Page 57 of Kandie Shoppe

Sighing, he rises to his full six-foot-seven, crossing his thickly muscled arms over his chest. “Mrs. Katie-Belle asked me to see these folks around who were going to be in town for the graduation. They are a group of investors. She thought they’d cotton to a Shelby but since most Shelbys can’t be trusted, she could only count on Seb or me. Seb couldn’t do it for whatever reason, so he asked me.”

My mind goes to his behavior. “And that look you gave me?”

“You pop off over the slightest thing. And that Monica lady would have incited you.” His mouth hardens. “Satisfied?”

Saying nothing, I walk a little farther into the room. Pulling off my shirt and bra, I watch him watching me. Wriggling out of my Daisy Dukes, I kick them across the room to where he’s standing.

“Not even a little bit.” Heading to the bathroom, I let out aneepwhen he picks me up, tossing me over his shoulder.

“I’ll be back later tonight.”

I put the prepped milk rolls up so that they can poof, trying to hold on to the warm cozy feeling I had when Ulysses kissed me on my forehead after getting a call just as we were about to fall asleep.

That was it for any sleep I thought I tried to get, so I got up, deciding to get a start on the day. Who needs sleep anyway?

I jump when I hear a distant thud. Is it coming from my place? My heart trips over itself as I take the fire escape to the roof. My thighs tremble from exertion and the fear with eachrung I take up. If I can come down the other side and hop on my balcony, maybe I can get a picture of them with my phone. It shouldn’t be too hard. I left my light on when I left.

Finally reaching the roof, I realize just how wrong I am. I hear voices in the back of the bakery. The heavy baritone and Latin accent.

Careful to stay away from the edge of the roof, I watch Mr. Lopez hand Ulysses a paper. It’s a roughly drawn map of the outskirts of town that edges part of our property I know well. Pa-Pete used to have a lot of bootlegged liquor out that way.

“I know where it is.” He sounds really angry when he hands the paper back to Mr. Lopez. He claps the man on the shoulder. Mr. Lopez turns to Ulysses’ hard profile. “Not a word. Especially to senora.”

Mr. Lopez nods rapidly to the menacing words heading back into his shop. I step back just as Ulysses turns in my direction.

On quiet feet with my heart damn near about to burst from my chest, I hurry down the fire escape to my loft in case he comes back.

As soon as I slide the door open, I run over to the bed and get in. I won’t fool him for a second. He’s too observant. He may break my neck for spying on him, which is exactly what I bet Angel told him to do the first time.

My tummy churns. Is that why all the intensity of his renewed interest? To keep me under his watchful eye? To keep me busy on his dick, so I won’t go around telling people what I saw. Probably. I fell for it too. Something deep inside of me may be always suspected, but I didn’t care as long as I had him with me again. Pathetic.

I wait. I don’t know how long, but he never comes. Well, I’m done being a dumbass. He may think he has my head in the clouds, but I’ll be damned if I let him get away with doing whathis family has been doing since they first set foot on this soil — hurting people.

I get out of bed. Bolt my door with the new double lock Oz installed when he and my other cousins set my place back to rights after the vandalism.

Switching out my white bakery uniform, I pull on a long-sleeved Henley, black jeans, and all black sneakers. Grabbing my copy of Pa-Pete’s keys, I climb down the balcony railing jumping to the ground.

Luckily, it’s dark and tomorrow is a workday for most folks around here, so I don’t encounter anyone on the way to my grandparents’ house.

Slipping into the cab, I notice the light popping on right before Pa-Pete leans out with his shotgun brace over his chest.

“Hey there, handsome. It’s just me. I need to make a run for some flour that didn’t come in on time.”

He nods. “Be careful. We’ve had some trouble with some rogue El Diablos.”

“Say what?” I stop knowing I can’t move anyway. Is this a warning from Angel? “Why are they bothering y’all?”

“Easy done got mixed up with Angel, the president. Oz almost blew his face off, but she stood up for him right in there. Seems they got secret married — El Diablo style.” He nods toward his house then looks back to me with a look of helplessness I’ve never seen on his face before this very moment.

“I’ll bring the truck back as soon as I can,” I tell him, knowing just how hollow and hopeless I sound.

“Keep it as long as you need it, honey.” He waves, heading back into the house.

The heaviness in my chest is still there as I turn off into a darkened thatch of the woods surrounding the warehouse where I see Angel’s chopper and Ulysses’ Sheriff’s cruiser and what looks to be a black G-Wagon.

Men go in and out of the warehouse. I need to get closer. What are they hiding? What are they unloading? I don’t see any people being loaded into any of the vehicles.

So caught up in the view I’m straining to see, I hear a rustle and nearly jump out of my skin.

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