Chapter Eleven
CACHI
It was nearly midnight by the time Rex pulled up to my house.
As he stopped the car, idling at the curb, I reached over and took his hand, offering the sincerest smile I could.
It was forced, but smiling was the last thing I wanted to do after the long, horrible day.
I hoped he couldn’t read the tumbling emotions I was feeling, but Rex Monroe was a smart man.
He’d tuned into me quickly. He smiled but it fell away fast as he tightened his fingers, holding me fast.
“It’s gonna be okay, sugar, it really is.”
Like I’d thought, he knew exactly how I was feeling. I nodded. “Thank you, Rex. If no for you…” I trailed off as my lower lip began to quiver. The tears came fast, too fast.
“Come here.”
A moment later, he’d shut off the car and reached over, pulling me into his lap, right there in the front seat.
“Rex! What are you doing?” The space between his body and the steering wheel at my back was so narrow that I was forced to lean against his big, hot body, straddling him.
He grinned up at me, tracing my back muscles with big hands as he stared into my eyes.
“You’re so beautiful, you know.”
I sniffled and then laughed, winding my arms around his neck. He knew exactly what to say to take my mind off things I really didn’t want to think about. “You say that many times, Rex.”
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to my collarbone. “I have to say somethin’ if it’s true,” he whispered, trailing his soft lips up the side of my neck. I shivered from the sheer potency of the man. Everything he said or did made me hot.
“Rex!” I cried. “Mi mamá!”
He lifted his face and glanced at the house before looking back at me, staring into my eyes for only a few seconds before lowering his gaze to my lips. “Your mama ain’t comin’ at the moment, Cachi. It’s just you and me.”
I chuckled, tugging on the strands of hair at the back of his neck. He looked up into my eyes and then brushed his lips over mine.
“I just want to kiss you right…you know you have a little freckle right on the corner of your mouth.”
I opened my mouth to say something but he cut off whatever stupid thing it was when he kissed me.
The press of his lips and the sheer need of his tongue was too much for me.
I gave in, opening my lips and kissing him hungrily.
It wasn’t fair. He knew exactly what to do, how to touch me when he wanted to drive me out of my mind.
There was no way I could’ve stopped him and really, no reason to.
My mamá knew I liked boys, and she’d liked Rex enough to feed him.
Come to think of it, she never did that.
Maybe she saw a man rather than the boys I brought home, dismissing them because I deserved a man, not a boy.
As I kissed Rex back, I realized he was the one she’d always wanted for me, someone who’d care for me, provide for me, and protect me.
I wiggled free, gasping as I separated our mouths, already hard and leaking as I panted.
We were going to steam up the car windows at this rate.
Then all our neighbors would know what was going on and I couldn’t let that happen.
This wasn’t the most modern of neighborhoods and I didn’t want everyone knowing a gay boy lived here and it to blow back on Tio and Tia.
They were too good to me…too good to us both. “Rex, I can’t. Mi mamá…I need to—”
“Go inside, I know.” He gazed at me with eyes filled with desire. He nodded slowly, sighing as he let go. “Okay.” He took hold of my ass and lifted me as if I weighed nothing, putting me back in my own seat. He stared at me for several seconds. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I offered him a tiny smile. “Thank you, Rex…for everything.” I gave his hand one last squeeze and then got out of the car.
He waited until I’d reached the porch and waved as he started the car.
I turned away and stepped inside the dark house, turning back one last time, watching him drive away before I shut the door.
I leaned back against the solid wood and blew out a long breath before reaching down and adjusting my hard dick in the ill-fitting sweats he’d given me.
I passed Mamá’s door and almost made it to my room before she stopped me.
“Cachi? Is that you, mijo?”
I opened her bedroom door, sticking my head in so she wouldn’t remark on my clothing or my feet, clad only in socks. If she saw what I was wearing, I’d be forced to explain and that was the last thing I was ready to do. I smiled at her. “Hola, Mamá.”
She started to get up but I waved at her. “Go back to sleep, Mamá.”
“Tienes hambre?”
“No, Mamá. I ate dinner with Rex.” It wasn’t a lie. I was only slightly caught off guard by her massive grin.
“Rex, huh? The big cowboy?”
“He no really a cowboy, Mamá. He only talk like one because he come from Texas.”
She was smiling as she nodded, relaxing back on her pillows and smoothing her comforter. “Si, and he like you.” She clapped her hands. “I am happy, Cachi. I think he is good man.”
I nodded because he was the best. “Si, Mamá.” I paused, trying my best not to blurt out everything that had happened.
I was exhausted and calming her down after I explained everything would take forever.
Besides, she didn’t need to know the particulars.
If she did, she’d never let me leave the house again.
“Everything okay?”
I sighed. “Si, Mamá. Solo estoy cansado.”
She nodded. “Yes, you are tired. Go to sleep, precioso.”
“Okay, Mamá. Buenas noches.”
“Buenas noches, Cachi.”
I closed the door and headed straight for my room, feeling dead on my feet.
Falling on my bed, I looked up at the ceiling.
I didn’t even want to think about everything that had happened.
If it hadn’t been for Rex, I don’t know what I would have done, especially with Agent Wallace.
I couldn’t believe he thought I’d had some kind of ties to a Mexican drug cartel.
All I could do was be happy that everything was over, now that Rex and his captain had intervened, ending the interrogation.
I laced my fingers behind my head as I stared at the ceiling.
I hoped I wouldn’t have nightmares, but every time I closed my eyes, thoughts of blood and brains came back to me.
Rolling over, I filled my head with thoughts of the way Rex had taken care of me instead.
My mamá was right. He was a good man, and I couldn’t wait to see him again.
With thoughts of Rex, I closed my eyes once again and this time, drifted off.
The insistent ringing of my phone jolted me awake.
I opened my eyes and realized that light was filtering into the room from the window.
I rolled over, glancing at the clock—it was barely eight.
When my phone rang again, I picked it up.
I groaned as all the memories of the day before came rushing back and swiped the phone. “Marcello?”
“Cachi? Hey, are you okay?”
I sat up, rubbing my face as I held the phone to my ear. “Si, I’m fine, Marcello. How are you?” I asked around a yawn.
“Sorry I woke you up,” he said. “I didn’t want to call you so early, but I was worried.
I tried your phone last night, but I guess you were still being interviewed when the rest of the guys were allowed to leave the federal building with me.
They drove us home in a bus. Why weren’t you with us? You’re not in trouble are you?”
“No, I no in trouble.” I swung my legs over the side of the bed and sat on the side. “I do not know why I last person to leave. Maybe they think I know those cartel people.”
“Really?” Marcello sounded shocked. “How? What did the FBI say?”
“Agent Wallace…he say he think I lied when I say I no know them.”
“What did you tell them?”
“I tell them the truth, Marcello. I say you get job for me.”
“Did they ask if I knew any of them?”
I had to think about it. “No, they no ask but then—Rex—he came in and stop Agent Wallace from asking more questions.”
“Wait, did you say Rex? Who’s that? An agent?”
I nodded, yawning again.
“Cachi?”
“Oh, sorry, si, Rex, is agent. He the man I tell you about, no pick me up.”
“Where did you meet him?” Marcello asked a little sharply..
“At club.”
“Let me get this straight. This agent, Rex, met you at Dance Hall Boys?”
I had no idea how that could be important to Marcello, but the question made me smile. “Yeah, but is okay. He nice man, not like Agent Wallace.”
“But Wallace didn’t ask how I found out about the job or anything?”
I frowned. “No, he no ask about you, Marcello.” I thought for a second. “How you find out about the job?”
“Cachi, sorry, I gotta go. I’ll see you later, buddy.”
“Okay, see you later, Marcello.” He hung up and I looked at my phone, wondering what that was about. What a weird conversation. I made a mental note to ask him again, the next time I spoke to him.
I rolled over and went back to sleep, knowing Mamá would’ve already left for work at Tio’s store.
I woke again around noon, did a load of laundry, and ate some leftover chile rellenos.
I had to be at work at three, so once I’d folded the clothes Rex had given me and put them in my bottom drawer, I grabbed my keys, and went outside to head to work, only then realizing my car wasn’t in the drive.
It was still parked on the street in Bel Air. I groaned.
Who knew what the bus schedule was or even if there was one that would take me into the rich neighborhood I just wanted to forget. I debated calling Rex and then dismissed that. Maybe Marcello could give me a ride instead. I called him and he picked up on the first ring.
“Cachi?”
“Hola, Marcello. I no have my car, but I have work at the bar. You are working now?”
“You need a ride?”
“Si. You are working?”
“No, I can swing by and pick you up.”
I breathed out a sigh of relief. “Si. Please. I supposed to work at three.”