Page 75 of Love is Blind

A crazy thought considering I swore I’d never put myself in that situation again. I didn’t deserve to be anyone’s father, not after the way I failed Abigail.

Until Birdie, I wrapped my shit tight.

Took no chances.

But now, I don’t hate the idea.

I don’t hate a lot of ideas and that should scare the fuck out of me. In the short time I know her, she’s completely unraveled my black and white world. She’s infiltrated color where darkness breeds and has me doing things I never thought I’d do.

For fuck’s sake, I moved her into the clubhouse with me.

I bought a fucking television.

The buzzer sounds, interrupting my train of thought. I lift my gaze to the door and that’s when I catch my first glimpse of Birdie’s ex. He’s nothing like I expected. For starters, he’s about five foot eleven and scrawny as shit. He’s got ink—lots of it—and a silver tooth. Not a guy I picture Birdie with, but I guess love is blind.

“Who the fuck are you?” he questions with a thick Spanish accent.

I tip my chin to the chair in front of him and reply in an even tone.

“I’m your judge and jury.” It sounds good, but my words hold no merit. I came here without a fucking plan and without my kutte. I’m not the vice president of the Satan’s knights, I’m Birdie’s man and I’m here to settle a score. “Sit down, Mendez.”

His brows knit together for about a second, but his curiosity gets the better of him because he pulls out the chair and takes a seat.

“You my new lawyer or something?”

“Or something.” Inching forward, I prop my forearms on the metal table. “I want you to pay close attention to the guards in this room. Memorize their faces because if you do not cooperate, they’re going to make your life a living hell in here.”

It’s complete bullshit, I don’t know the fucking guards, but without my colors, I’ve got to improvise and find a leg to stand on. Something to hold over him and get him talking.

His eyes dart around the room before settling back on me.

“Did Ralphie send you?” He leans back in the chair and shakes his head. “I don’t know how many times I gotta tell him, I don’t know where she is.”

I roll my neck from side to side and take a gamble.

“I don’t know who the fuck Ralphie is, but I know wheresheis.”

He crosses his arms against his chest and lifts an eyebrow.

“You know where Birdie is?”

“Yeah, she’s waiting for me back home in my bed.” His eyes widen for a second, but he quickly schools his features. “It was a shit thing you did, getting her arrested. Uprooting her life and taking advantage of her like you did. But I’m here to tell you whatever shit you got her into, it dies now.”

“I don’t know what Birdie told you, man, but I never meant for her to get involved in any of this and everything that came after the arrest—that wasn’t me.”

Birdie didn’t tell me anything, that’s the fucking problem. It didn’t bother me at first, and I think that’s because I was trying to convince myself this thing between us wasn’t going anywhere. We were just having fun and enjoying each other’s company. That lasted for about a minute. I also figured I’d come here and get the answers I needed to make sense of everything. Then, she and I would have a conversation. Going forward, no more secrets.

“Explain,” I order.

“I ain’t saying shit. If you’re so tight with Birdie, get the answers you’re looking for from her.” He taps his knuckles against the table. “I don’t know who you are, but you don’t have these guards on your bankroll. Ralphie does and if he gets wind you’re digging into his business, you’re as good as dead. Birdie too.” He stands and pushes the chair in. “You got it in you to keep her safe and away from that, then do it, because Ralphie wants her dead.”

I barely have a chance to wrap my head around all that when he turns his back to me. He’s about to walk away when I snap the fuck out it.

“What about you?” I call and he pauses. He doesn’t turn to face me, so I press on. How he answers this next question will determine if I’m the guy waiting for him when his sentence is up. “What do you want for her?”

He glances over his shoulder, his eyes meeting mine.

“You’re not paying attention, mano. It ain’t me you need to be worried about.”

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