With Pain Comes Pleasure

Eighteen

Angelica

"Did you three get in a fight or something?" Wesley asked. "No." "Well did something happen?" He continued to press as I wiped my eyes. "No." The twins said quickly. I sighed. "It's just that normally you three are all over each other, and right now y'all are—distant."

"We're good," Christian said glancing at me. I rolled my eyes although I had no right to because I did accidentally snap at them earlier. Cortez squeezed my face before pulling me to him lightly kissing me. "I don't know what this attitude is about but we haven't done anything to warrant it, so better fix it." He whispered. I could admit I had been a little snappier lately but I had a lot happening. "Alright! Alright! I wasn't asking for you to prove it." Wesley said. Cortez pulled away from me and smirked.

Christian

"Are these all the papers?" I asked. "Yeah." I skimmed over some of them and besides Fayette's name, one other one stood out. "Sanchez," I said reading the name. "Alejandro Sanchez. You trying to tell me Matias bitch ass has a brother." Cortez said. "Alejandro?" Angel whispered. "You know him?" I asked as all of us looked at her. "That's Matias's uncle." We both looked at her wondering how she knew him. "I met him a couple of times." She mumbled. Simon got up and came over holding a picture. "This is him."

"Umm, I have to tell you something. I probably should've said something sooner but—" Angel paused looking at us both. "Go ahead." Cortez comforted her. "Matias has a twin." Tez and I looked at each other. "What are you talking about?" "Matias has an identical twin brother." I turned away from her stunned shaking my head. She sighed. "I only found out about it recently. Apparently they both model for your mom," She as she looked at us. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?" I said stepping closer to her.

"Aye, can you back up," Simon said as he and Wesley stood between us. Tez smacked his lips offended. "Nigga what?" He questioned. "You think we'd hit her? Have you lost your mind?" I asked taking a step forward when Angel pushed passed them pressing her hand against my chest.

She turned looking at her brother giving them a calming smile. "I'm okay. They would never hurt me no matter how irritating they may seem." She told them. Tez grunted and Angel chuckled. "Exactly so mind your business." "Well, that's a woman and our sister. Maybe you two wouldn't hurt her but walking all up on her like that isn't cool." Wesley said.

I realized he was right. "I can respect that," I said. "We'll talk about this later," Tez said looking down at her. "We have somewhere to be, so let's go." We turned for the door.

"Wait." Angel grabbed our arm. We turned and looked at her. "I don't want the two of them staying here so—maybe you four could be roomies. At least until I get back and then we can figure out something more permanent." The four of us looked at her. She made a pleading face. "Fine. They can stay if they want." She smiled cupping my cheek and grabbing Tez's hand. "Thank you." "Now she wants to be nice." Tez huffed.

Cortez

"No all she said was that she's met him a few times." We explained to our dads, Angel's brothers, and her dad. "I should have shot him back in the day." Angel's dad mumbled. We looked at him curiously. "You know him?" Ricky asked. "He's your mother's ex." He sighed fidgeting in his seat. Christian and I looked at each other. The more we learned about him the shadier he got.

He ran his hand over his face. "I'm—I'm not your biological father." Ricky and James stilled. I mean there was no movement, no blinking, if I couldn't see their chest rising and falling I'd think they were frozen. "What the hell are you talking about?" James questioned.

"Your mother was with Alejandro before we ever met. I worked for Alejandro, and she was his wife, but when I saw her I wanted her. They argued all the time and I did have to step in a few times. It was evident to anyone with eyes that they hated each other, and she seemed sad, so I did my best to cheer her up. Alejandro didn't like me much because of that I suppose." He sighed.