I stop pacing and rub my face. Her hand reaches for me, but I pull it back. She hangs her head and I know she thinks I’m upset with her. “I’m not mad at you, but I can’t sit still until you tell me everything.”
Her gaze falls to her lap as she continues. “I was quite the cool hood-rat, even carried a small pistol with me. I thought I was Eduardo’s old lady, and I would garner the respect of everyone in the neighborhood. But I didn’t gain anyone’s respect, and I wasn’t Eduardo’s old lady. I was a whore and treated as such. Eduardo and any guy in Eduardo’s gang was entitled to have me, and I let them take me because I mistook the gang for family. I was one of them. I belonged and that was what mattered most to me. Turns out Eduardo did have an old lady, and she found out about me. She and three of her friends used me for a punching bag, and Eduardo watched and laughed the entire time. Papa took me to the hospital, and that’s when I found out I was pregnant. The day I gave birth, I had no idea who Javier’s father was, and I didn’t care. He was mine, and I loved him. The older he got, the more he looked like Eduardo. I knew Eduardo was his father, but I never told him.”
Fury courses through my veins and I breathe slowly to control it. I need her to finish so I know how to deal with Eduardo for good.
“Did he find out? Is that why he’s trying to find you?”
“Eduardo doesn’t care about my son.”
“Then what?” I ask, doing my best to remain calm. “No more ‘hustle’, Maria. Tell me what he wants.”
“I stole from him. Papa had a heart condition and needed surgery. I found a good doctor in San Diego to do the surgery, but it was expensive. I knew Eduardo kept a stash of heroin in his place. With a plan and a gift, I went to see him, knowing his recklessness could help me. I let him snort cocaine from my breasts, and I seduced him. Two days later, when he finally crashed, I stole two blocks of heroin and split. The idiot kept it under his bed. I took Papa and Javier to Mexico, and sold the heroin for a hundred thousand dollars. And I spent every dime on Papa’s surgery and follow-up care. I got close to six extra years with him, and I would do it all over again.”
“But now, because of the press you’re fucked. Eduardo will find out where you are and come for you. It’s not safe. Jesus, Javier was at Tori’s last night. What if he found them, or worse what if Torrente did?”
She shakes her head and holds her hand up. “No, we’re safe in Mexico. Eduardo would never admit to Torrente that someone stole from him. The cartel would cut off his head.”
My obvious disbelief must be evident, because she nods with wide eyes.
“The stuff you see in movies happens in real life. Torrente would do it and send his head to his mama in a box. These people don’t play. Eduardo is a bragger. He told me many stories, probably to scare me, but it’s how they do things. I knew he would cover the debt to Torrente and then come looking for me, but wouldn’t risk going into Mexico and getting caught by border police. He’s a wanted felon and in the U. S. illegally.”
“What about his friends, others in the cartel? They could find you.”
“No. Eduardo would never admit what happened to anyone. The lack of trust in their circle is how I’ve gotten away with it this long. He would never risk Torrente finding out. Stealing from the cartel or being stolen from because you acted foolishly — like by thinking with your dick— will always get you killed. He’s the only one who knows and he won’t risk coming to Mexico unless Torrente himself asks him to.”
“But you come to the States all the time.”
“I take a risk every time I go. Papa needs medical care. I need the job at the restaurant, and I need to spend time with you.”
“What in the hell were you thinking? He could have found you.”
“I had a plan to pay him back and beg him to forgive me. I went to school and waited tables, barely squeaking by, let alone saving any money to pay Eduardo back so I didn’t have to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life and worry about Javier’s safety. When I met Del, she got me a job at the club, and I hoped I could save the money and in two years be able to pay him back, but Papa’s Alzheimer’s kicked in, and the care for that was costly. I’ve been short on time for far too long, and now I’m out. I have a whopping twenty grand or so. He’ll never accept it when I owe him two hundred thousand.”
“Your plan sucked, and you’re not giving him a fucking dime.” I say with more irritation than I intended. Her earlier statement about selling the heroin for a hundred thousand comes back. “I thought you sold it for a hundred grand?”
“I did, but it was worth two hundred.”
I was going to offer to pay it, but after hearing what Eduardo put her through, that’s out of the question. He’ll kill her regardless. A man like Montez isn’t inclined to take the money and let her live. Forgiveness isn’t in the cartel’s culture, nor is it in mine. I refrain from telling her that her plan was naïve at best. Eduardo doesn’t have to be honest with anyone about what Maria did to him in order to put a hit on her. I have no idea how she’s avoided him this long. Her name coming out in the press is going to lead Eduardo right to her unless I do something immediately. The information she shared about him not coming to Mexico, unless summoned by Torrente, gives me and idea. “I have a plan.”
“Tug, don’t do anything. You have no clue who you’re messing with.”
“Trust me, I’ll be okay. A man in my position has many resources. I’m a genius, remember?” I smile, trying to loosen the tension. It doesn’t work. She’s wound so tight I’m afraid to touch her. “He’s going to pay for what he did to you.”
“This isn’t a math test, Tug. Eduardo will kill you. Please.”
“Listen to me. I need you to have irrevocable trust in me right now.” She nods, but I feel her hesitation. “I will protect you with my life if I have to. Go into the kitchen and hang out with Liv. I’m going outside to check on Javier.”
I step outside and see Juan, exactly who I was looking for. Before escaping to the Center, he was in deep with the cartels, running his own crew down south.
“Hey, ese, what’s up?” he says, as I get closer to him. “You ain’t been around in a while.”
“I’ve been busy. How about you? How’s school? Are
you going to graduate?”
“Yes, sir, and I’m looking at colleges.”
“Good,” I say, feeling an immense amount of pride in Juan. “I meant it when I said if you finish college, I’ll hire you.”