Selena

51 | Confliction

SELENA M. ANDERSON

Re-entering the club makes me lose my nerve. The music fills my eardrums, my stomach is twisted, and my feet burn.

Everything is illuminated in shades red and orange lights to where the sea of people look like they're engulfed in flames. I try to make out Weston in the crowd, but his tall blonde mop of hair is no where in sight.

A large hand presses into the small of my back making me flinch towards the crowd as I spin around. The hand belongs to Alfonso Castillo. Owner of the establishment and Spanish don.

"You look lost," his rough voice booms down at me from his height at approximately 6 feet and 10 inches. I'm not short, but Alfonso definitely stands out.

I just nod in response not trusting myself to open my mouth in case the jumbled feeling in my stomach decides to come up my throat and onto the floor of his club. Alfonso was alright, but when it came to his business he didn't fool around.

I guess I'm more wary of his behavior towards his son. Nicky's a sweet and shy kid, but something is off about the interactions between him and Alfonso. It's something Ollie pointed out to me. He's not an only child, but he doesn't interact with his siblings the same way they do with each other.

"Are you looking for your boss?" Alfonso's deep voice cuts through my thoughts. I nod my head again and in an instant his hand his on my back leading me across the dance floor

He towers over most of the crowd as he escorts me to his office.

"How do you like the revamp?" Alfonso asks me as we walk down a dark hallway.

I give him a wary smile, "I'm not the partying type. You're better off asking Weston."

"That bad, huh? Well the underground auction we're holding in August is probably more your scene." He swipes a black card against a door to which a green light flashes it open.

"I'm still holding out for the location of the fight tomorrow," he states open the door to where I see Weston passed out on a chair across from the large desk. "You'll have to ask Weston to invite you when he's conscious," I sigh and roll my eyes.

On top of taking forever to get the logistics together for tomorrow night, he forgot to invite the big fish.

"As his underboss, I'm sure he won't mind if you do," Alfonso shoots my a sly smile and a small movement in the corner of the room catches my eye.

"Hi, Nic. What are you doing here?" I crouch down to address the small boy with dark hair and dark eyes sitting on a little chair in the corner of the room.

He glances up at his father and then responds to me, "I'm watching father work."

It's almost 1 am and this three year old boy is wide awake in the middle of a nightclub. Albeit, the office is mostly soundproof.

Weston told me it was best not to interfere too much since the Castillo's are a powerful family, but I did a few hits for the family before I got caught by the FBI so we have a bit of a history.

"When Weston comes back to the living, how would you like to come home with us and have a sleepover with Angelo?"

Nic's eyes brighten up, but it's immediately covered up when he looks up to his father.

I glance up at Alfonso and raise a questioning eyebrow at him.

"The night is almost done." He nods his head 'yes' to my suggestion.