Chapter 20 #2
I didn’t want him coming into the section, causing problems with the nicest women I’d ever encountered.
So, I was going to him. Two bulky security guys had been guarding the booth, but that meant nothing to the man I was set to marry.
He’d not only kill the men in a club full of people, but he’d also hurt the ladies.
“Gotdamn her fiancé fine as a muthafucka! If that nigga kidnapping women and shit, I don’t really think it’s kidnapping, y’all. Them hoes going with him willingly,” I heard Mocha yell.
Moving through the crowd with my heart drumming so hard that it made my head rattle, I didn't stop until I was in front of him. I should have known when I didn’t answer for my father, someone would show up.
I didn’t think it would be the Rodríguezes and Esteban, my eldest brother, born two years after me.
We had never been close because his mother had drilled into all my siblings’ heads that I was nothing more than the daughter of a dead whore.
“?Sabe papá que estás en el club bailando como una puta? (Does father know that you are in the club dancing like a whore?)” My brother was the first to speak.
The ringleader held his hand up, silencing my brother, who zipped his lips like the puppet he was. Not even acknowledging Esteban, I kept my eyes on the man I was set to marry.
“?Por qué estás en el club en lugar de en mi cama, esposa? (Why are you in the club instead of in my bed, wife?) He reached up as if he was going to touch my face, but paused.
Felipe Rodríguez was easy on the eyes. All the Rodríguezes were attractive, but their reputation preceded them.
Despite his good looks, there was nothing about him that was desirable.
He was a ruthless, cold-hearted individual, and the day his father gave him the kingdom would be a sad day in Mexico City.
Things hadn’t gotten nearly as bad until Felipe came of age.
It was said that he would be ten times worse than his father, and his joy came from causing everyone else pain.
Taking a step back, I squinted my eyes. “Todavía no soy tu esposa. Soy libre de ir a donde quiera. (I am not your wife yet. I'm free to go where I want.)”
He took two steps forward and grabbed my arm, digging his nails into my skin and pulling me toward him. I bumped into a girl, who spilled her drink, but didn’t get a chance to apologize.
Felipe gritted his teeth as he pressed his nails further into my flesh.
“?Con quién carajo te crees que estás hablando?
?Crees que solo porque tu padre te envió a América te liberas de mí?
?Me perteneces, perra! ?Me respetarás o me casaré contigo hoy y acabaré con la pequena libertad que crees tener!
(Who the fuck do you think you are talking to?
Do you think just because your father sent you to America that you are free of me?
I own you, bitch! You will respect me, or I'll marry you today and end the little piece of freedom you think you have!)”
A blinding red light had Felipe’s men reaching for their guns, but they came up short. The club must’ve denied them entry with their weapons, so they had to come in without them. Following the red dot, Felipe released me and took a step back.
“Nah… Back the fuck back a few more paces, my nigga.”
I’d never been so happy to hear Shio’s voice.
The club immediately began to clear out in an orderly fashion, as if seeing Shio with a big gun was a normal sighting.
He was no longer in the lounge clothes I’d seen him wearing at the house.
Unlike Felipe, he was dressed all in white.
His white Dolce & Gabbana jeans fit perfectly, cuffed right at the top of his pure white Dolce & Gabbana sneakers.
The matching Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt hugged his six-pack, showing he put in work in both the gym and the kitchen.
The Jesus piece he once wore had been replaced with a thick diamond chain, I’d never seen him wear, with a cross hanging from it.
Felipe didn’t move another inch but kept his eyes on Shio.
“Esteban, pregúntale a este americano por qué juega con su vida interrumpiendo los asuntos de marido y mujer. (Esteban, ask this American why is he playing with his life by interrupting the affairs of husband and wife?)
Felipe didn’t speak English, so he was asking my brother to translate. Esteban swallowed, looking every inch like his mother, then looked at Shio and me before clearing his throat.
“He wants to know…” He started, trying to keep his voice steady. “Why are you interrupting the conversation he is having with his wife, and says that you are playing with your life by doing so.”
My brother knew Shio was fluent in Spanish. He witnessed it at our dinner table just as I had. I didn’t know why he hadn’t informed Felipe instead of translating, but I kept my mouth shut.
Shio cocked his head. “Wife? Nigga, what wife?”
The color drained from my face as my brother translated, and Felipe turned a shade of red. Shio wasn’t done, though.
“Solana… Hold your left hand up for me, back side showing.”
Without hesitation, I did as Shio said. I could see steam rising from Felipe.
“I don’t see no fucking ring. You ain’t got no wife up in here.”
Esteban translated, and I could have sworn Felipe grew horns.
“Te equivocas, estadounidense. Solana está dispuesta a casarse conmigo. ?Es mía y llevará mi apellido y mi linaje! (You are mistaken, American. Solana is arranged to be wed to me. She is mine and will bear my last name and carry my lineage!)
I had to hold in my throw up as my brother delivered the message to Shio, who already knew what Felipe had said. My nerves were shot, and I wanted to look back to make sure the ladies were safe, but my head was ringing too loudly to move an inch.
Shio, who was standing alone against five men, tossed his head back in laughter.
I could see his muscled abdomen tighten as he chuckled.
This was my third time seeing him with a gun in his hand, and even though it wasn’t pointed at me, it still made my panties damp.
Felipe’s rage and the thought of the punishment I’d face someday didn’t even cross my mind.
With his free hand, Shio used his thumb to flick his nose. Holding his hand in front of the sexy smirk that graced his face, he flicked the ring on his middle finger with the same thumb.
“I tell you what…” He looked Felipe square in the eyes and lowered his gun. “If you can call her name and she comes to you, I’ll get out of your business, and she’s free to go with you, ese (man).”
My brother’s face dropped as he gave repeated Shio’s words to Felipe. Felipe nodded once and shifted his attention to me. A menacing grin covered his face and made my skin feel as if needles were pricking me all over.
“Solana, ya sabes dónde estás. ?Vamos o si no! (Solana, you know your place. Let's go or else.)”
My spirits were out of tempo with the tense drawn face that greeted me. I’d been having the time of my life until Felipe and his grupo (posse) showed up. I couldn't control the spasmodic trembling within me. I’d felt like I was about to pass out until Shio’s words came.
“Solana, baby… Let’s go home.”
Not even looking at Felipe any longer, I turned on my heels and walked into Shio.
Wrapping his hand around the back of my neck, but this time much more gently than the day he found me at his home, he pulled me into his chest and stared down at me.
I couldn’t control my breath as we engaged in a stare-off.
He was so fucking handsome, smelled so good, and made me feel so safe.
Letting my neck go, he reached behind me and pulled my skirt down.
With my chest still pressed against Shio’s, he broke our gaze and shifted his attention back to Felipe. “Like I said, you ain’t got no wife up in here. I suggest y’all go back to CDMX because being out here not gon’ do nuttin’ but speed up ya death date.”
My brother didn’t translate, the men understanding the threat within the foreign language.
I heard them retreating until Shio’s body relaxed, indicating they had exited.
He grabbed my neck again, but this time more of my collar.
His eyes searched mine until he lifted my chin and tilted my head back.
“You good?”
I nodded, still too rattled to speak.
“Not my nigga goin’ toe to toe with Joker, Lil’ Joker, and Baby Joker.
Mexi-Mami, what type of shit you got goin’ on?
” Renello was chewing on a piece of chicken from the platter Jisei had ordered, while the rest of the men stood behind their women.
Even their Don was here, holding onto Dasani as if someone was going to steal her.
Metavello was also present, even though Discover was at home with their newborn children.
“You good, Shio? Them niggas gon’ be a problem?” Essex asked as he wrapped his arms around Missy’s waist, who was slowly moving her hips against him as if music was playing.
“Yeah, are they gone be a problem?” their Don probed. He was the only one in a three-piece suit while the rest of the men were in casual clothes.
Shio grabbed my hand. “Ion know. You tell me, Don.”
Their Don chuckled. “Yeah, nigga… Aite.”
“Aye, we know you just had a baby, so when are you cutting them fuck-ass hospital bands off? Ma told you that shit country as fuck!” Renello scolded his brother, while Shio escorted me out of the club.