Bane of Blood: La Gorgona

III, Part 24

III

Work conditions improved markedly in the days that followed. Both for Fernando personally and for the job site in general.

"Finally getting things in again," Chico said, checking over the latest shipment of construction materials delivered. "I don't know what lit a fire under the jefe's ass all of a sudden, but now that he's got his shit together, we might just get this job done after all." His glance turned shrewd as he looked to Fernando. "Seems like he hasn't been on your dick so much lately, has he, primo?"

"I had a word with him," Fernando replied.

Chico snorted, sneering. "Some word."

Chico wasn't the only one who noticed this paradigm shift. Adrift without his precious trailer, which Fernando had pawned for collateral, Alfonso roamed the construction site like an itinerant of yesteryear, searching for a place to lay down his ten-gallon hat. Slinking past the work crew in his wanderings, he gave Fernando a wide and wary berth.

"It's like you're the jefe now," Tito said snidely, as their vagabond employer caught Fernando's eye and quickly made himself scarce.

Busy grouting tiles, Fernando didn't reply.

As they wrapped up for the day, Chico glanced at Fernando in a delinquent way he'd come to recognize. Chico's brown eyes glinted, keen with mischief. Falling into step beside him, Chico clapped Fernando on the back.

"It's Friday night, primo. What do you want to do?"

Hands in his pockets, Fernando said, "Get out of this town. What's the next one over?"

Chico grinned. "It's a city. Saguero."

"How far away is it?"

"Not that far. A half-hour's drive or so. The bus doesn't run late, so we'd have to catch a ride. My brother Pedro's just got his truck fixed, he'll give us a lift."

"What's there to do?"

"Anything you want, primo. We should go to Club Mar, though, it's trendy. Lots of hot girls there, looking to get railed."

Fernando smirked—at the idea of a club in the middle of landlocked nowhere being named 'Mar' more than anything. Chico sniggered, punching him in the arm.

"Sounds like fun, huh? You can add to your kill list easy, primo."

Fernando shrugged, one-shouldered. "I don't have one."

Chico slammed to a halt. Lalo, Tito and Pepe froze along with him. As one they stared at Fernando, incredulous.

"...You're kidding," Chico said, recovering. He eyed Fernando from head to toe, in frank disbelief. "You're a fucking virgin, primo? You?"

As Fernando nodded, Lalo hooted. Pepe blinked. Tito's lip curled.

"With a face like yours? What are you, a homo or something?"

Fernando sidled up to him with a slow smile. Catching Tito around the shoulders, Fernando brought his mouth near his ear and said huskily, "Let's find out."

Tito cringed, trying to shove away. "W-what the fuck?! Get off me!"

Fernando held to him, smiling still. "Come on," he said, leaning in again. "I thought you said I have a pretty face."

"I didn't say shit, you fucking psycho! Let me go!"

Tito bristled, thrashing and spitting like an angry cat, while Chico and the others howled with laughter.