect cash flow."
"I don"t think we should wait boss. We need to make moves now."
"I said no. Why are trying push this man?"
"I"m not,"
He tosses his cig on the floor and steps on it,
"I just think it would be wise."
"Is there something you wanna say Stef? You"re acting weird."
"They want her man. They want her bad and the only way they"d ease off is if they get her."
"What? Who the f.u.c.k is "they"?"
I can feel my blood start to boil at the idea of someone taking Kaz away from me.
"I think it"s Yoyo."
"THE f.u.c.k DOES HE WANT WITH HER?! I"LL f.u.c.kING KILL HIM!"
People in the parking lot are staring at me and a few hurry past me and into the cafe.
"Ok listen, does he know my relationship with her?"
"No. He just wants her."
"How the f.u.c.k does he even know about her?"
"Don"t you have a pest problem?"
"Yeah but not for long."
I think to myself for a moment,
"Hmm, i"ve got a plan. But I need you to really listen because I won"t say it again."
He stands up straight and looks me in my eye,
"Yessir."
***
"Hey, you two were out here the whole time."
Kaz grabs my arm with a big grin on her face. I guess the planning is almost done.
"Lets get going. We"ve gotta talk."
"What? But I wanted to spend the night with Lili. We were gonn"
"Kazmaria. We have to talk."
She scrunches her brows,
"Uh ok?"
She turns towards Lina and gives her a hug.
"I"ll call you later Lili."
Lina kisses her cheek,
"Alright Kazzie. Love you babe!"
"Love you too!"
She and Stefano get into his car and speed away.
"So, what did wanna talk to me about?"
She looks down at her feet.
"Weird. She never breaks eye contact with me. Is she feeling ok?"
"How do you feel about joining a gang?"
She shoots her head up,
"What? Didn"t I do that already?"
"If you"re referring to the Arañas Rojas, then no. But that"s not what i"m saying, I think I need you to be a rat."
"Interesting, speaking of rat, I have to go meet Toni."
"Mhm, ese maldito hijo de puta."
(Mhm, that d.a.m.n son of a b.i.t.c.h.)
I clench my jaw.
"The sooner I get him there, the sooner I can be done, and the sooner we get to talk about this whole, "i"m not part of Arañas Rojas" bulls.h.i.t."
"Hm, fair enough. You know you have to take a cab though."
She puts her forehead on my arm,
"I know. I just wish you could just kill him so we can go home."
"Is she whining? G.o.d, and I thought she couldn"t get anymore adorable."
"I know baby but-"
"We have to get a confession, then murder, murder, kill, kill. I get it."
I hail a cab and open the door for her, but before she gets in I grab her chin,
"Hurry back to me, beautiful."
I places a quick peck on my cheek,
"Yes sir."
She winks at me then shuts the door. I watch as her cab drives off.
"I"ll be there Kazmaria. Just wait on me."