I shake my head.
“No, they don’t know. And you’re right, Manny. It is my life. A life I need to start living.”
“I agree,” he says a little too quickly.
I don’t think he believes I want this divorce, but I’m not in the mood to argue with him over it. I want my life back, that’s all.
“You really did keep an eye on me, huh?” I reach up and kiss his cheek, lightening the heavy mood that has shrouded us. “Seriously, though. I can’t believe you have given up years of your life just to watch me walk around school, or go to parties and study groups. God, you must have been bored out of your mind. My life has been nothing but one big uninteresting bag of books.”
“Nah. I had a job to do, so I did it. Besides, we take care of our own around here. I would never be able to live with myself if something were to happen to you. Simple as that. And you were boring for the first year, but you broke free over the past year and a half. Especially after you started dating Mikel.”
I don’t miss the crossness in his tone.
“We broke up after he asked me to marry him. I lied to him the entire time we dated. That’s when I decided enough was enough and I couldn’t continue to put my life on hold for a man who didn’t give a shit about me. Mikel didn’t deserve to be hurt like that.”
I’ll never forget the regret I felt when I broke his heart. I know what that feels like, to think you know someone, and then to find out everything about them was a lie.
Manny sits down next to me and polishes off the rest of his beer, tossing the bottle onto the ground.
“It’s a damn good thing you did break up, though, because that’s the first time Cain really thought he was going to lose you for good. I had to talk the fucker down time and time again from driving over the border. He was ready to kill him.”
“That’s a little hypocritical, don’t you think? I mean, he wanted to kill Mikel when he’s the one who lied and slept with someone else in the first place. I mean, come on. I get the fact that he’s been protecting me, I really do, but that’s bullshit and you know it. He lost me the day he married me. The day he decided our love for one another wasn’t strong enough.”
“Come on, Calla. Loosen up a little. I didn’t mean it literally. I just meant for the first time since you left, he didn’t think he had a chance of getting you back.”
“I was never his in the first place,” I say softly.
“You’ve always been his woman. You just don’t realize it.”
I stand up, straightening my skirt as best I can.
“Really? Pin your ears back and crack open those eyes, Manny. I belong to no-one. What I want is to climb back into my car, go home, and forget this day ever happened. So if you could be so kind as to tell me where Cain is, I would appreciate it.”
“He’s in there. You’re wasting your breath and your time if you think anyone in this club will let you leave here. Come on,” he says, pointing to the bar. “Let me take you.”
I sigh, knowing I’m facing a losing battle trying to get out of here. But for the love of God, there has to be another way. Geez. I’ll even let the kingpin here drive me to my parents’ house himself.
The first step I take I stumble, my shoes catching in the dirt. These poor shoes are going to be ruined before this day is over. Manny’s arms go around my shoulders to catch my fall, the two of us laughing at my clumsiness, but it falters when we look up and under the light of the doorway stands Cain. And he’s not alone.
Chapter Six
Calla
“What the mother fuck?” he shouts.
Cain brings his arms up on either side of him, his hands balled into tight fists. If looks really could kill, Manny and I would both be dead right now.