Chapter 2
Devastated
Felix
Six months later…
I sit up with a head splitting headache. I drank way too much last night. I reach for my head and it all comes back to me. The car accident that took the lives of my two best friends, my brothers coming to be there for me, and the tattoos. We all got tattoos last night.
I reach for my ribs and close my eyes. I have my reasons for placing my tat there. My mind shifts from my night with my brothers to Kaye. She wouldn’t answer my calls last night.
To tell the truth, I haven’t seen Kaye in months. Not since that day she rushed out of my apartment. Things have been weird between me and my friends.
I had planned to go to that party last night to see if I could close the gap that seemed to be forming between me and the guys. Alberto hasn’t been around much lately. The one time I did link up with Danny, something was off.
I’ve known these guys all my life. I can read them just as well as I can read my brothers, my own flesh and blood. Danny was hiding something. He seemed so stressed out and then he asked me for that weird favor.
“Felix, promise me. If anything ever happens to me. You’ll be there for Kaye. Watch out for her for me,” he said.
“Dude, what the fuck?” I had replied.
He only slammed the shutters down so I couldn’t look into his eyes. He sat and waited for me to make the promise and I made it. He would never have to ask me twice for something like that.
Kaye will always be special to me. If I wasn’t crazy about her, I’d say she were like a sister to me. I drop my head in my hands. I feel so guilty for having thoughts like that.
Pushing that guilt aside, I reach for my phone to try Kaye again. Again, her phone goes to straight to voicemail. I run a hand through my hair and blow out a breath.
I make a face at my own foulness. I need a shower and to brush my damn teeth. Then, I plan to go pay my respects and see what I can do to help out.
* * *
Kaye
My soul aches in ways I could never explain. I’ve lost not one but two of the most important people in my life. Yet, I can’t return home. Six months ago, my brother asked me to do something for him that I still can’t believe I said yes to.
In my heart, I wonder if he’d still be here if I’d said no. Daddy always says the women in our family are enablers when it comes to Danny. We help him get away with murder.
A sob tears from my lips. This time he was trying to save a life. I don’t know what happened in that car, but I can’t help feeling like Danny and Alberto made a trade. I’ve told two huge lies in my life and they have both landed me here.
Alone, scared, and without my big brother to make it right.
“What are we supposed to do now?”
The lack of emotion in her voice makes me want to turn and pounce. Some people are so selfish. The precious air she’s breathing is a blessing. I would kill for that to be Danny standing there watching me, but it’s not.
“We continue with the plan,” I reply just so she’ll go away.