“You’re welcome.” Goosebumps were raised on her arms. I could see them in the moonlight. I didn’t want to hold her up. “I won’t beat around the bush. I want to see you again.” She held my gaze in the moonlight.
“Let’s see,” she purred. The sexual tension was right here, hanging in the air. I didn’t move an inch. She stepped to the bike and I reeled her in with one arm. My lips sought out hers and made a deadly assault, opening the vault. She returned the intensity and our tongues explored. Her breasts pressed against me, making me want to lay her down on the bike. Before it got too heavy, I released her.
“How’s that for seeing?” I said huskily. She lingered, fingering my jacket.
“That works,” she replied, breathless. “You know how to find me, Diego.”
“No doubt.” Her sexy tight ass walked to her car, leaving me enthralled. Right on, Merced.
Four
Misty
The next few days after meeting with the hottie Diego floated by. My feet felt like they didn’t touch the ground. I was in such a euphoric place. My classes were not a problem, and any annoying lecturers weren’t an issue either.
Diego had shoulder-length dirty blond hair tied back. All tousled and wild like him. Rugged manly features and a face kissed by the sun. He had a three o’clock shadow, not five o’clock. His toned, thick muscular thighs and well-defined arms would wrap around me soon enough. I planned on it happening. Ever since I saw him sitting on his lonesome in the Black Bear diner. My study friends were salivating over him, but I was the one to approach. When I saw those piercing ocean-blue eyes, that cemented it for me. I had to go talk to him.
We had a date coming up, a day trip to Yosemite. I decided Diego was worth taking the day off for. My panties were wet just thinking about him. One thing was bothering me and it included my knucklehead brother.
“Hey, sis. What you got going on today?”
I grabbed my piece of toast as it popped up from the toaster. “I’ve got class. How about you?” I probed. His eyes were cagey, moving around like darts. He didn’t answer straight away. “Palo,” I asked again, expecting an answer.
“I gotta take care of some business, you know, then I’m heading into work,” Palo relayed softly.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What kind of business do you need to take care of?”
Palo rubbed his shaved head back and forth, avoiding my gaze. “Business… Do you really wanna know?” he responded with his slight Spanish accent. I put my hand on my hip and blocked him from leaving the kitchen. The rage was building inside of me. My brother wasn’t that tall. He stood a few inches over me. But nothing that would make me scared of him.
“Yeah. I do. That’s why I asked you.” I glared at him.
“Look. I’m in the lead for the presidency. The vote is tonight,” he said with a guilty expression. Shockwaves ran through my system.
“What the fuck do you mean, presidency, mano? El Diablo just got murdered!” Palo had the same greenish eyes as me, except with more hazel accents. He tried to soothe me by grabbing my arm.
“Hey. I want to change things. The other guys listen to me. I can make it better. That’s part of my familia too. Just like you are.” My eyes welled up with angry tears. I didn’t want the same fate for my brother as El Diablo.
“You’re stupid! You’ll get killed! What have they ever done for you that’s so great, huh?” I pressed.
“Don’t start this mess again, Misty. You’re taken care of, aren’t you? I’m paying your way through medical school. Without the club, you wouldn’t have been able to get there,” he responded with passion. A wave of emotional guilt washed over me.
“Don’t you dare!” My Spanish fire raged in my blood, ready to burn him. “I would have bagged groceries if I had to so you didn’t have to be part of Las Balas. I never wanted your dirty money to cover me. You fool!” I spat back. His jaw clenched and he gritted his teeth. I didn’t care. My brother wouldn’t harm a hair on my head.
“I’m going to do what I want, when I want, and that’s just it. Hypocritical of you since you accepted the gifts from Carlos!” He came back at me. A low blow. The glare of try-me was written all over his face. I let it drop. Every time we got into an argument, it was about Las Balas. I had to focus all my energy on my studies, so I refused to go back and forth with him for too long.
“My thing is that...I’m scared because now I feel you’ll be a target. I didn’t know what Carlos was doing. But I didn’t ask either.” I softened. “Why can’t you understand that? Why now?” My spirit was vexed. Behind Palo was this sense of urgency that irked me. We were pretty close, but this time, hidden secrets were in the mix. I ate my toast and drank down my juice quickly. I didn’t want to be late for class. Palo kept rubbing his head.
“I’m sorry. That was wrong for me to say,” he sighed. “This club is a community though. We stand together; a few rotten eggs don’t mean we fall apart. I’m going to end up president. It’s happening.” His eyes were like a tiger’s. When he spoke, people listened. Ladies loved him as well. I waited, wanting to hear him out. “I’ll fix it. Make it right. I’m not about violence in the club. But sometimes you have to do what you have to do.” As soon as the animated version of my brother emerged, I got ready for a major speech. I crossed my arms, anticipating it. “El Diablo had to go. He put a black cloud over the whole club.” His arm reached out to span in a circle. “Now. Me.” He beat his chest with his fist. “I will be the man to restore us. All of my brothers will stand with me. Legit business dealings. Family rides. Helping the community. When we stand together, we can achieve much. We can move mountains. But divided, we fall.”
I paused. All of his points were valid. I let him continue:
“If we crumble now, the street hustlers win. We must crusade for the right causes, Misty. Just like you want to save lives, so do I.” That hit hard. I had no rebuttal.
“Two sides of the coin, aren’t we? Passionate about family,” I responded softly. His tight face softened, and he pulled me in for a hug.
“I love you, little one. I get it you’re worried. It’s going to be fine though. I swear.”
“Promise?”
He held out his pinky finger and tugged at mine. “Pinky swear.”
I smiled. “I can’t stop you, but know I’m not happy about it,” I grumbled. He chuckled and grabbed my cheek.
“I know. See you when I’m looking at you.” He winked and left me standing in the kitchen. I sighed and looked to the heavens, asking God to protect my brother.
I made it to anatomy class right on time. My study partner and African American friend Shauna squeezed in beside me. We were in the lab today, looking at anatomical models.
“Hey, girl! How are you? Did you end up getting your card back from Mr. Hottie?”
I fanned myself in response. She laughed.
“Yes, I sure did. And hottie is right!” We clasped hands together. We had about twenty people in our class and we were set to look directly at dead bodies and examine them. The life and times of a medical student.