♛Cameron Dawson ♛

Music streams from the radio that's on the desk which has numerous tools scattered along it and I hum along to the song from Ricky Martin. However, when I see boots beside me from where I'm underneath the car, I pull myself out. Following the boots up to the face of who owns them, I'm not surprised to see Katalina next to me. However, I am a little surprised to see how drained she looks.

Her hair is thrown haphazardly into a bun and her face is completely bare, showing the bags under her eyes. Pushing myself up onto my feet, I gingerly place my hands on each arm and look at her.

"Hey, are you alright?" I ask, looking between both her eyes. Katalina nods, although her smile is nowhere near as genuine as I'm sure she was hoping it to be. It's then that I notice that she's carrying a bouquet of flowers in one hand.

"Could you come somewhere with me?" She asks then. "I know you're busy but I'd really appreciate it."

"Yeah. Sure. Of course." I reply, wiping my hands down on a cloth before pulling on my jacket given the fact that today is much colder than it has been since I got here.

"Do you mind driving?"

"No, it's alright. Climb in." I say, offering a smile as I unlock the doors. She slides into the passenger seat and I slip into mine, putting the key in the ignition.

"Where are we going?" I ask as I back out of the lot and head to the gate, guards opening for us.

"I'll direct you." She replies and I nod, finding her behavior so strange and unnerving. It's weird to not see Katalina burning with this intense passion and cracking jokes and having a twinkle in her eye. It's worrying.

We don't talk the whole drive aside from her giving me directions. I listen intently, traveling further into the suburban areas until eventually we pull up to a small cemetery and it's then that I realise why Katalina has flowers. I park outside of the small picket fence and turn to Lina. She's staring straight ahead, her face void of any emotion.

"Would you like me to stay in the car?" I ask softly and she shakes her head, looking down at the bouquet and playing with the wrapping around it.

"No. I'd prefer if you came in with me if that's okay with you." She glances at me then in questioning and I nod, switching the car off and waiting for her to make the first move to get out. Whoever she is grieving for right now, I don't want to rush her. After a few moments of silence, she opens the door and I follow after, trailing behind her as she walks along the cobble pathway. It's so eery seeing all the gravestones.

One of the first things that should have thrown me off is the fact that Katalina is also wearing a grey dress which is the first time I've seen her in something other than shorts or jeans. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I follow her as she moves onto the grass, weaving between various graves. That is until she eventually slows down, pausing in front of and between two tombstones.

I read it then:

Maria Morales
A kind woman, a loving wife and a nurturing mother

And

Ruardo Morales
A talented man, a great husband and an understanding father

Even though I knew Katalina and Ramiro's parents were here when they died, I thought they would be buried in Mexico for some reason but this makes sense because Katalina and her brother can at least visit them.

"It's my dad's birthday today." Katalina says, snapping me out of my thoughts. Her voice is strong, holiding a numb kind of conviction to it. "He would have been forty-eight."

I don't respond.

"Usually Ray and I spend the morning here but he's so busy with the gang and trying to help Enrique... I can't blame him for not been able to make it. As much as it hurts me to say it, we have bigger things to worry about today but I just had to come by." She explains, her back still turned to me as she looks down at the grave. "Papa was my favorite person ever."

I don't say anything but I do sit down, leaning on my hands while I watch Katalina take a seat on her dad's side. Moments of silence pass between us, nothing but the sound of the birds chirping filling the silence. I watch the woman in front of me hug her knees to her chest, flowers still clutched tightly in her hand.

"Would you blame me if I said I didn't want to be buried here?" She suddenly asks, looking over at me. I see the silent tear streaks down her cheeks.

I shake my head. "No, why would I?"

She shrugs, looking back to her parents tombstones. "I don't know. We buried them here so we could visit them... so that they could be closer. But, when I die, I don't want to be buried here. I want to be scattered in the ocean, y'know? I've been tied down here, to Concord, to this life, before I even got a chance to choose what I wanted. When I die I want to be free. I want to live the life I never got to live while I was alive."

"Then that's fine. If that's what you want, it's okay. You can love your family with everything you got and still not let them tie you down, Katalina." I reply gently. "I'm sure they would want you to do what makes you happy."

She smiles to herself, nodding her head in thought. "I know. But it still hurts. I know Ray will want to be buried here, beside them."

"You still have a long time to go before the day you die though. Don't knock yourself trying to make that decision now." I tell her and she gives me an almost pointed look.

"In normal circumstances, yes. But you know that we have to think of those kind of things with the way we live." She replies and it's the first time I hear bitterness in her tone when she's spoken about her life, and the way we do things. And it intrigues me because I would think that this is the lifestyle she wanted given the fact that she's so high up in the position of the Kings. She's married to the leader...

"You said you never chose this life," trying to approach the topic carefully because of her fragile state, I pick my words as well as I can, "are you happy with it? Is this what you wanted?"

She's quiet for a moment and I almost think she's chosen to ignore me until she shakes her head. "I wanted to be a photographer."

My eyebrows raise in surprise. "So why didn't you? Did you parents force you into the gang?"

Katalina shakes her head, a strand of black hair falling in front of her face. She doesn't bother to move it. "No, they would have supported me. But I guess that after they died, things changed and I had duties to fulfill. Before I knew it, this was where I found myself. I married Enrique and had his child. Even if I wanted to leave, I'm in too deep now."

"You're high up in the gang, Katalina. Nothing is really stopping you from moving on to build the life you always wanted. It's not too late." I tell her. "You're Enrique's wife and that gives you a bigger chance than anyone else because even if you leave the gang, he'll still trust you, you'll still be together."

Katalina chews on her lip in thought, a breeze of wind blowing her hair around. "I think some of us were born for this life, y'know? We didn't choose it, it chose us." She says and it leaves me breathless because Santino once said the exact same thing to me. I remember asking him why he ever joined when he had such a kind heart and that was his response... that was what he told me his reason was. I had almost laughed in his face and yet, now, I understand it. Because Harley didn't choose this life but it certainly chose her. "But who knows? Maybe I'll figure it out eventually. Maybe I'll actually be able to be a normal mom and have a normal job."

"I hope for your sake you figure it out." I say softly and she gives me a smile that warms me from the inside out. It's a smile that Carla used to give me a lot. A loving smile.

"And I hope for your sake that you figure it out first because you deserve the life you've always wanted Cameron. You and Harley both."

The conversation dies out and soon silence ensues but it's comfortable. Peaceful. Katalina stays seated, eyes trained to her parents and my eyes focus on the sky that's partly blue, partly grey. That is until Ramiro emerges, dressed in a grey shirt and holding his own bouquet of flowers, similar to Katalina's. Upon seeing her brother, Katalina launches herself at him, breaking into tears as he grabs her. He holds her tightly, stroking her hair with his free hand.

Quietly, I push myself up to a standing position and Ramiro mouths a 'thank you' to me which I respond to with a smile. I leave the two siblings there then, holding onto each other. It's not my place to see Katalina mourn her parents and I don't want to intrude. Together they will support each other and when she returns back to the gang's house, I'll be there for her to lean on just like a friend should be.

****

"You look beautiful." I tell Harley as she runs a hand over her black dress. It's nothing fancy but it flatters her figure and makes her legs seem longer. Even though her hair is pulled up into a bun, she looks ethereal. She turns around with a smile.

"Thanks Danté. I just wanted something a little different today. You don't think I over did it, right?" She suddenly asks, a worried tone lacing her voice. I shake my head, cupping her cheek as I stare down at her.

"No, amado. You look gorgeous. Enrique did say it was a special dinner so no, you haven't overdone it. Although," I say, snaking one hand behind her and give her a squeeze, "you always make it very hard."

She frowns then. "What hard?"

With an amused smirk, I look down at my pants and she follows the action before slapping my chest with a laugh.

"You horny ass." She exclaims and I laugh, clipping her chin and forcing her to look at me.

"How can I not be horny all the time when you look like this?" I murmur, placing a kiss on her neck. I feel her shake beneath me from her laughter and she pulls me back so I have to look at her.

"You, Mr Danté Barbaso, are very smooth with your words."

"Oh?" I smirk, "So do I get some kind of reward?"

Harley laughs. "Uh, no. Not tonight."
I offer a pout and she giggles, placing a kiss on my cheek before grabbing her leather jacket and slipping it on. "Come on, we don't want to be late."

****

When we arrive at the gang house, there's a certain kind of buzz in the air that I cannot quite explain and it makes my insides twist and turn. Everyone at the dinner table have smiles on their faces, lighthearted conversations bouncing around the room in a loud and energetic manner.

Katalina looks the same as she usually does and it's almost like I didn't see her crying a few days ago at her parent's grave. However, her smile is still a little forced. Plates and plates of food are across the table, all the aromas mixing in the air to form a heavenly smell that has my mouth watering.

Bruno and Harley talk beside me, Bruno cracking a joke here and there which makes Harley laugh while I talk to Katalina who waits for Enrique to join her by her side.

"What's this dinner all about?" I ask Katalina and she smiles.

"You'll see; it's very good news."

Before I have any more time to press her for more information, Enrique enters the room and moves to his chair at the head of the table. It's the first time I see him place a kiss on Katalina's cheek but it's so clear how much he loves her. Slowly the conversations die down to a soft murmur and a bottle of red wine is passed down the table, everyone pouring some into their glasses. When everyone has a glass of wine in hand, Enrique stands up while gripping his own.

"We've come a long way to get here today." He begins, his free hand resting casually in his pocket. "To get to the point where Jack and his gang are fully at our disposal so that we can finally clean Concord and California of their filth." A few shouts of excitement are let out. "We've dedicated our time and effort for the last two years- especially the last few months- to weaken the gang and get into some very confidential files that Jack has. And today, my fellow friends, I am happy to announce that we are one step away from destroying the gang. His topdogs have resisted against his instructions and the files have finally been found and now just need to be broken into which will only take a couple days at best. So, here is to the hopeful future that we will be the last standing gang in California!" Enrique holds his glass up in the air in a toast and everyone cheers, holding their glasses up in support before clanking their glasses against one another.

Harley turns to me, holding her glass up to me and I lift mine to hers.

"Remember to keep eye contact otherwise we'll have seven years of bad sex." She jokes, telling me a myth she first told me on one of our dates.

I knock my glass against hers. "I highly doubt that's possible."

Together, we take a sip of our wine before turning back to everyone at the table who is dishing up food. Grabbing a plate, I dish up as much food as my plate will allow and Harley does the same before we both dig in.

Conversation flows easily around the table and I listen intently to the stories they tell. Keva reminisces over the night that Bruno got knocked by a car for playing Chicken and then when Ramiro got stitches for jumping the fence to a private golf course that had barbed wire. It's nice to hear everyone talking about memories they have together.... it's so easy to forget that they're gang members because they sound like friends, like family. It makes me even happier to see Harley talk with them, especially Keva and Bruno who all talk about a specific kind of car. It almost feels like we belong.

"Yo! Can I make a toast?" Kevin says, standing up, and everyone turns to face him.

"Shut up Piss Boy." Adrianna exclaims and everyone laughs as Kevin rolls his eyes.

"Here's a toast to not only been part of a gang but also a family."

People slam their hands on the table as they cheer and Harley laughs from beside me, myself been unable to keep the smile off my face. Numerous people go around giving toasts but it surprises me when Harley stands up beside me. She holds her glass in her hand that shakes ever so slightly.

"I would just like to say thank you to everyone who has welcomed Cameron and I. You're all really great people." She says and everyone let out whoops of excitement and support before sipping from their drinks. However, a loud scoff from Jee who sits beside Ramiro grabs some of our attention, including Harley after she's sat down.

"Wow." Jee replies, a sarcastic smile on her face. "You really believe you're one of us huh?"

"Jee." Ramiro mutters under his breath, a warning tone evident. However, the girl beside him ignores him.

"Don't you get it Harley? You were only asked to join because Ramiro and Katalina found themselves in a sticky situation that night in the grocery store. You don't seriously think you're valuable right? Look at what you've done for this gang- nothing! Right now you're more of a liability than anything else. You might be sitting at this dinner table, eating with us but don't think for a second that you're one of us. You will never be a Kings member."

"Jee K'yong-"

"And just because you saved my life doesn't mean I owe you shit. You're a snake," Jee sneers, "and I'll be damned if I decided to trust an ex Slither gang member who is related to the boss's second hand man and could easily climb up the ranks without doing anything but been a whore and-"

"For fuck's sake Jee, shut up!" Ramiro suddenly yells, silencing everyone, including Jee who looks at him in surprise. "What the hell has gotten into you? You're acting like a spoiled brat. Harley has done nothing to you to warrant you treating her like scum. You're not that kind of person so what the fuck is going on? This isn't my best friend." He looks her up and down in disgust. "I can't even stand to look at you. Harley saved your fucking life and this is how you show your gratitude?"

The hurt on Jee's face is clear and she swallows hard, seemingly trying to find the right words to respond with.

"Ramiro-"

"Leave." Enrique suddenly says, Jee meeting his gaze.

"What?"

"You are not welcomed at this table if you treated another member so poorly, especially after she saved your life. Furthermore, you have disrespected my decision by undermining the choice to allow Harley into this gang. So leave. Now."

"I didn't mean to upset you Enrique, I just don't trust he-"

"Get out Jee!" Katalina screams, her voice cutting through the air like a knife, so much so that Harley flinches. "You are a disgrace to this gang and everyone in it."

Hurt flickers across Jee's face which turns to anger then embarrassment before her face becomes a blank canvas. It's not the first time Jee has been unnecessarily nasty to Harley- she did it the first dinner we ever had with them- and this time I struggle to contain my anger. Harley doesn't deserve this treatment and if only Jee knew how many times Harley has heard those same words. But I keep the anger inside, considering the fact that Ramiro, Katalina and Enrique defended Harley.

Jee stands up from the table, pushing her seat back. "Sorry." She says in an almost robotic voice. Without so much as a glance back at Harley, she leaves the room. When the door has shut closed behind her, I finally look at Harley. Her lips are pursed, hands gripping the arms of the chair tightly as she stares straight ahead. I slip a hand onto her thigh and she she snaps her head towards me. I give her a concerned look and she smiles at me but I see right through it.

What Jee said obviously hit a sore spot for Harley.

"I apologise on behalf of Jee, Harley." Enrique says, everyone slowly falling back into conversation and continuing to eat.

"None of what she said is true so please don't take it to heart." Katalina says, a worried smile on her face. Harley nods at them, picking up her fork and finishing off her meal in silence.

•••
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