PART NINETEEN

Ξ GU,OD Ξ

"So, you mean to tell me that you paid the Prophet to shoot Rico?" I retorted as confusion slowly submitted itself into my consciousness. She made a humming noise in agreement before parting her lips to speak. "Whoever controls the money, controls the people.." She proclaimed with the ghost of a grin on her lips as she wiped the gun and her bloodied hands with a wet cloth.

"What is really wrong with you!? They killed your baby while you were incarcerated and now you want to kill an innocent child?!" I screeched. A heavy weight surrounded my heart like a dark keloid. My breathing hitched as the back of my throat burned with tears. I was infuriated with this woman before me. Her presence made me sick to my stomach.

Tears of sorrow and fury ran down my cheeks. "That's your punishment. Now you know how it feels!" She exclaimed wickedly.

I shook my head as I glanced up at her in disgust. "You're a psychopath." I hissed. I didn't care what she would do to me after hearing my words, but that was far from what she deserved after attempting to kill an innocent child. Her brown eyes that were filled with mischief flickered up to mine.

"You know, I can just kill you now.. but I've got somewhere to be." She slipped her now clean gun back into her jacket and ran her hands through her jet black strands of hair. "If you're hungry or need to pee.. just hold it in until I kill you." She deadpanned before bursting into a fit of laughter.

"How thoughtful." I hissed in utter bitterness.

She shot me one last glare before going up the stairs and exiting the basement. A sigh escaped my lips as I leaned back into the wall. I was never going to escape unless I tried to manipulate Fernando or someone else who was present.

I attempted to reach inside the pocket of my hoodie, trying to find my keys or just anything. A frown etched itself onto my face as my fingertips came in contact with a piece of paper. I slid it out of my pocket and immediately recognized it. It was Oscar's letter.

The day I received the letter; I was too afraid to read it after I had pulled the letter out of the envelope so I stuffed it into a random pocket and shamefully forgot about it.

I reluctantly opened the letter. I let out a sharp breath as my eyes scanned along the many words that formed heart touching sentences.

Dear Sin,

First off, I want to apologize for being such a pendejo while you were just trying to let me notice my worth. Now that I have moved past that point, I'm beyond grateful for having you in my life. I've never actually been so scared of losing something in my entire life, but then again nothing in my life has ever meant as much to me as you do. Recently, you told me you wanted to give me another chance, but you needed some time for yourself. At first, I thought what does this tonta mean with 'time for myself' but then it occurred to me. When I was constantly turning you down, you were trying to build me up. You were there for me when I wasn't for you. And I will apologize every single day for doing that until you it irritates the fuck out of you.

That night when that Prophet pulled a gun on you, I solemnly swore to myself that I would protect you with my life.

I was quiet, but I was not blind to all the things you'd done for me and Rico. For us.

That little hombre once told me: 'What comes easy, won't always last, and what will last, won't always come easy.' He was right. We've known each other for over a year and I'm just now claiming you. Yes, we are two unperfect people but I refuse to give up on you. It doesn't matter how the future is gonna be, but I'm never gonna stop loving you, Sin. I fell in love with you. Not for how you look but for how you carry yourself through this daunting world and for who you are. (Although you're not too hard on the eyes, my love.)

All jokes aside, I want to thank you for giving me your love and trust. Thank you for staying by my side even when I'd put you through a lot of bullshit. Thank you for everything you've done for me and are about to do. At last,

Thank you for reminding me what butterflies feel like.

— O.

Tears found its way down my wet cheeks as they dripped onto the piece of paper, causing the ink bleed out. Crazy how in your time of need, a single letter from your loved one can make it seem like everything around you is fine.

A clanging sound from upstairs caught my attention. I was aware of Flaco and Fernando's presence, yet the fear that it could be someone else lingered through my mind.

"Fernando! Fernando!" I screeched. Heavy footsteps sounded from above me. The door to the basement swung open making the hinges groan in protest. Fernando walked down the stairs and strode towards me. "Qué?" He retorted in a rather concerned manner. "Fernando, why are you letting her do this to me?" I queried, managing to release fake tears from my glossy eyes.

A hurt expression was etched on his face as he glanced at the blood that gushed out of my wound. "She offered me money. I had to do it." He tried to justify. "But, what about Oscar? Doesn't he give you money or something? And what if he finds out? He claimed me, Fernando. That's means you've got to protect me no matter what." I proclaimed in one ragged breath. He ran his calloused hand through his dark gelled-down hair.

"Aye, Sin.. Do you know how much she offered me!? This money could set me and my family good for a long time." He defended, yet his eyes widened slightly in panic and his hands couldn't seem to stop shaking. "How much did she offer you?" I questioned.

He sighed before answering. "25K." Realization then struck me. Telling a gang member to choose between 25K or the girl of your leader, was like choosing between life or death. Some would see the money as death whilst some did not. I just knew that those cholo's would take the money in a heartbeat. I despise to say it but Flaco was right.

'Who controls the money, controls you.'

"She got out of prison just five months ago, how did she manage to pay you and that Prophet so much money?" He grabbed a stool and placed it in front of me before seating himself. The shiny keys that were attached to his belt loops dangled back and forth, managing to capture my attention. I discreetly glanced at the three keys before flickering my eyes back to his face.

"When she was Spooky's girl, they did a lot of bad things. Bad things that delivered them a lot of money. I think that before she went to prison, she stashed her money somewhere or with someone." He clarified. "What were they like?" I questioned in utter curiosity.

"Bad. They were a very bad couple, Sin. He wasn't happy with the relationship at the time but he didn't realize it because he had this obsession with keeping himself busy so that he wouldn't have think about the terrible things that were happening around him." He coaxed.

◇

"Hey, Julio." I greeted as I approached the bunch of cholo's who where playing cards. He looked up and shot me a quick nod before resuming the game. Spooky dropped the weights he was lifting at his side as he conversated with his little brother. When Cesar saw me approach he silently lifted his lips into an awkward smile before turning his attention to the Santo next to him.

I sat on a crate beside Spooky. He avoided my piercing gaze as he picked up the beer bottle beside him, taking a swig. "How you been?" I queried. He shrugged carelessly before replying. "Alright." The lack of emotion in his voice informed me of his lie. Why would he lie to me? I'm the mother of his child, so why would he not speak of the truth?

I parted my lips to speak my thoughts but the words caught in my throat as a familiar girl made her way towards us. "Hey, Oscar. Do you know where Sin is?" Her sister questioned as she folded her arms across her chest. Spooky sat up straight, as if he was suddenly alert. "Isn't she home?" He queried with utter concern enlaced in his voice that made my blood boil. She shook her head. "No, she hasn't been home for the past three days and she isn't answering any of my calls or text messages."

I discreetly pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent Fernando a message.

◇

"Can you-" I was harshly cut off by the buzzing of his phone. He quickly grabbed the device and scanned his eyes along the display. Utter panic masked his neutral expression. "What's wrong?" I questioned softly. He looked up, yet avoided eye contact as he slowly stood up from the metal stool. His calloused hand moved to his waistband, sliding an object out. The frown that was evident on his eyebrows and lips succeed to give away his pained mood.

He gripped the gun tightly in his hand as his chin quivered against his will. "I- I have to kill you.." He managed to breathe out. My heart dropped, slivers of nausea erupted in my abdomen and tears burned in my eyes; threatening to fall. Only one emotion could make me feel this wary.

Fear.

"Fernando.. please don't do this. Just shoot me in the leg or something and let me go. Oscar will kill you with his bare hands if you do this and you know that your family will be devastated if you're dead. Don't kill me because I will haunt you." I rambled. I had tried everything to this point; guilt tripping, crying, manipulating, and yet nothing worked. The fear inside me grew like a flower that was seconds close to its death. I could do nothing more and that was the part that absolutely terrified me.

"I'm so sorry, Sin, but I have to think about my family." He tried to justify as countless tears ran down his cheeks.

"Please don't do this, Fernando." I whimpered hopelessly.

He pointed his gun towards me and mercilessly squeezed the trigger. The bright flare erupted from the barrel as the deadly bullet swiftly zoomed through the air; towards me.

↯

[ I have made some changes, my people:
Monse's father is also Sin's biological father. Sin's mother died while giving birth to her so that makes Monse's mother Sin's stepmom. (So they have the same dad but different moms.)
😴I just summed everything up in that one sentence. I always talk a lot, but ya get it? ]

PS. i'm sorry if this chapter was meh pls FORGIVE ME