Esai couldn't remember there had ever been a girl in whose presence he'd felt uncomfortable, but it took him a lot of effort not to avoid her fiery glance. He knew better than saying something negative about the club, even when she was telling the truth. He however neither wanted to stand up for them; he had no idea what exactly the club was doing. It however was common knowledge that junks lost their patch, and he assumed they had tried to help her brother. But he wasn't sure. His father had taken him to the Santo Padre clubhouse a few times, but apart from his uncle he barely knew the members.

"Where's your brother now?" he asked quietly instead of focusing on the club. "Is he also..."

He trailed off, staring at the hand he was still holding. He liked it, he realized. Very lightly he brushed her skin with his thumb.

"I don't know," she muttered. "He didn't show up at their funeral. Maybe he's also dead. That same night he fled and left me behind."

Esai couldn't imagine how it would feel to be so worried about a family member. He lacked siblings. Pulling his right hand away from hers, he wrapped an arm around her back and took her hand with his other hand. As she tensed a bit he regretted it, but it didn't take long before she relaxed and even scooted a little closer to him.

For a long time she was silent and just leaned against him. Then she suddenly said: "It was a cartel. Neron owed them money, and they came for it. And when there was nothing he could hand them..."

He looked aside, hearing how fast her breathing went. "You don't have to tell me," he said quietly. "You don't have to tell me what happened if you're not ready to talk about it."

Without an explanation he could picture very vividly what had happened. They had probably burnt her parents alive or chopped them into pieces. Why her eye was cut out, was no longer a mystery either. Probably to pressure her brother.

"Maybe that's why we keep an eye on you," he said. "You think they'll come after you?"

"You really think they would leave it to you to protect me from a cartel?" she huffed.

Esai felt his cheeks flush. "I guess not," he admitted. Comparing himself to a member... he had no idea where he got the nerve. He looked aside.

She was staring forward, deep in thoughts. Without the mutilation she must have been very beautiful... She looked fragile, but not broken. The fire of life was burning fiercely inside her. It took an insane amount of strength to sit here like she did, so soon after the loss of her family.

"If they'd wanted me dead, I would have been dead," she said. "Letting someone watch the slaughtering of her parents... They believe some things are worse than death."

Her words caused a lump in his throat. "You think you'd be better off death?" he asked quietly.

He held his breath, realizing he might cross a boundary now. The question had slipped his lips before he knew it, and he had forgotten about the fact they'd just met.

"Making sure this isn't going to control my life feels like vengeance," she answered. "That's what I hold on to."

He believed she was courageous. She was a very special girl, one he really wanted to protect. Also when his father hadn't ordered him to keep an eye on her.

"I don't know if you believe me," he started, hesitating. "But if my dad hadn't ordered me to keep an eye on you, I would have done nothing different."

She gave him a tiny smile when she looked up to him from below her eyelashes. "I believe you."

It was a whisper, but somehow it sounded very seductive and he felt the hairs in his neck rise. He smiled back, a slight blush on his cheeks.

Damn – he was falling for her.

So hard.

"Feel free to say no," he said after a while. "But would you like to still have a talk with my dad? I can imagine you're wondering why you're so important to them. Maybe uhm – maybe they've also news about your brother?"

She hesitated, biting her lip. "I'm not sure I want to hear something about my brother. It's his fault my parents are dead."

And the club's fault.

This time she didn't say it out loud, but he could feel her reproach.

"Fine," she sighed. "I don't believe I have a choice if I want to keep hanging out with you, would-be president."

He lifted the corner of his mouth. "The vacancy for future queen is still open."

"Then you better work on your pick-up tricks." Teasingly, she bumped her shoulder against his, then she slipped off the table. "Let's go. I better get over with it."

Esai smirked, getting off the table too. While he mumbled something about the lack of proper light, he grabbed her hand again to lead her – although there weren't much directions to go to on a stairs.

She chuckled quietly, making his heart flutter, and he held her hand a little tighter.

Although he'd wanted to wrap an arm around her once they entered the clubhouse, he didn't want to claim her in front of everyone. Instead, his hands slipped into his pockets as he puffed out his chest.

It didn't take long before his eyes found his father, who was sitting on a table in the corner, talking to his VP. He nodded to them, telling Esai he would come to them later.

"You thirsty?" he asked as he headed for the bar.

"Yeah, I'm fine with anything."

She hoisted herself on a bar stool. Esai ordered the prospect to give them two glasses soda, then he sat down next to her. She was staring at a few Mayans who were playing pool. Her glance seemed to be glued to the symbols on their backs, and he wondered if she remembered the kutte of her brother.

"You wanna play a game of pool?" he suggested.

"If you dare. I'm a pro."

He gladly took the challenge. After emptying their glasses and waiting for the table to be free, he took her there.

It was a relaxing game. He noticed it took her some time to perceive depth with only one eye, but nevertheless she could handle herself. Spending time around her felt easy, it really felt like they'd done this a thousand times before.

A heavy hand landed on his shoulder, pulling him out of his thoughts when he had been studying her face while she was concentrating on her next shot. His cheeks flushed as he realized he'd been staring at her and that his father of all people had caught him in doing so.

"This is Alesia," he told his father.

Alesia looked up. He saw the fight in her eyes, noticed her tense shoulders while she stared at his father.

"Hello. My name is Marcus." He held out his hand.

She glanced at Esai, then she slowly shook his hand.

There was tension between them. He didn't know if it was a smart move, but he had the feeling he should interrupt. "She told me her brother used to be a Mayan. Creeper." He gave his father a meaningful look, telling him this was a sensitive subject for her.

His father nodded severely. "I have heard so. I am sorry for what happened to your family, Alesia."

She snorted.

"Ilias Lopez told us you would move to Oakland and asked us to keep an eye on you. On request of his little brother."

"Gilly," Alesia concluded softly.

There was a warmth gleaming in her eyes, calling up an unexpected jealousy. Was this Gilly her boyfriend?

At least she seemed to relax a bit. "I'm happy to hear that."

His father laid a hand on her shoulder. "Know that you can always come to us if you are in need of something."

Hesitating, she nodded. "I uh – I think I should go home. Gotta cook for granny."

"Yeah – let me take you there," Esai said.

"Thanks. I'm going to grab my backpack." She nodded to the bags they'd put down next to the bar. Before he could follow her, his father grabbed his upper arm and brought his face close to his.

"Remember this, mijo. She is not going to be your new toy. She is under our protection. Treat her like a sister, she is family now."

He swallowed, feeling his cheeks flame up. "I would never..."

"Do not lie to me, Esai. I see how you look at her. Do what you are asked, and do not make her life harder. We both know how you treat girls."

Esai gritted his teeth.

This was different. She was different.