Page 31 of Forget Me

“Of course not.”

He scowled at me. “How many times have I told you—”

“Always lock the door. I know, I know.” I rubbed the spot over my galloping heart. Why hadn’t I locked it? I knew better than to risk my tía’s safety.

“He was right here with me,” she argued. “He’d have defended me.”

“What if he brought his gang with him, hmm? Mateo alone couldn’t protect you then.”

“I’d try,” I grumbled.

“He’d defend me. And I’d call 911.”

My cousin narrowed his eyes, and the darkness of his gaze erased the pretty blue. “No more mistakes.”

I gusted out my breath. “Understood.”

She tugged on his coat sleeve. “Why are you here on a workday, Lito?”

“I wanted to ask you—” He glared at me. “Mateo, check the house to make sure no one got in.”

“But, Lito, he’s family. What do you have to hide from him?”

As if she hadn’t spoken, he said, “Then patrol the perimeter.”

I squared my shoulders. “Got it, boss.” Though, as I walked away, I speculated under my breath about what had crawled up his tight ass.

But as I poked into the rosebushes with my weapon of choice, an aluminum bat, I had to admit he’d been right to criticize me. If I could’ve brought back my father, I’d have guarded him with my last breath. And if I had a dangerous man to protect him from like my cousin did, I’d probably have been just as obsessed with safety.

I’d fucked up. My cousin was right not to trust me. I’d known since I was little there was something wrong with me. I wasn’t as smart as the other kids, for one. For another…

I flicked away the thought. What did it matter, anyway? Rationally, I knew it wasn’t my fault, but a dark whisper in my subconscious reminded me if I were worth staying for, my mother wouldn’t have left us.

I hefted the bat and tapped my left palm with it. I wasn’t that broken little boy anymore. I’d grown into a charmer, just like my tía said. People liked me now. And maybe, just maybe, Mimi could grow to like me, too.

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