Chain Reaction (22 page)

46

Nikki

Luis hasn’t been back to school all week. I called Brittany, who told me that Alex and Carlos have been taking care of him. Alex says he’s healing fast. Kendall, Derek, and Hunter invited me to play golf at Brickstone. I don’t want to go, but I need to get my mind off of Luis.

I can’t say how many times I’ve been tempted to go over to Luis’s house. Six times I got in my car and started driving, but I always stopped myself before I crossed the railroad tracks to the south side.

“I’m glad you came,” Hunter says as I set my golf clubs in the golf cart.

I give him a small smile. “Me too.”

“Me three,” Derek says, then nudges Kendall.

“Me four,” she says, although she’s less enthusiastic.

On the eighth hole, while Derek is coaching Kendall on how to do a chip shot to get her ball out of the sand trap, Hunter sits next to me in the golf cart. “Go to my homecoming with me,” he says.

“Was that a question or a statement?” I ask him.

“Considering I don’t want you to even contemplate saying no, I’d say it was a statement.” He puts his arm around me. “You know I’ve always wanted to date you.”

“Liar. You’ve wanted to add me to your trophy shelf.”

“True. So how about it?”

I glance down at his green custom golf shoes with shiny gold designs on the tops. His initials are engraved in the gold. Luis wouldn’t be caught dead in them. “I can’t go to homecoming with you, Hunter.”

“Is it because of my shoes?”

“No. It’s because I’m in love with someone else.”

“Does he know about it?”

“Yes. But he doesn’t believe me.”

When Marco and I broke up, and I saw him with Mariana, I didn’t fight for him. I gave up and let the LB win. With Luis it’s different. I realized that I’m not giving up on us, and I’m going to fight to get him back. I love him deeper than just my heart … I love him to the inner parts of my soul as if he’s a part of me.

It’s about time he knows it.

47

Luis

While Alex is out and Carlos is watching television, I sneak out my bedroom window with my backpack and head to the bank with the key to the safety-deposit box. I’m sure it’s too much to hope I’ll be back before they realize I’m gone. I have to know what’s in the bank, so I can decide what to do. I sneak through back alleys to make sure I’m not followed.

At the bank, I give them my ID and sign a slip of paper declaring that I’m the owner of the box. Afterward, I’m directed to a locked vault. The bank employees leave me in the vault alone while I open the box and examine the contents.

Stacks of hundred-dollar bills stare back at me. I bet there’s at least ten or fifteen thousand dollars here. My heart starts racing. I don’t look up for fear there’s a video camera watching my every move. Seeing this much money makes me nervous. What was it supposed to be used for? Why did Hector put my name on the box in the first place? I don’t know if I’ll ever get the answers.

There’s also a piece of paper with a bunch of numbers on it and below them the letters
CODEOFSILENCE
—all caps, no spaces.

Under the money is another piece of paper, embossed and stamped as original—my birth certificate.

Luis Salvatore Martinez Fuentes.

I stare at the two last names …
mi’amá
acknowledged Hector as my father on my birth certificate. She gave me his last name, but never told me. On the bottom of the certificate, where it says father, Hector Martinez is listed—and the bastard signed the document.

Despite everything, I don’t feel like a Martinez. It’s not a part of me, and I won’t adopt it as my own.

I jot the numbers down on my palm with a pen, fold the birth certificate into my pocket, then put the box back in its slot. Since I laid my eyes on the cash, I’ve been trying to convince myself to take it—it’s mine, isn’t it?
Mi’amá
needs it, Alex needs it … it could help Carlos and Kiara start their lives together.

But what if it’s blood money, or drug money? Shit, I’m a Latino Blood with a damn conscience. Not a good combination.

I quickly fill my backpack with the cash, then take the bus to the local library, hoping I’m not being tracked. If Chuy knows I’ve been to the bank, then he knows I’ve seen what’s in the box. Is he expecting me to just hand over the cash and give him the numbers on the paper? If I don’t give them to him, will he kill me? If I do give them to him, what does he need me for, then? Best bet is that I’ll be smoked either way.

If Nikki and I were together, she’d be in danger. I’m glad I gave her up, although it’s killing me inside.

I can’t tell Alex and Carlos what’s goin’ down. They’re already involved more than they should be. I swear they haven’t let me out of their sight for one minute since they came back home. If Carlos gets involved, and something goes wrong and he gets arrested, he’ll most likely be dishonorably discharged from the army. Alex could lose his scholarship, his family … if he’s in jail, he’ll miss the birth of his second child.

I’ll never let either of them get involved. I might be a Martinez, but I still feel like a Fuentes.

I look back and realize that I’m being tailed by a black Camaro. The guy driving looks suspiciously like the
pendejo
who opened the door in that house Marco and I went to in the F5 territory to collect the five Gs.

Luckily I know Fairfield like the back of my hand. I walk toward the police station, which is right behind the library. I walk inside the station lobby and wait while the car passes, then go behind the station and head to the back door of the library.

Once inside, I sign up for an hour of computer use. I Google the set of numbers I found in the safety deposit box, but nothing comes up. What would Hector do with the numbers? Probably not a phone number, but the number starts with double zeroes. I deduce that it’s either some kind of code, a password, or an account number. A bank account, maybe. But what bank? There’s probably thousands of banks. How the hell am I supposed to figure out which one? Or maybe it’s not a bank account, and the numbers don’t mean shit.

It’s no use. My hour is up and I still don’t have a clue what the numbers mean. I look behind me and see someone else waiting to use the computer. Damn. I need more time.

At home, I sneak back in through my window when I catch sight of Reyes smoking a cigarette on his back porch. He’s shirtless and his back is to me. Plain as day I see a tattoo between his shoulder blades. F5.

Reyes is a gangbanger posing as a cop? Holy shit. What has he been doin’, spying on me like the others? Was this all planned out? Chuy said he’s been watching me all along, even when I was in Colorado. Could Chuy secretly be fuckin’ with me?

I’m so fucking confused it feels like my head is about to explode. Not wanting Reyes to know I’ve seen him, I sneak around to the front of the house. When I walk through the door, Peterson is sitting at the kitchen table peering at me over her glasses.

“Weren’t you supposed to give birth already?” I ask her.

She touches her protruding stomach. “Any day now. I’m on maternity leave, so you’ll have a break from me for a few months. Don’t be too broken up about it.”

“I’m not.”

“You almost missed our tutoring session,” she says, then glances at her watch.

Considering my chances of surviving the next few weeks are slim, she doesn’t need to waste her time. “Listen, Mrs. P., I know my brothers kind of coerced you to be here, but it’s a waste of your time.”

“I’m not giving up on you,” she says, patting the chair next to her.

“I would.”

“I didn’t give up on Alex, and I’m not giving up on you. Alex had every reason to throw it all away but he didn’t.”

Alex never had the connection to the LB that I do.

“Show me your math homework,” she orders in a no-nonsense voice.

“Not to be disrespectful, Mrs. P., but I’d bet I’m better in math than you.” My brothers must have found my textbook and binders in my room and “helpfully” left them on the table for me. I pull out the math sheet I finished in five seconds.

“Mr. Gasper gave me a new worksheet. I made a copy of it. I bet I can finish the worksheet faster than you.”

“How much?”

She pulls her wallet out, opens it, then slips a five-dollar bill out of the top. Attached to one side of her wallet are her checks … with a row of numbers at the bottom. The first two numbers are zeroes.

“What are those numbers?” I ask her, pointing to the bottom of the check.

“The bank routing number, and the bank account number. Why?”

I glance at my palm with the numbers written on it, and adrenaline pumps through my veins. That’s it. The bank routing number, and bank account. “No reason. I’ve never had checks,” I tell her.

Mrs. P. takes ten minutes to explain how checks work, and even pulls one of hers out of her wallet and makes me write one out.

“Sign your name here,” she says, pointing to the bottom right corner. “This is a life skill that you should know, Luis.”

“I’ve got other life skills,” I tell her.

“Yeah, well, I don’t consider cussing a life skill. Or fighting.”

“I do. Necessary ones.”

She shakes her head and sighs in frustration. “I will give you this important information about checks.” She writes the word
VOID
in big bold letters on the front of the check she told me to practice on. “Let this be the last time you write your name on someone else’s check. If you do, or forge someone’s name on a check, it’s a felony. You go to jail. Make good decisions, Luis. Focus on math and science and doing well in school. Those will help you. The fighting won’t.” She places Gasper’s worksheet in front of me. “You ready for the challenge?”

I pick up a pencil. “You’re on, Mrs. P. But I’ve got to warn you, I’m a numbers guy.”

“Good,” she says, patting me on the hand. “That skill will serve you well in college, and when you’re up in space.”

It’s more likely I’ll end up in hell before heaven or space.

48

Nikki

I gave Derek a note to give to Luis. He texted me that he delivered it. Now I’m waiting. If he won’t come to me, I’m going to him.

I debated what to wear, and now I’m second-guessing myself. What if he doesn’t remember this dress, the one I wore the night I met him? What if he doesn’t remember what room we were in when we first laid eyes on each other?

But the setup doesn’t matter. What matters is that Luis knows I love him, and I’m not giving up on us trying to make this work.

I know he’s a Latino Blood now, but if he realizes what we have is stronger than any bond he could have to a gang, everything will work out. I have to believe he really doesn’t want to be in the LB and will find a way to get out.

I look at my cell phone. No call from Luis, no text, and it’s nine o’clock. I told him in the letter to meet me here at nine. Every second that passes makes me nervous that he might not show, but I don’t give up hope. Even at nine fifteen when there’s no sign of him, I still have faith he’ll come. I feel like that movie where the girl is standing on the pitcher’s mound, waiting for the guy. When all hope is lost, the hero comes running onto the field and they live happily ever after.

Luis is my hero, even if he doesn’t know it yet. He’ll know tonight … if he shows up.

I check my clock again for the hundredth time. Nine thirty.

When I called the private grounds where Brittany and Alex got married, the lady on the phone told me I had to call their management office to inquire about a daily rental. To my surprise, Hunter answered the phone. Ends up his family owns the property, and he told me the house would be unoccupied for two days, so I could stay there for free. When I told him he might change his mind about letting me use the place because I was going to be with another guy, all he said was, “Lucky guy. I hope he’s worth it.”

“He is,” I tell him.

At ten, I’m losing hope. I take the key out of my purse, ready to close the place up, when the door opens.

Luis is in the doorway. “Hey,” he says.

“Hey.”

“Derek gave me your note. Sorry I’m late. There was a little mishap with my dog.”

“What happened to Granny?”

“She kind of wandered off, but I found her. Why did you want me to come here?”

“You haven’t been at school.” I step closer to him. “I missed you.”

“You’re wearin’ the same dress you had on when we met.”

“You remembered.”

“How could I forget. I thought you were an angel from heaven.”

“I’m still your angel, Luis.”

“We can’t do this.” He looks around the room. “You pushed me away that night at your place … You were right.”

“No. I was scared, Luis. The second I laid eyes on you, I knew you were dangerous … because I felt a connection.”

“The same you felt with Marco,” he says with a sad tone to his voice.

“No. Very different. Very, very different. You’re a genius in chemistry class, Luis. Explain the electricity in the room right now. It’s flowing between us … even you can’t control it.”

“It’s lust.”

“I think it’s something else. Follow me,” I say, then slide past him and head outside to the dance floor.

“You were a shitty dancer back then,” he says, watching me as I play music I’d already set up from my portable iPod speakers.

I smile sheepishly. “I’m still a shitty dancer.”

“I’m not who you think I am, or who
I
thought I was. I found out that my father was Hector Martinez, the head of the Latino Blood. I’m following in his footsteps.”

I’m shocked, but everything makes more sense now. “Why follow in his footsteps?”

“Because I have to, Nik. It’s my legacy. I was born a Latino Blood,” he says. “And I’m gonna die one.”

“Not tonight, you’re not.” I take his arms and put them around me as we sway to the music. I wrap my arms around his neck as a slow love song plays in the background. “I love you, Luis … unconditionally.”

“Nik, don’t do this,” he whispers.

I hold him tighter. “I’m not holding back anymore. Luis, tell me you love me, too.”

“I never stopped lovin’ you,
mi chava
.” I hear him curse under his breath. “But I can’t drag you down with me. This can’t happen between us, because you know I’ll have to leave you.”

I take his hand and lead him onto the beach, and into one of the many abandoned lifeguard stations. Flickering candles in glass containers surround the cramped space—candles I lit over an hour ago.

He stands against the wall, watching my every move.

“Last time we were alone together I held back,” I tell him.

“I know. You didn’t trust me, which was a smart move. You said you didn’t love me.”

“I lied.” I run my fingers lightly over his shaved head and he closes his eyes. “You look so tough.”

“I don’t feel so tough.” He opens his eyes. They sparkle with every flicker of the candlelight hitting them. He’s got beautiful, mesmerizing eyes that pierce my soul. “You shouldn’t love me. I don’t deserve it.”

I hold his face in my hands. “Luis, I admire the fact that you know what you want, and go for it even when the odds are stacked against you. You’ve taught me to be proud of my Mexican heritage. I am in awe of how smart you are, and that you push me away to protect me from the Latino Blood. I think it’s adorable when you look up at the sky and instead of admiring it you want to go up there and explore it. I love you because you’re the only person I want to make love to without any conditions and—and I love that you need me.”

“I do need you, Nik. But I still don’t deserve you.”

Just knowing that he’s here with me is enough. “We deserve each other, Luis … and I need you just as much as you need me. Hold me.”

He steps closer, but hesitates. “If I do,
mi chava
, I can’t promise I’ll be able to let you go.”

“Good.”

He wraps his arms around me and I wrap mine around him. It’s silent, except for the sound of our breathing and the gentle waves lapping against the shore. We stay standing, embracing each other, for what seems like forever. This is what it’s supposed to be like.

“Want me to list all the reasons I love you?” he asks me. “I wrote a poem about it for English class … I called you my forever and always.”

Hearing his words makes me smile, and I tell him what I’m feeling deep in my gut. “We’re gonna make it.”

“The odds are against us, Nik.”

“Since when did bad odds ever stop you from your goal?” I ask, then lift his shirt up and kiss his abs. I follow the line of hair from his navel down until I reach the waistband of his jeans.

“Kiss me,” he says, urging me up so we’re face-to-face.

We start making out slowly, but as soon as he opens his mouth and his tongue slides against mine, it’s no holds barred. Our bodies melt against each other and I feel his hardness through his jeans. I’m not holding back this time. I couldn’t even if I wanted to … this is too intense.

“Your skin is so damn soft,” he says as his hands reach under my dress and he pulls down my panties until I step out of them.

I push him against the wall. “Stay right there. Don’t move,” I order, then unzip his pants and ease down his boxers.

“Nik …” He groans as I touch him all over until I know he’s about to lose control.

“Mmm …”

“I’m gonna …” He can’t get out the rest of his sentence.

“Make love to me, Luis.”

“I want to, baby, but I don’t have a condom. I can’t risk gettin’ you—”

I put a finger over his beautiful lips. “It’s okay. I’m on the pill now. I’m safe.”

“Me too … I mean, you know, I don’t have any STDs,” he says.

“I’m ready then, and I’m not holding back this time. Do you want this as much I do?”

“More than you know.” He kicks off his pants and boxers, then covers the floor with our clothes before he lowers me to the floor. “You really sure you’re ready for this?” he asks, his face full of vulnerability and emotion.

I nod.

“I love you,
mi chava
,” he whispers in my ear as we move together as one. “I’ll always love you, no matter what happens, okay?” He brushes the hair off my face. His intense, soulful eyes pierce mine as we cling desperately to each other. He stills. “If I die tomorrow, move on. Promise me you’ll move on.”

Tears sting my eyes. “I won’t let you die, Luis.”

“Promise me, Nik. For me. Come on, if you love me …”

He knows his life is in grave danger
. I can feel his tension, his pain … his sorrow.

I try to hold back tears, but they won’t stop. I grab on to him, clutching him to me … feeling the love flow between us … a forever bond that defies explanation.

Afterward, we lie together and watch the moonlit waves way into the night. I don’t want to sleep, but I curl into his warmth and my eyelids grow heavy.

“You can change your destiny, Luis,” I say before I fall asleep. “If anyone can do it, you can.”

I don’t wake up until the sun shines through the wooden slats of the roof. Luis is writing something in candle wax on the wall beside me.

It’s a heart with initials inside:
LF
+
NC
.

“Hey,” I say.

He looks at me and smiles. “Hey. You sleep okay?”

“Real good. I like sleeping in your arms.”

“Do your parents know you were with me?”

I shake my head. “No.”

He sighs heavily. “They don’t want you with someone like me. They’re right, you know. I’m not innocent, Nikki. And I’m afraid that I’m in too deep to get out.” He crouches beside me and gently touches my cheek with his fingers. “God, how I wanted last night to go on forever. But it can’t.”

“You’re talking like this is the end.”

“It might be. It involves a lot of money, and I’m in the middle of it. People have died for less money.”

“I’m not letting you die,” I tell him. I’ll find some way to help him.

“I wish it was that simple.” He squeezes his eyes shut. “I’ve got to go. I can’t stall any longer.”

I put on all my clothes and stand up. “I’m going with you, then. We’re in this together.”

He smiles. “I won’t let you. You know that. I’m not puttin’ you in danger. I can’t call the cops, I can’t tell my brothers … I’m on my own here.”

Tears stream down my face as I reach up and kiss his cheeks, his eyelids, his warm lips. “I have complete faith in you and I love you no matter what. Remember that, okay?”

He nods. “You make me believe in the impossible.”

We hold each other for a long time, until he tells me he’s got to go. As I watch him drive away, I know what I need to do. He might not think I can help him, but I need to try. I drive over to Marco’s house, hoping it’s early enough that he’s home.

He answers the door, surprised to see me. “What do you want?”

“I need you to help Luis.”

“Chuy ordered everyone away from the warehouse when he meets with Luis. That usually means he wants no witnesses. I can’t do anythin’ to change it.”

I grab his shirt when he starts to close the door on me. “You can’t just sit back and let Luis get hurt.”

He shrugs out of my hold. “It’s not in my hands, Nik.”

“So you’re not going to help him?”

“I value my life, Nik. If I go against Chuy, I’m dead. I’m playin’ both sides, waitin’ for someone to go down. If the F5 are standin’ at the end, I’m with them. If Chuy is on top, I’m with the LB.”

I slap him. “You’re nothing but a coward. How can you stand by, knowing that your friend’s life is in danger?”

“It’s simple. I’m lookin’ out for number one, baby. Me.”