Perfect Enemies

25

14 OceanofPDF.com J SANTINO avi and I both remained seated after Valentina fled the donut shop. We’d known the two girls were friends, but this was the first we’d learned of Val’s efforts to help Reyna escape. We sat quietly for several minutes as we processed the implications. “What do you think?” Javi asked, breaking our silence. A frown tugged at my lips. “We’re not left with much choice. The girl’s father is a bastard. There’s no question about that, so I can only imagine what she’s been subjected to by living with that man. And if we allow Valentina to involve herself, she could end up in danger. Besides, giving the girl papers would only be a small interference.” Each was a valid argument, but the reality was, I would have wanted to help Reyna even if it hadn’t made any sense at all. I wasn’t entirely sure that if Javier declined our services, I wouldn’t defy him and assist the girl myself. I felt compelled in a way I couldn’t explain. A compulsion that had me stepping from cover and allowing her to see me from her window. “True.” Javi sipped from his cup. “And your impressions of her?” I considered his question for a long moment. She was beautiful yet broken—a rose had taken root in the jagged crevasse of a city sidewalk. Her delicate strength should have been crushed out of her years ago, but she persevered. She was enchanting in a haunted way that made me want to protect her. Nurture her. Seeing her trapped in that house, a bird in a cage, made my fists clench with rage. The last time I was there, I’d had to leave her house before I took matters into my own hands and did something I would have regretted. Something that could have gotten me killed. I could have told Javier about my feelings, but I didn’t want him to discount my input as emotionally flawed. Instead, I tried my best to produce an honest, logical response. “She comes across as meek, but she’s stronger than she appears. I’d say she’s observant. Intuitive. My instincts tell me she’d be successful on her own because she’s never had the luxury of relying on anyone before. In that way, she’s not unlike we were when we first encountered the Vargas family.” Javier eyed me, surprised at my assessment. “We could make her disappear easily enough, but Juan Carlos would know she had help. He hasn’t truly tried to come after us—not to the degree he’s capable—but a personal affront such as this might do the trick. I’d rather not take that risk if possible. It isn’t only our lives at stake.” “True, but we got a second chance to be free from the cartel. Isn’t it our duty to help others do the same?” I tried to keep the frustration from my voice, but Javi was the most perceptive man I’d ever met. Fooling him was not an easy feat. He grunted in response. “We can have the documents ready should we decide to help, but for the moment, the family hasn’t decided if they want to use the girl or not. She may be the best way to draw out Vargas and his men, and we can’t deny the Genoveses that possible avenue. For now, we wait.” OceanofPDF.com 15 OceanofPDF.com I VALENTINA t was a good thing I’d always been such a good student because I was using up all the brownie points I’d earned over the years in a matter of hours. I was scolded in all four of my morning classes for failing to pay attention. How the hell was I supposed to concentrate on calculus after my meeting with Javier? I couldn’t. It wasn’t possible. Javi insinuated he would get the papers for us but hadn’t been totally transparent. I’d have to wait and see if he came through, and in the meantime, my mind was racing with the possibilities. If he did get the papers, would he give them to us before Reyna’s father sent her back to Mexico? What if Javi didn’t end up helping us? What if he told my father and I never saw Rey again? What if we did get the papers and were able to get Reyna away—where would she go? There were so many uncertainties, and trying to plan for them all was going to make me crazy. I needed to ask Javi for a timeframe. Having an expected date of receipt would at least cut out some of the variables. When I got out my phone in class to text him, I realized that I never asked for his number. As I berated myself for being such an i***t, I received my fifth warning for the day—this time for having my phone out in class. I slid the device back into my backpack and considered asking Giada for her boyfriend’s number, but she’d insist on knowing why I wanted to talk to him. I didn’t want her and her big mouth to know anything about our plans. Though I adored my sister, she was a notorious blabbermouth. I’d just have to plan as best as I could and try not to give myself a stressinduced heart attack at the age of seventeen.

Lunch was a welcome distraction. Talking with my friends helped finally stop my mind from looping through the same damn questions. Plus, seeing Kane reminded me that I had more than one problem to obsess over. Lucky me. “What’s the plan for this weekend?” asked Bryson before smashing half a slice of pizza in his mouth. “Weather’s gonna suck. We need someone’s house to hang at.” Chloe turned her devious gaze to Reyna. “We’ve never been to your place, Rey. How about hosting a little gathering tomorrow night?” Before Reyna or I could shoot down the idea, Kane chimed in. “I think that sounds like a great idea. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy, just a place to hang out.” I glanced at Reyna, who looked like she was actually considering the possibility, and cut in before she could get herself in trouble. “Isn’t your dad super strict?” I said pointedly, eyes boring into her. “I can’t imagine he’d be okay with you hosting a party.” She wanted to have friends over like any other teenage girl, but she wasn’t just anyone. Aside from pissing off her dad, having people over might put them in danger too. “Come on, Val,” Kane pushed. “She could at least ask. You never get anywhere without trying.” What the hell was his problem? My teeth ached from the strain of my clenched jaw. “I don’t even know why we’re discussing this when your dad is out of town, so your house is completely available.” I tilted my head and smiled with a challenge. Take that, you bully. “Hey, man.” Bryson shoved Kane’s shoulder. “That’s perfect. If your place is available, we can chill over there—order pizza and have a few beers. Nothing crazy.” Kane assaulted me with a glare. “Yeah, that’s cool. We can hang out at my place. Maybe Reyna can host next time.” I grinned, not caring how pissed he was because I’d just won an allaccess pass to Kane Easton’s house. I couldn’t imagine a better place to dig up clues about a person than in their own personal space. If Kane was hiding something, I would do my best to find it. “I wish I could join,” said Presley, “but I’m on the decorations committee for the Valentine’s dance, and we have a meeting tomorrow evening.”