"Pop?" Letitca called out as she and Zara stepped into the house. "It's me and Zara," she added.

"What are you two doing here?" He asked, shuffling out from the kitchen with a towel over his shoulder.

"We brought dinner," Zara presented him with the pizza box. "Hope you don't mind the surprise."

"I love the company," he smiled. "Come, sit," Felipe motioned to the dining room table. "What do I owe the pleasure?"

Zara placed the box down and tossed her purse in the corner. "Boys had work," she said by way of explanation.

Felipe gave Letti a hug and kissed her cheek while Zara grabbed plates and napkins. "How's school?"

"Boring," she rolled her eyes.

"I heard that," Zara laughed.

Felipe had become somewhat of a grandfather to Letti as she became a much bigger part of all of their lives. It was only through Angel and the club that the people they loved most became a sort of family, and support system, themselves.

They all sat and Felipe reached to open the box with a smile on his face. "So, what's on the menu?"

For them, it was pizza with pepperoni and onions but dinner for the Mayans would be much different. They were meeting in the dress shop, on fje main floor after all the seamstresses had gone for the day, for the first time since the new pact had been made.

Photos of the literal fire Miguel needed help extinguishing were passed around and Angel couldn't help but laugh.

"Holy shit," he chuckled, covering his face, as the pictures made their way to him and EZ. It was a satellite shot of one of his Poppy fields burnt for miles.

"How?" Bishop asked angrily. "Don't you have guards? Obviously have eyes on your fields."

Miguel nodded. "A drone."

"Commercially produced," Nestor added, "Sold on Amazon."

"And that means you can't trace it," Tranq huffed.

"Cheaper and readily available makes me think small time, but the idea, the explosives," Miguel shook his head, "That is not small time," he said.

"Ideas?" Bishop asked.

"None that look obvious," Nestor shrugged.

"We have the Rebels," Miguel said, "And the Mayans, in addition to our numerous resources. If it's anything to worry about, we'll hear from one of our corners. I trust we'll bring it back here, as well," he said expectantly.

"We will go to the other side," Adelita finally spoke up.

"We'll talk to the usual snitches and street crews," Bishop nodded. "We'll reach out if we find anything."

Two Days Later*

"I really want to thank everyone for coming out," Zara said as she spoke to the crowd of about 20 parents. "I know this is when the hustle of the holidays begins but school is really only just beginning."

Zara first went over the PTA's proposed holiday plans and fundraising with her newest volunteer, Letti of course, sitting behind her taking notes throughout the meeting.

"Excuse me," a voice called out a moment before Zara ended the meeting. "I apologize for my tardiness." Bastian appeared from the back of the auditorium. "Time zones and jet lag are a very dangerous combination."

"I'm sure," Zara said with feigned amusement. "I didn't get your name."

"I didn't introduce myself," he laughed. Waltzing up to Zara he smiled, disarming her momentarily, and turner to the crowd. "Bastian Botha."

"It's so nice to meet you," Zara smiled, annoyed by his arrogance. "Do you have a child enrolled here?"

Bastian laughed. "Do I look old enough to have a teenager?"

"I just don't know why else a grown man would be at a PTA meeting without a child at the school," Zara said curtly.

"Miss Osbourne," he said apologetically. "I am so sorry. I thought your principal would have passed along my message."

She shook her head. "He didn't. Just give me one second." Zara turned back to the group. "I'll be sending home more information as things get closer. Thank you so much for coming out."

The parents began to file out as Letti watched Bastian carefully, ready to call her father just in case this was not an innocent visit.

"Mr. Botha," Zara sighed. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm going to assume you've never heard of Botha Capital Partners?"

"No," she said flatly.

"I can see I'm wearing thin on you," he chuckled, his accent no longer as attractive as before. "I'm a businessman. A lot of my work is based out of South Africa, some in Northern California as well as other parts of the world, but I'm looking to make Santo Padre and El Centro our home for a while we move on moving south and expanding."

"And, let me guess, like all the rest of the 1% you're big into philanthropy and charity unless it involves paying your workers a livable wage, proper breaks and providing them with healthcare?"

Bastian drew his head back. "That was never an issue for my workers, part time or salaried. I am, though, very big into helping my community and education is incredibly important, it's a passion of mine. I was told you were the fundraising master here. I'd like to work with you on helping the school and the surrounding neighborhoods."

"Shit," Zara huffed. "I'm so sorry," she stammered embarrassedly. "I jumped the gun, I judged you and I shouldn't have."

Bastian beamed, a chuckle escaping his lips. "It's refreshing, honestly. I like not having someone immediately kiss my ass when they hear my second name."

"Well, I'm glad I could be so oblivious and make you feel good," Zara joked. "Seriously, though, your help would be amazing. We need all the donations we can get to be frank and the middle school is hurting too from what I hear," she said quietly.

"I won't hold you up any longer, I am late after all," he said cheerfully. "When can we meet?"

"After school would be best, in my classroom," she suggested, "That way we have the principal nearby for any questions."

"And you're not alone with a strange man," Bastian said knowingly. "No offense taken, it's smart."

Zara laughed it off. "I do have to run, like you said, late," she shrugged a little. "You can come by this week any time after 3:30."

"I look forward to working with you," he said with a flirty wink. "Have a good evening ladies."

His expensive dress shoes clocked quietly as he walked back up the center aisle and disappeared into the unlit hallway. Zara glanced back at Letti with wide eyes.

"Was I a total idiot?"

With a smile, Letti nodded enthusiastically. "It was hilarious. He's hot too so that's even more embarrassing for you."

Zara rolled her eyes. "Pack your stuff. I'll run you home."

"My dad's coming," she said sheepishly.

"Everything okay?"

"Uh, yeah, I text him when that guy showed up," she admitted while grabbing her bookbag. "He was smarmy, I didn't like it," Letti shrugged. "Sorry, my dad just keeps telling me to be more careful. It didn't feel right."

"Don't apologize," Zara said staunchly. "You did the right thing, you ever feel off about something you call him, or EZ, or Angel."

They used the auditorium's side door and exited right out into the parking lot. It was still light out, the sky shined a gorgeous pink color as the sun set behind them but in front of them were two Mayans. Zara had a hard time deciding which was more beautiful, Angel or the sunset.

"Looks like you called the calvary," Zara whispered to Letti. Speaking up, she greeted Angel and Coco

"Evening gentlemen," she grinned.

"You good?" Angel asked her briskly.

"I'm good," Zara assured him with a kiss. "Came to check up?"

"Only cause of the text," Coco explained. "You want some dinner?" He asked his daughter who eagerly agreed.

"See ya tomorrow," she said to Zara.

"How about you? You need a ride?" Angel asked Zara playfully.

Her lips curled into a flirty grin but she gestured behind him. "My car."

"I'll drop you off in the morning," he said quickly, "You can drive it home after school tomorrow, Miss Osbourne."

"Sounds like a plan," she giggled. Zara hurried over to throw her teacher's bag in the trunk before climbing on behind Angel. "Take me home, Mr. Reyes."

They got home immediately grabbed themselves beers before curling up in the backyard together. Zara took a long drink and relaxed against Angel with a tiny contented sigh.

"We haven't even really talked since Monday," she complained. "Catch me up."

"Someone fucking bombed one of Galindo's fields," he said with a hearty laugh. "He's got a shit ton but if they don't find who it could be bad. Whoever it was sent a goddamn drone, you can get it anywhere, but they made some changes to it so it was more than something to spy on your neighbor with."

"A drone?" She laughed. "Holy shit. That's awesome."

"I know," he agreed, "I fucking loved it."

"Was Nestor there?" She asked cautiously.

He nodded. "He was either cool with it or he doesn't know, I still stared him the fuck down though."

"Petty," she teased him.

"Speaking of fucking petty," Angel grumbled. "Who was the guy?"

"Some rich asshole with so much money he probably forgot how to be human so he comes off creepy and shady without even realizing it," Zara explained casually. "Wants to expand his business locally and I guess is trying to buy the town's favor by picking the school as his pet project."

"I hate rich people," Angel whinnied. "Always treating people like shit."

"Well, he is helping," she shrugged, "So that's better than nothing."

"If you're happy, I'm happy," he took a swig of his beer.

"I am happy," she said, looking up at him. "Having you move in was the best decision ever."

Angel smiled down at her and stroked her cheek tenderly. "Yeah it was, this place is great. The water pressure is so good compared to my old place."

"The water pressure, huh?" She glared at him.

"Clean too," Angel added.

"I hate you," she laughed, slapping his chest. "I'm hungry. What do you want dinner for dinner?"

"I'm not really hungry," he replied. "Still got my Cookie Crisp?"

Zara rolled her eyes. "I do."

"Oh yeah," he moved quickly to get up. "I want cereal for dinner then."

"Get me another beer," she yelled after him, "And get me some cereal too!"

Angel laughed loudly as he stomped into the house to 'make' them dinner. When he returned with their dry cereal and two new beers on a small tray his face was much less cheerful than before.

"You're drinking, guess you got your period," he said casually with his eyes on the cereal.

She nodded.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," she frowned. "It's not like we're full on trying, you know, and besides sometimes I wonder if it's too soon, but it's still a downer."

"It's all good," he said, forcing a more lighthearted tone from his lips. "It's still fun to try," he whispered into her ear with a little growl.

"Not trying, just not preventing," she reminded him. "If we were trying our sex would be timed and planned and ridgid."

"I'm always ridgid, mi amor," he stuck his tongue out at her.

"You're also gross," she shook her head but couldn't hide her amused smile. "Was Adelita at the meeting?"

His body tensed, "She was."

"Things cool?"

"Yeah," he shrugged, "Didn't really talk."

On the table, Zara's phone buzzed with a text message from Emily. Zara hesitated before grabbing her phone to read and reply.

"I'm furious. I've worked for months on this deal with the city and Pena is pulling out. No reason. No warning. I can't believe this."

"Damn," Zara grumbled. "Emily said Pena is screwing them over with some business deal."

"Emily?" Angel was more surprised by who the text was from rather than what it said. "I didn't think you two were still talking."

"Meh," she shrugged, typing out a quick response. "At first it was weird but I guess we're moving on."

"That's shitty. I'm sorry you wasted your time!! Is it for sure or a maybe?"

"Miguel is going to talk to her tomorrow."

"Good luck. Let me know how it goes. We'll talk tomorrow!! Night!"

"Moving on with Bob and Holly?" He prodded.

"God, you're worse than her," Zara complained as she tossed her phone down again. "I'll call her on my lunch tomorrow."

"Gonna invite them down for Christmas?"

"We'll see how the call goes," she said to remain noncommittal. "Why do you want them down here so badly?"

"I love your parents," he admitted. "Besides I think you all need to hug it out."

Zara agreed but she was stubborn and still hurting despite her parents not being the ones who caused harm. What he said was true, and the main reason for wanting the visit but Angel was also hoping to mention the possible proposal to Bob as well. It was early but Angel was planning ahead so that when he got the courage and had the perfect idea, he could go for it and not need to wait for approval.

"We do, like I said, I'll call her," she relented. A shiver rolled down her spine and Zara quickly got up. "Come on, I'm too chilly. Let's go watch some TV."

Agreeing, Angel got up and carried their bowls into the house, leaving them in the sink to see with later. It didn't take long for the two of them to doze off while an episode of The Twilight Zone played quietly in the background.