Tug (25 page)

She pushes my hands away and sighs, drawing her legs up to her chest. “Papa owned a farm in a little town south of San Jose. I never knew my dad. My mother and I lived with my grandparents and helped out on the farm. We didn’t have a lot of money, but I was loved. When I was eleven, my grandmother died. When I was twelve, my mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and the day I turned thirteen, she died. Papa and I couldn’t manage the farm on our own, and the bank seized it. We moved to a community in Oakland where an old friend of Papa’s owned an apartment he could afford on Social Security. Needless to say, Tijuana is nice in comparison.”

She stops and takes a breath. The next part of the story is what I need to hear, and I wait patiently for her to continue.

“At fourteen, I met a boy, a stupid older boy who made me feel beautiful. I craved attention, and he gave it to me. I didn’t care about what he did for the cartels, or that he was a gang-banging, low-life. I wanted to be with him and cling to the happiness I hadn’t felt in so long because it helped me to breathe. I felt reborn. It had been one week, and I was in love. Eduardo was not. I said I wasn’t ready, and he said he didn’t give a fuck. I tried to leave, and he stopped me. I lay down and took it. He opened the door and told me to get out. That was it. My first time. I didn’t bother to cry, because when he fucked me, I understood the harsh realities of life for the poor and the weak. I changed that day, believed I was some hard-core gangster, as if our time together were an initiation into hood life. A life I was naïve enough to believe I wanted.”

She stops and heaves a breath. Her eyes are red and swollen but without tears. I pace the floor, angry and wanting to murder this Eduardo. My feelings for her haven’t changed, but I’m pissed at the people around her who made her believe this was all she was worth. I know she has more to say and I only hope I can handle it.

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.”

“I’m counting on it.”

“I came out here to ask you something. What can you tell me about the Torrente cartel?”

He steps back, waving his hands in front of his body. “Ah, man, that they’re heartless criminals and dangerous. That’s what I can tell you.”

“You know anyone who can get me in to speak with Torrente?”

“Nah, man. Come on, you know I don’t hang with any of those fools anymore. I got plans.”

“I know you do, and I’m not asking you to contact any of them, but I was hoping you might point me in the right direction. One of their members messed with someone I care about, and I would like to take care of it with Mr. Torrente personally.”

“Shit, man, this is about your lady. Run. Run fast, ’cuz this lady is gonna get you killed.”

“Too late to run, but thanks for the warning. If you think of anything, let me know.” I refuse to feel defeated. I’ll find a way to get to Torrente. As I turn to walk away, I hear Juan.

“Ah, right. Listen, there’s this
vato
. Works out of the pharmacy. They call him MadDime. Torrente supplies him. Do what you need to, but leave my name out of it.”

“I will. Thanks, Juan.”

“Man, you crazy. I don’t know why you’re thanking me. You’re messing with some crazy mofos.”

I walk away and call Sid to contract some crazy mofos of my own to pay MadDime a visit. As ex special forces, these friends of Sid’s have the necessary skills to get MadDime to talk. Next, I phone an old friend and fellow genius, particularly when it comes to hacking into highly protected computer systems. Reese and I went to college together, and he owes me a favor — plus, he’ll eat up the challenge I’m about to offer him.

M
aria frowns when I come into the kitchen. She’s alone, wiping down a few tables.

“What are you up to?”

“Let’s just say that Eduardo’s bank accounts are a bit fatter, and in a day or so, Mr. Torrente will soon be questioning how that came to be.”

“And how exactly is Torrente going to find this out?”

“I’m going to tell him.”

She drops the rag in her hand and walks toward me. “You’re just going to call him on the phone and say, ‘Hey, Eduardo Montez is stealing from you.”

I’m going to be honest with her, and then, I’m going to have to work extra hard to explain why this is a splendid idea. “I’m not calling him. I’m going to go to his house and tell him.”

“Tug, no! You can’t do this.”

“Listen to me—I’ve never made you a promise, because I knew eventually I’d fuck up, and hurt you, but I’m doing it now. I’m promising to protect you. Now trust me to do that.”

“And who is going to protect you? You can’t go to Torrente’s home and throw out accusations.”

“They aren’t accusations. I have dated and irrefutable proof.”

“How?”

“I can’t tell you everything. You just have to trust me.”

“I’m scared.”

“Don’t be. I’m using the one thing Eduardo doesn’t have behind him. Brains.”

“Don’t underestimate him. He may not have a brilliant IQ, but he’s street smart, backed by years of deviant behavior. He won’t be easily tricked.”

“No, but he’ll never see it coming.”

“I don’t like this.”

“I love knowing he’s going to pay for what he did to you.”

“It’s the desire for revenge that got me into this mess.”

“No, sweet girl. Desperation and love for your family did, but it’s revenge that’s going to get you out.”

I expect her to continue arguing, but instead she looks directly at me. “Do you know how much I love you?”

“I do, and I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

“I don’t know where to go. I can’t risk going to your place, and I can’t go back to my apartment. All of Papa’s things are there.”

“I’ve already taken care of it. We’re staying at Tori’s. Veronica packed some of yours and Javier’s things, and took them to the house earlier today.”

“Thank you.”

“This has been a hard day for you. I just want to make it easier.”

“You have, and I love you for it.”