Chapter 1 #3
Kid finds Celia’s presence oddly comforting, considering she’s made no move to free him. His mother had been a loving woman, always hugging and kissing him. He’d loved it as a boy, hated it as a teen, and aches for it as a young man. He shifts closer to Celia.
His uncle Tiny had never been one for heart-to-heart talks, even if it was his own brother, Kid’s father, who’d died.
Felipe laughs. “I’m not being nice, boy. I’m deciding what to do with you. The men who brought you have gone for a while. Your female companion has been found responsible, and her fate is out of my hands. That leaves me with you.”
Kid shakes within Celia’s arms. “If you already know I didn’t do it, why did you ask me?”
“I had to know if they’d broken you.”
“Is Nancy dead?” He doesn’t want her to be dead. No matter what Nancy has done, she’s paid. They’ve all fucking paid.
“She’s alive. Though, like you, she probably wishes for death. The two of you have angered very dangerous men.”
“Caleb, you mean.” Kid’s stomach cramps a little more. He hasn’t seen or heard Caleb since being taken hostage. He has no interest in a reunion. He recalls with too much clarity their introduction.
Felipe sighs. “Yes, Caleb is a dangerous man. Unfortunately, he is not the only man upset by this situation. Tell me—because I sense something else is in play—why do you suspect Caleb reacted so…passionately? Could it be he has affection for his captive? I’m curious.”
Kid recoils sharply away from Felipe’s stroking thumb. The affection is unwarranted and reminds Kid of the taste of his own tears and Tiny’s blood. Caleb and Felipe are obviously cast from the same mold, perverts who like touching his mouth.
Felipe chuckles and pats Kid’s bruised cheek, not ungently. “I’m an extraordinarily curious man…Kid.”
“She ran away from him,” Kid manages to say. “Tiny said we were helping her escape.”
“For a price,” Felipe accuses.
***
Tiny walks to the door and makes sure it’s locked before he addresses the club. “I hope you assholes are ready to make some serious money. That girl is worth a hundred grand once we get her to Chihuahua.”
Hog is the first to speak. “What the fuck, Tiny? You go out for a beer last night and come back with some girl? Who the hell is she?” he asks the last in an angry whisper.
Kid keeps his mouth shut, as usual, while the other guys murmur in agreement with Hog.
Kid is just as curious as everyone else, but Tiny is his only real family, so he tries not to piss the man off.
Maybe the girl just needs a ride and is willing to pay a lot to get there.
Kid shakes off his stupidity. No one pays a hundred grand for a damn ride.
“What are you?” Tiny admonishes. “You a bunch of pussies now? I took a ride over to the bar after I hooked up last night, and the bartender let me drink. So, he’s bringing in crates and I’m sitting there, having a beer and minding my own damn business, when this half-naked girl runs in screaming for us to lock the door.
” Tiny instantly commands attention. “Her and the bartender are shouting back and forth. Apparently, the girl’s being chased by some guy named Caleb, who’s been keeping her locked up for weeks.
Dude! She didn’t even know she was in Mexico! How fucked is that?!”
Hog sits up straight and lifts his hand. “Wait, wait, wait. You’re telling me that girl has people looking for her? And you want to take her with us to pick up our shit? Are you crazy, man? Have you lost your goddamn mind?!”
“I’m not done!” Tiny shouts and Hog falls silent.
“The bartender freaks and leaves me there with this girl. She won’t stop crying and asking me to take her to the cops, which is stupid, because the guy who took her could easily bribe the cops.
I’m in the middle of telling her this, when the fucking guy starts pounding on the door.
Girl hides under the bar and I cover her with the crates the bartender brought in. Then, bang! The door gets busted in.”
“Fuck!” exclaims Joker. “Man! I wish I’da been there!”
“Right?” Tiny laughs. He starts pacing, engrossed in his story. “So in walks this pretty-boy—no offense, Kid.”
“Fuck you.” Kid rolls his eyes and pretends—like always—not to be offended. The guys frequently like to remind him of his ‘cock-sucking lips’ and ‘bitch-looking’ face. It’s been old for a long time.
Tiny laughs and keeps talking. “He’s already blown through the door, so I know the damn shotgun he’s carrying is loaded.
I play it cool and pour myself a beer.” He grins.
“Right away, he asks about the girl, and I tell him I ain’t seen her.
We go through this whole thing, sizing up each other’s peckers, and then I pull my gun out.
This fucking guy…he doesn’t even flinch.
He tells me he’s willing to pay if I bring him the girl—he’s staying in that old plantation.
And then he leaves, just like that. He even shows me his back, like he didn’t give a shit if I shot him. ”
“Man! What? Serious?” Joker is enjoying himself immensely. “What are we waitin’ on? Let’s just give her back, let him pay us off. I ain’t ready to head out yet.”
Tiny scoffs. “Yeah right, that guy would just as soon kill us after we gave up the girl. Witnesses, stupid. Besides, I already made us a deal. Her friend’s willing to meet us in Chihuahua and pay.
I told her no cops or we’d kill her. All we have to do is get there.
” Tiny opens his arms wide and beams. “A hundred thousand fuckin’ dollars, guys. That’s double our usual take.”
“We ain’t in the kidnapping business, Tiny!” Hog stands abruptly, nose-to-nose with Tiny. “Cut that fucking girl loose and let’s get out of here before anyone comes lookin’.”
***
11. Felipe
“I didn’t care about the money,” Kid sobs.
“Uncle Mike…Tiny.” The boy appears at a loss for words and Felipe supposes he can’t really blame him.
The young man has been through quite an ordeal the past couple days.
“I couldn’t leave Tiny. He’s…he was my family,” Kid continues solemnly.
“We were just supposed to do what we always do: run a few kilos of cocaine and pot across the border. Once a month, like clockwork. No one ever gets hurt. No one ever…no one…and then…”
“Hmm,” is all Felipe plans to say on the subject, but then he adds, “You didn’t know with whom you were dealing.”
Kid shakes his head. He still doesn’t know. “Please, just tell me…are you going to kill us? Me? Nancy?” He’s completely despondent. Felipe finds it…rather adorable—not the young man’s suffering so much, but that he has no guile. He must have been a terrible criminal.
“You haven’t answered my question yet. What is it you want most? Death? Revenge? Your freedom?” Felipe’s tone is much too jovial for what he’s asking. It earns him a baleful look from Celia. He shrugs.
The young man considers Felipe’s question for a long while before he takes several deep breaths and shudders out a reply.
“I can’t have what I want most,” he whispers, still unable to open his eyes.
“There’s no one left to love me.” When Celia shifts him, he readily takes comfort in her awkward embrace.
“Devoted and sentimental,” Felipe muses. “There may be hope for you yet.” Felipe paces; his shoes make shuffling sounds along the concrete floor.
“He’s perfect for us, Felipe. Don’t you think?” Celia continues to place butterfly kisses on the boy’s head. Felipe enjoys seeing her this way. Saliva gathers in his mouth as he gives her an infinitesimal nod.
“You’re quite handsome under all those bruises, aren’t you, boy?”
12. Kid
Kid hasn’t thought much about his nudity, but he does after Felipe’s comment.
It’s hardly the first time someone has mentioned Kid’s appearance.
As far back as he can remember, he’s been complimented on his near-platinum blond hair and striking blue eyes.
Kid has his father’s strong build, but he’s looked like his mama from day one.
The girls have always gone crazy for him—and a few men too.
He remembers his dad poking fun at him over his pouty lips and inability to grow more than sparse facial hair.
Kid also remembers his father’s warnings about men who would take advantage.
More than a few times, some asshole has tried to grab his dick in a men’s room and had to be reminded what the word no means.
Regardless, he’s never thought of his looks as a bad thing, not until he found himself helpless.
He forces himself to remain languid in Celia’s embrace as he begins to cry, in the hopes it will solve his problems—no matter what his dad taught him.
13. Felipe
“The way I see it,” Felipe begins, “your options are limited. I can’t let you go, but I have no use for a hostage.
” Kid sucks in a breath and huddles closer to Celia as Felipe continues.
“You’ve trifled with some serious people, boy.
They’re the kind who buy and sell fine-looking creatures…
like Kitten, whom your friends have ruined, and occasionally, blond-haired and blue-eyed boys… like you.”
“Please,” Kid pleads, “just—”
“However! Let me finish, boy. Occasionally, masters find it difficult to part with their slaves.” Felipe cannot resist a pointed look toward Celia. “So difficult, in fact, they keep them for themselves and spoil them rotten.” Celia’s tinkling laughter brings a broad smile to Felipe’s lips.
“Am I spoiled, Master? Perhaps you should take me in hand and teach me humility?” Celia bites her bottom lip and drags her gaze possessively over Felipe’s form.
Minx! Felipe is just about to respond in kind, when Kid interjects.
“What does that mean?” Kid asks. “I don’t understand what you’re saying!”
“It means…Celia has asked me to consider you,” Felipe snaps. “Don’t interrupt. I have no time in my life for insolent pets. No matter how attractive they are. Comprendes?”
Kid nods.