The phone kept ringing, and I mumbled under my breath for her to pick up. I didn’t even know if she used the same number anymore.
“Ya,” Paola’s voice was the same…screechy and high pitched and I recognized it immediately. She sounded like she was chewing a piece of gum.
“Oh, my God! Paola…it’s Valentina,” I cried into the phone, wiping tears from my cheeks. I was relieved to hear her voice, even though I didn’t know what to expect.
“Valentina! Oh, my God!” she was bursting with energy on the other end.
“I’m so sorry we haven’t spoken in years. I just didn’t know who else to call,” I cried.
“I heard what happened to you, girl. That’s crazy! Juan is going nuts here,” Paola’s voice was suddenly hushed, and I could sense that she was locking herself up in a room somewhere, to get away from prying ears.
“Listen…where are you? Are you safe?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’m safe…I can’t tell you where I am, but I want to see you. I need to find out what’s really going on,” I said and kept my eye on the door as I spoke to her. I knew that Moira or Jesus or anyone from the Rogue Rebels would not be happy to know that I had gotten in touch with someone from the gang.
“Okay, yeah, we should meet. I’m so happy that you managed to escape, girl. I was so happy when I heard that,” she said and laughed, and I could tell that her laugh was genuine. No matter how much she wanted to have a baby with some asshole from the gang, her loyalties still lay with the welfare of a friend.
“Yeah, I got lucky. I’ll call you again, and we can set up a meeting, okay? I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page,” I said to her.
“Of course, girl. These fuckers need to know that they can’t treat us like this,” she said.
We said our goodbyes and I cut the call. Speaking to Paola had made me feel a little better. Even though, the truth was that I knew I was trying to compensate for the big gaping hole that Jesus had left when he walked out half an hour ago.
Chapter 13
King
I knew I was lost without her. I could feel it in my bones. However, Valentina had made it very clear to me that she had chosen her father over me. She didn’t even want to believe what I told her, she was blinded by her loyalty to her family, and I couldn’t blame her. But did she not see that Romero was dangerous? That he could hurt her again?
I left my Moria’s apartment and rode straight to the bar. No Church had been called today, but I went anyway, and as much as I’d predicted, Commando and Girth were there, drinking.
“Where have you been, brother?” Girth called out to me as they saw me approaching them at the bar counter.
“Had some things to take care of,” I replied gruffly and sat down at the bar. A bottle of beer was slid down to me as usual, and I took a large gulp.
“Were you with Valentina?” Girth added with a laugh, and I looked up and caught Commando studying me. I clenched my jaw at him, just as a group of some of the other members walked in and Girth got up to go and greet them.
“All good in Paradise?” Commando said, now that we were both alone.
“It’s hardly Paradise,” I replied to him, and took another gulp of the beer.
“What happened between you two?” Commando asked, and I gripped the bottle tighter in my hand.
“I rescued her from her prisoners. You know what happened,” I said gruffly because I wasn’t in the mood to have a chat about Valentina.
“No, I mean what happened between you two before? You seem like you know her well,” Commando said and I looked over at him, my eyes burning up with anger. I hoped that she was all right. I hoped that she hadn’t been stupid enough to leave Moira’s place where she was safe. No matter what she thought of me, I still worried about her. I wouldn’t ever stop worrying about her.
&nbs
p; “She was the boss’ daughter, and she left town to get away from this life. And she stayed away and shouldn’t have come back. That’s what happened,” I said and took in a deep breath. The reality was just sinking in. That was the truth, wasn’t it? What was I thinking to believe that there could be anything more between us? Why had I been foolish enough to believe that she would choose me over her own family?
“She came back for you?” Commando’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
“She came back for her Papi!” I snapped, and I was glaring at my friend. This conversation was only reminding me of all the stupid decisions I had made in my life. How stupid I had been to pine for a woman I could never have, for all these years.
“Has she called him yet?” Commando asked, and my mouth clamped shut in confusion. I had no idea what he was implying.
“What do you mean?” I asked, and he shrugged his shoulders.