California Love

Chapter 21. El Rey Diablo

Zuma Beach

Severa plopped down on the beach towel, her frustration evident in her posture. She hadn't even bothered to set up anything. She had been content with their spot until that asshole came along and forced them out. Rolling onto her back, she sat up and fixed Emma with an incredulous stare.

"What the hell?!" Her outburst made Jasmine flinch, but Severa didn't seem to notice. "Why did you two drag me away?!"

Emma exchanged a hesitant glance with Jasmine before meeting Severa's gaze. "We dragged you away because that guy was trouble," she explained, her voice tense with worry. "Did you not see the red skull tattoo? That's gang stuff, Sev!"

Severa's expression shifted from confusion to realization, her features contorting with frustration. "So what if he's in a gang? I can handle myself," she retorted, her tone defiant. "I'm not afraid of some wannabe tough guy."

Jasmine sighed deeply. "Sev, what do you know about Los Diablos Rojos?" Severa's blank stare indicated she was clueless. "What are you talking about?"

Jasmine hesitated, glancing around cautiously before leaning in closer to Severa. "Los Diablos Rojos," she whispered, "they're a notorious gang around here. That guy who confronted us, he's one of them."

Severa's eyes widened in surprise. "Seriously?" she whispered back, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Why would they bother us?"

Emma, who had been listening intently, chimed in. "They probably thought we were encroaching on their territory or something," she suggested, her voice low and scared. "We should be careful, Sev."

Severa shrugged nonchalantly, her usual defiance shining through. "So what if they're a gang?" she replied, her tone dismissive. "I'm not afraid of some tattooed tough guys thinking they own the beach. They can go play pirate somewhere else."

Emma and Jasmine exchanged worried glances, but Severa remained stubbornly unfazed. "Seriously, guys," she continued, waving a hand dismissively, "let's not let a bunch of wannabe pirates ruin our day. I'm here for the sun and the sea, not their drama."

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Coastal Coffee, The Next Day

The only reason she had even left campus was that she had run out of her best fabric and needed more if she wanted to finish the design by Monday. She had no plans on running into the asshole from yesterday, but here she was.

After getting the fabric, she made a quick pit stop at a nice little coffee shop, hoping to grab a snack before she headed back. but when she left the little shop, she fell face-first into somebody, knocking them both over and spilling her coffee everywhere.

"Fucking hell!" She immediately shot up off the ground, trying to wipe the coffee off her shirt. She aggressively scrubbed the coffee with a napkin when a hand shot out and stilled hers. She stared at the hand, her eyes traveling up the arm and to the face.

"oh hell..." She was staring at the asshole from the beach, but this time he looked a lot less mean and more amused. "¿vas a disculparte?" he looked her up and down before raising a brow. She just gave him a blank look before bending down to pick up her fallen fabric.

As she straightened, she felt a twinge of annoyance. Of all the people to run into, it had to be him. But there was something different about him now, something less intimidating. Maybe it was the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smirked or the genuine curiosity in his gaze. Whatever it was, she couldn't deny the spark of intrigue it ignited within her.