A/N: I've had some people mention that they'd prefer if I put the translation right next to the Spanish in the chapter, but that's just not how I plan to write this story. I don't want to come off rude, because that's not me, but the translations will continue to be at the bottom. The majority of the time the meaning of the word or phrase is in the context of the sentence. If you want, you can scroll to the bottom and familiarize yourself with the translations prior to reading.
Chapter 5
I had no words as I just sat there staring at him. He'd robbed someone at gunpoint because they owed his friend money. It had nothing to with him! On top of that, when they found him he had drugs on him. A lot of drugs.
"Say something, por favor?" he pleaded. For the first time in all the years I'd known of him and now more recently knowing him as a person, he looked unsure. He'd lost some of his cockiness for the moment.
I fidgeted in my seat, playing with a loose string on the hem of my skirt. "Did you deal drugs?"
He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "Dealt them; did them. If it weren't for monthly drug tests now I'd still smoke, but the hard shit wasn't really my thing." He shrugged.
He was so casual about all of it, as though none of it was a big deal. It was so much to take in. I had so many more questions that I didn't know where to start. My mind wouldn't stop running in circles. I'd known what he'd gone to prison for, but to hear all the gritty details was overwhelming.
"Bella?"
I glanced up at him. "Yeah?"
"Ask me whatever you want. I promise I won't keep anything from you. Bien?"
I closed my eyes tightly, taking a deep breath. "Why?"
He frowned. "Why, what?"
"Why would you do any of it? Would you still be out there if you hadn't gotten caught?"
I watched as he ran a hand through his hair again. "That was my life, Bella. My dad died when I was thirteen. I'm sure you remember that. I felt—" He stopped abruptly, seemingly uncomfortable. "Look, it was just the life I chose. Would I still be doing it if I hadn't gotten caught? Yeah, I would."
"You promised you wouldn't keep anything from me."
"I just answered you honestly!" he snapped.
"It was the life you chose? That's a bullshit answer if I've ever heard one." I stood up and walked to the door, ready to open it so he could leave. My hand hovered above the doorknob when he started to speak.
"Do you know how scary it is to be thirteen and suddenly you're the man of the fucking house? To have that much responsibility just dropped in your lap? To see your mom cry every fucking day?"
I stood with my back to him as he continued. "My dad was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Shot in the back, killed instantly because he was in the way of the mother fucker they were really after. They shot through him. Did you know that?"
I tried to hold it in, but I couldn't stop the gasp that slipped from my lips.
"They never caught the guy, the useless, piece of shit sapos. Sorry." I turned around and there was a small smirk on his lips, but it faded as he kept talking. "A few years ago I used to... hang with Wolf's sister, and he told me in passing he knew who the bastard was that killed my dad. Said he could help me put him in the ground. I'd do anything to get my hands on that hijueputa. That's how I got wrapped up with The Kings."
"Did you find ever him? Did you... do it?" Once I asked, I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer.
"No."
"Do you still have plans to... kill him?" I was met with silence. "Edward?"
"Fuck, what do you want me to say? I'm trying, Bella, but if I find that fucker?" His eyes grew dark as he growled. "Lo mato."
His ominous words sent a shiver through me. I tried to put myself in his place for a moment. The thought of my dad suddenly dying wasn't too far fetched—since he's a cop. "If someone shot my dad, I'd want to kill them, too." I could see the pain and anger that lingered in his eyes soften as he looked at me.
I should have opened that door. I should have made him leave, but I didn't. Instead, I walked over and sat down beside him. I wasn't so ignorant as to believe that I could ever change him, but I had to wonder how he would feel if he had someone to talk to. Who would he be if could get past his anger?
"You're not kicking me out?"
"I probably should, but no."
—
For the first time ever, we sat and talked. He didn't immediately push my buttons or try to get a rise out of me, not that I didn't somewhat enjoy when he did. It seemed as if he was being true to his word and trying to get to know me.
"What made you want to become a teacher?"
"Honestly? It wasn't my first choice, but there's only so much you can do with an English degree."
"So you don't like your job?"
"Teaching night school classes wasn't my first option, no. The pay is pretty shitty, and I'd rather be teaching high schoolers. What I really want to be is an author."
He shook his head, letting out a low chuckle. "I don't think we could be more different if we tried."
I gave a quick shrug. "That doesn't mean we can't be friends. Besides, we're probably not all that different."
"Is that what we are? Friends?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Why?"
"I don't normally want to fuck my friends, is all." He placed his hand on my thigh and I jumped up from the couch.
"Dammit, you can't just go around saying shit like that, Edward!"
"Maybe not, but it doesn't make it less true." There was that damn smirk again. "Tell me you don't feel it, Bella? You tell me right now you don't want me in some way,and I'll be as much of a gentleman as I'm capable of and leave you the fuck alone."
As far as physical attraction went, Edward was the flame and I was the moth drawn to him. He had a filthy mouth and I knew he loved to watch me react when he spoke. But I never felt threatened by him. Not like I had by that asshole in the parking lot earlier.
"Are you done with them, those guys that you were with earlier?"
"Is it going to stand between us if I'm not?"
"Yeah, it just might."
He leaned his head back against my couch, staring up at the ceiling. "I'm as done with them as I can be, baby."
"I'm not your baby, and what does that even mean?"
He lifted his head to stare at me. "Ah, so it's okay to call you mami, but baby is crossing a line?"
I'd never hated how I was prone to blushing as much as I did right then. It was as good of a tell as any.
A grin spread across his lips. "You like it, yeah? You gonna call me papi while you're laid up under me with my cock in that chocha?"
My eyes widened and I gasped loudly. My fingers twitched, ready to slap him.
"Do it, mami," he taunted. "I like it when you're rough with me," he growled in my ear.
I felt the sting on my palm before it even registered that I'd actually slapped him. He groaned.
"Holy shit, Edward, I—"
"Don't even think about apologizing." He rubbed his jaw where I'd slapped him. "I pushed you. I deserved it; fuck, I asked you to. I wanted you to do it. I can't control my tongue around you. I'm sorry."
"I like the way you talk to me," I whispered, feeling my face flush further. I liked his dirty mouth, and I liked our heated back and forth.
He pulled me onto his lap so I straddled him. I could feel every hard inch of him and had to hold back a moan.
"You gonna be my girl, then?"
"We hardly know each other. Plus, you still didn't answer my question. Are you done with those guys?" I looked straight into his eyes as I waited for his answer.
"Look, I've got no plans to hang out with them on a daily basis, but I'm not done with them. Or, should I say, they're not done with me."
"What do you mean?"
For a quick moment, I would have sworn I saw worry flash in his eyes. "Royce King is looking for me."
Spanish-
Por favor - Please
Bien - Good
Sapos - Slang for Police
Lo Mato - I'll kill him
Hijueputa - Common in Columbia for 'Son of a bitch'
Chocha - Pussy