Tug (Irreparable 3)

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“Right? You’re okay with your clients, the people you work with, knowing the girl you’re in love with used to be a prostitute?”

He grabs my arms to stop me from pacing. “Yes. I don’t give a shit. My publicists will smooth it over in a day.”

My mind drifts to my responsibilities. “Oh, my God. Javier and Papa. I have to go to them. I need to get back to Mexico, now.”

I text Davey that I won’t be in today and toss my phone in my purse.

“What is going on?” Tug asks, trying to pull me against his chest. I resist and take a step back. “You’re scaring me.”

Calmly, I say, “You should be scared.”

“It’s Javier’s father, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Is he looking for you?”

“Yes.”

“He wants Javier? Why are you keeping him from him?”

“He doesn’t want Javier. I need to go to Mexico, please.”

“No. You aren’t leaving. Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on!”

His arms get around me, and I thrash against him.

“This will never work. I can’t be with you. I’m going to Mexico to get Javier and my papa, and then we’re moving far away. I’m sorry.”

“Fuck that! You aren’t leaving me. I can help. Tell me.”

I push against his chest and he lets me go, his expression hurt, and it’s all my fault.

“There’s nothing you can do. Let me go. You can’t spend your life trying to build me up. My life is always going to fall apart. People like me don’t get ahead. And people like you are supposed to be fine with it. This was never going to work and we never should have forced a relationship. I made a mistake.”

“We are not a mistake and I refuse to let you fall apart.”

“You don’t understand. Eduardo will kill you, me, Javier, and anyone else who gets in his way. He’s ruthless, and I don’t have what he wants to stop him, so it’s time for us to split town.”

“What does he want? I’ll give it to him.”

Although I know it wasn’t intentional, Tug offering to settle my debt makes me feel like a hooker all over again.

“I have to go. Please, let me go.”

“No, goddammit! I know you care about me. Talk to me or I’ll find out on my own, but you aren’t going anywhere.”

He’s not going to let me leave, but I have to. I’ve already put him at risk. My brain is running haywire with thoughts of what Eduardo will do. The only thing I can think of to convince Tug to let me go, is to hustle him.

“I don’t care about you. You’re a stupid man with a lot of money. You were an easy score. I was playing you to get to your money and move my family, but it’s not a game anymore.” The words are bitter and I hate myself for saying them.

“You’re lying.”

He won’t be easy to convince … he never has been. Time to hit hard.

“Am I? Think about it! Why do you think I won’t move in with you?”