Chapter Twenty One

Later that night

Angel's Chop Shop

Eli's POV

After taking Victoria home and making sure she got inside I head to work late. Angel's going to chew my ass out and make me stay late to make up the two hours I missed. It's worth it since I won't really have much time for her until my birthday. In order to pull off the San Diego trip, I need all the money I can get my hands on and a wing and a prayer from V.

He gives me a stern look and I know I fucked up. " ¿Entonces su horario cambió de tres a cinco? " ( So you changed hours from three to five? )

" I know, but it was important. " I tell him while looking at the ground.

Sighing he says, " Siéntate, hablemos sobrino. " ( Sit down, we need to talk nephew. )

" One minute, my bike is still outside the gate. " Honestly I thought he'd send me home after not showing up on time..

If we're going to be having a talk then my bike needs protection. Pushing it into the shop I see Hector shooting the breeze instead of working as usual.

" Hey, man do me a favor and take a look at my motor. It's been making a funny noise. I'll be out in a minute to help you. " I tell him receiving a slight nod from my lower-ranking Sargeant.

Heading back to Angel's office I knock before reentering.

He has me take a seat before saying, " ¿Dónde estabas? " ( Where were you? )

" I think you know already. " I say keeping eye contact.

Sighing he leans back in his chair like he knew what I was going to say. " Como esta tori? " ( How is Tori? )

" She's great. The happiest I've seen her in a long time. Which is why I'm so late... And with that killer running around, I'm just worried that's all. " I tell him truthfully.

He nods and takes a few moments. " Se como te sientes. Pero tienes que llegar a tiempo. " He says firmly. " Es tu trabajo como hombre cuidar de tu mujer y tu familia. " ( I know how you feel. But you have to be on time. It's your job as a man to take care of your woman and family. )

" I understand. It won't happen again. " I promise feeling more like a failure than a spontaneous seventeen-year-old.

" Asegúrate de que no sea así. Ahora ve a trabajar. " ( Make sure that it doesn't. Now go get to work. ) He says before turning to his paperwork.

I head out to the shop just as Hector's calling my name.

" Yo Weevil! Come look at this. It's not your engine making noise. " He says loosening the bolts on my gas tank.

Getting the tank out he turns it to the side and we see a little black bug with a wire sticking out of it and I can feel the heat radiate through my body in complete anger. The only person I know with the cajones to bug me is a little blonde girl that loves sticking her nose in my business.

" What are you gonna do Weevil? " He asks after realizing what happened.

I want blood... And there's the moral dilemma, go after V, and have my girl split for good. Or let it go and risk looking weak in front of my boys. I can't let them think that I'm going to let this slide so what the fuck am I going to do?

Hector snaps his fingers breaking my train of thought. " Did you hear me? Whoever did this needs to pay. "

" Don't trip on it. I got this handled. " I tell him with finality.

The Next Day

Mrs. Engles Literature Class

Tori's POV

" And what of the Dr? Does the Dr. share responsibility and should he go to jail... Let's see, Miss Mars? " She points to me and luckily Im ready for it.

Clearibg my throat I say clearly, " he should definitely go to jail. Whether he believed the baby would have a better life without them or not. A baby should be raised by their parents. No one has the right to choose a baby's future but them. "

Dick Casablancas leans over to say, " That's funny coming from little orphan Vicky. I wonder what your REAL parents thought when they were leaving you at the police station? Good riddance? "

Wow. Haven't had someone low blow me like that in a while. " And just think, all your mom had to do is divorce your dad and move across the world to get away from you. " I say and the rest of the class oohs.

His cheeks redden and he puts his head down. The moral of the story? Don't be a dick, Dick. Oopsies.

" Alright, children settle down. Let's get back to the discussion. " She says after our little outburst.

Dick is a douchebag but he does have me thinking... As one can imagine, I do wonder about the circumstances that led to me being given away. Did they have no other choice? I'd like to think so. That they knew they couldn't do it on their own and wanted a better life for me.

Which reminds me of the conversation with Jackson This whole dig-up dirt on your parent's thing has really taken off... I wonder why she can't find mom when she can find literally anyone else... Hmm, I wonder...

After class, I head to the bathroom where Veronica and some girls are talking. The girl looks very pleased and hands V a wad of money before damn near skipping out of the bathroom. She doesn't even notice me.

Rolling my eyes I say, " she seemed happy... "

" That's what happens when you find out dirt on your parents. " She says smirking.

Before elaborating further Eli comes rushing in without a thought of it being the girl's bathroom. " It's time for a chat. " He grinds out to Veronica angrily. " Hey babe sorry for this. "

She looks at him in confusion before looking back at me.

" What the fuck is this? " He asks holding up the chip that Veronica put on his bike.

" Oh! Umm... " I stammer and he looks at me with a shocked and hurt expression.

Blinking a few times he says, " you mean you did this? "

Damn, how did I let myself forget the bug?! Now he's looking at me like I'm breaking his heart.

" Wait! No, I did it but only because Vicki was worried that you'd kill Logan for what he said. " Veronica says trying to defend me.

It doesn't soften his stance whatsoever. " So you thought it was a good idea to stick this behind my gas tank?! One of my boys found this and I have no idea how to handle it. Normally I would break someone's face over something like this. "

" I'm sorry I just didn't want you to get in trouble. " I said trying my hardest not to shed tears.

" No, you just wanted me to fit into the good guy role but that's never going to happen Tori. " He says going over to the door. " I hope you're happy. "

His disappointed brown eyes are the only thing that matters at this very moment but I know going after him right now is a bad idea.

" I know," I told you so " isn't going to help right now, but you were supposed to get that back two weeks ago. "

Glaring at her I say, " shut up Ronnie. "

...

I walk into Veronica's room later that night a little antsy. She looks at me like " can you knock "? Which makes me even more nervous than I already am. With everything that happened in the bathroom earlier, I completely forgot what I wanted to talk to her about. It's just nerve-wracking as hell.

" Can I help you? " She asks.

I nod not really sure. " You have to promise not to tell dad. "

Sitting up she cocks her head. " What? "

" I want you to find my biological parents. " I tell her seriously and her eyes widen.

Knowing what you want, but not knowing what will happen if you get it, is scary as hell. What happens if I don't like the answers I seek?