Sienna looked at Joey, one of her childhood friends, and tried to see the boy he used to be instead of the hard shell. Not a glimmer of his humanity remained as far as she could see. “Hi, Joey. How’s your sister?”
He nodded but stayed silent. It didn’t bother her. He was probably afraid he’d piss Hector off, too.
She turned back to Hector and then pointed down at Nia. “Can’t you let her go?”
He shook his head and gave her a smile that sent chills up her spine. Since he didn’t answer her, she asked her next question.
“Where are we going? Please tell me what in the hell is going on? I’ve got to pack…”
“You’re going with me,” he interrupted.
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
“I want you away from here now. You’ve always been mine, and when I think about that man’s hands on you, I want to kill you both,” he spat violently.
“Oh… Hector, why didn’t you tell me? I would never have left.” She needed to keep him talking as long as possible to give someone a chance to read the note she left.
His dark eyes narrowed on her. “I have a feeling you did know, and that’s why you ran.” He took an angry step toward her.
She held up her hands. “No, I would have stayed. I grew up with the knowledge that I had an obligation to the neighborhood, and to be your woman would have given me respect and status.”
He looked at her skeptically.
She smiled at Hector and then pointed down at Nia. “Come on. You need to let her go.”
He shook his head and smiled. His smile always creeped her out but right then, it was worse.
“No, I’ve told you I’ve decided to bring her along.”
“What? No, you said you’d let her go. She has a man. He’ll look for her if we take her. Hell, leave her here tied up, and we can call in a few hours.”
“What about your man?”
At the tone of his voice, she could sense she had to step lightly.
“He’s not mine. I’m trying to find an apartment I can afford. I start a job in the laundromat here in town next week.” God, she hoped there was one. “But you know they don’t pay well.”
“Why stay with him?”
“I stayed with Riley for a while and then Nia, but I can’t keep living off of other people. He offered a bedroom…”
“You’re saying you haven’t fucked him?” Hector barked.
God, what should she say? Hector’s face kept getting flushed every time he got angry, and it looked like he hadn’t slept in days. That could be good because he might be muddled, or it might be bad because it made his temper shorter than it already was. She thought it was the latter when she glanced down at Rat.
“I kind of feel obligated since he isn’t making me pay rent so that I can save up for the down payment on a place of my own.”
“Who was the boy you left with?” Hector asked suspiciously.
Thank God she’d thought about this on the bus ride. “Randel.” She knew he’d left town. He was running from the gang because they were pressuring him to join, but he wanted to go to college. She just prayed he never went back because he had no idea she was using his name to escape Hector. He was also the only person she thought Hector would believe. She also tried to throw him off by telling him she went to Colorado instead of straight south to Arkansas.
Hector stared at her. “Really?”
“Yeah, we got to Colorado on the bus, and I knew I’d made a mistake. I hadn’t realized he was so boring. So, we parted ways. I called up Riley, and she said to come to visit her. I was mourning my mom and didn’t really have anything to go back to.”
“You had me,” he yelled suddenly.
“I didn’t know that,” she yelled back, nervously. “I was going to get settled and then send you the address.”
The longer he stayed quiet, the tighter her stomach got. “Let’s go,” she pleaded. “I’ll buy some clothes later.”
Hector nodded to Joey.
Joey started walking to Nia, and Sienna stepped in his way and looked at Hector. “Hector, if you take her with us when she has a family here, they’ll follow, and I’ll never forgive you.”
“They’ll follow to get you, too.”
She shook her head. “No, not if I tell Nia to tell them I’m going willingly. That my family needs me.”
She turned, hid her expression from Hector, looked at Nia, and pleaded with her eyes. “You would tell them that, right?”
Nia nodded jerkily.
Sienna turned back to Hector. “See?” When he didn’t answer, she said, “Do you really want a wife that you don’t trust to poison you? Because if you touch Nia again, you’ll have to worry about me killing you.”
Hector looked shocked and then laughed. “I always like your spirit.” Then his voice dropped. “But I’m warning you, if you disrespect me in front of anyone, you will be beaten. Severely.”
She nodded.
Hector grabbed her arm in a tight grip. “Let’s go.” They got to the door, and Hector turned to Joey. “Go get the fucking car, and I’ll wait here with her.”
Joey nodded and ran out.