Chapter 65
Lovely
As Do It and Shawnie approached us, I saw his expression change from casual to shock then betrayal. Shawnie hadn’t even paid any attention to me. If she had, the operation would’ve been blown. I tried not to make eye contact, but it was hard. For weeks, I didn’t believe I would see my family again. Now that they were a few yards away from me, I was conflicted. On one hand, I wanted to jump up from the table and run toward them. Then again, I didn’t want to piss Santiago off.
“I bought a bottle of Ace of Spades for your special day. It’s my understanding that it’s a very popular drink among the wealthy in America.” He pulled the metallic gold champagne bottle from the black box and sat it on the table. “Almost five hundred dollars for one bottle is ridiculous,” he stated as he chuckled.
I wanted to remind him that his cigar hobby wasn’t cheap. Instead, I smiled. “Thank you, you didn’t have to do that though. I won’t be having a drink tonight.”
“Why not?” He looked offended. “It’s your birthday. I thought you wanted to celebrate.”
“I do want to celebrate, but after your brother spiked my drink, I won’t ever be drinking again.” I looked into his eyes, hoping he would understand I wasn’t being ungrateful or disrespectful. I simply had a new respect for being sober.
“Okay fine.” He placed the bottle back into the box. Rising from the table, he stated, “I’ll go to the car and get your gift instead.”
“What gift? You already bought me what I’m wearing.”
“Well, you didn’t have any clothes.” He smiled. “Your real gift is in the car. I’ll be right back.”
The second his back was turned, Do It told Shawnie to run along and made his way over to me. “What the fuck is up, Lo? I thought you was fucking dead!” He was furious.
“I was drugged and kidnapped by some Mexican brothers, Santiago and Mauricio. They’ve been holding me hostage in their prostitution house a few miles from here.” I tried to cram all of my words together for the sake of time. The car was a little ways away, but Santiago ran fast.
“Let’s go!” Do It urged.
“No.” I shook my head. “He’s with the mafia. If I get up and we’re caught, he will kill us. Please leave and get Shawnie out of here.”
“What about you?” He looked conflicted. “Fuck the mafia! I can’t just leave you here.”
“Do It, me and you ain’t big enough to battle the mafia, especially not on their turf and in their country. I’ll be fine. Just go!”
My brother looked as if he wanted to say something else before he walked away. I sat there with a tear in the corner of my eye. Had I just made a big mistake by letting my only opportunity slip away?
“Who was that, and why was he talking to you?” Santiago took his seat at the table. The tenderness he left with was gone. He sat before me now wearing a scowl and breathing hard.
“Oh.” I was trying to think fast. “He explained to me that his daughter was collecting shells, and he asked if he could have the big one by my foot.” I bent down and picked up the large seashell shaped like a horn.
“What did you say?”
“I told him no, obviously.” I giggled. “This is our first date. I wanted to keep the seashell as a souvenir.” I laid it on thick, and he devoured every ounce of it.