Saints Row: Bullet to the Heart

Chapter 68

~*Heel to Toe, Stilwater Boardwalk*~

Carlos headed out over to the store where Luz worked. Ramon had offered the address, then after dropping Ren at home. He came to the strip on the boardwalk. There weren't many people out. Carlos took a short walk from the car to a little shop next to Branded. The bell overhead jingles when the door opened.

"Hello, welcome to Heel to Toe." A woman in her mid-thirties walks out, a pleasant smile on her face, a red flower in her unswept hair. Her accent laced with a Hispanic laughter.

"Yeah, I'm looking for a Ms. Luz. I dunno her last name. My Boss sent me." Carlos said in his return greeting.

"She's not here. Who, may I say, is looking for her?" The woman behind the counter froze to the spot.

Carlos didn't think to ask for a last name. He nodded. "I didn't mean that to sound like she's in trouble, sorry." Carlos quickly apologized. "I'm with the Saints." He whispered the last part. "My Jefa would like to speak with her, if you can let me know when she'll be in."

The woman behind the counter relaxed, looking at the young boy, nodding her head. "I'll let her know."

"Gracias. She will be here later for information on Ms. Luz. Thank you." Carlos left a stunned Luz in the store.

Thoughts formed. It's been years since she heard of the name Saints. She recalled the leader being a man, though she could not remember his name. The young man who was in the shop said the leader was a female. Luz had nothing to worry about. The boy assured her that the person coming just wanted to talk.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. She missed Manuel. The only reason she was there at the shop was, as she found he had taken an interest in another woman. A much younger woman. Luz left because he asked her sweetly. She needed to stand on her own. If she could bring him seven cars, each in the colors of the rainbow, they would welcome her back.

"Six left to go. It'll be another four years."

Luz went back to the stockroom and, passing a mirror hanging, she stopped to look at herself. She pulled the corners of her eyes, ran her fingers along her slender neck. Luz was still attractive. But maybe if she had a bit of work done.

The bell alerted her to a customer coming in. "Welcome to Heel to Toe." She forced a smile as she once more stepped from the curtains.

"Luz?" Kyouki questioned, recognizing the woman. "Why are you here? I thought you were in Columbia?" Asked with curiosity.

The way the woman spoke was like an old friend. The voice sounded familiar. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" Seeing the young man in the store once more.

The customer removed her glasses as she looked around. "Still with last season's collection. But these're cute." Grabbing a pair of black and purple heels from the stand.

"Ay Dios mía." Luz covered her mouth. She knew that Angel of Mercy.

Kyouki introduced the two formally. "Carlos, this is Luz. Luz this is my brother Carlos. You are hiding? I'd have never expected you here."

Luz didn't know what to say, really. She was looking in the face of a dead woman. Barely from her stupor, she blurted out why she was in Stilwater once again.

Ky thought for a moment, placing the stunning heels on the counter. "He asked me not to kill you. To cast you aside? Something doesn't seem right about that."

"It's true. I found him with another woman." Luz wrapped the shoes in a box, and watched as Kyouki picked a white pair out for her to wrap.

Ky shrugged. "Alright. Makes sense. But, if you are free. We can talk."