The Tax Collector (GirlxIntersex) Book 1

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Valentino POV

Together with Reaper, I entered my uncle's, Regs garage with four little duffel bags full of cash. It was where we dumped the cash, which was tallied by my cousin, Abigail, and then delivered to the boss guy.

"Uncle," I shouted out. The shop had an odor of motor grease and burnt tires.

"Here in the back." We walked to the back. He emerged from underneath the car as soon as he heard our footsteps. He stood up and sought for a handkerchief to wipe off the black grease on his hands.

"We don't see Abi?"

"She is out, with some chico."

Reaper and I handed him the sacks of cash. He took it and placed it in the corner, where a car seat was.

"I need to make a call." I remarked, walking out of the garage shop. I stepped out and took out my phone. I could hear Reaper telling Uncle about Lucia, and I knew when I got back he'd be all over me about it.

I called García. I've been awaiting this call all day. It was long overdue. I wanted to call during my lunch break, if I even called it that, when a sudden problem arises and I had to come up with a solution rather than food in my mouth.

I was relieved when Garcia answered the phone.

"Hey, is everything good?"

"Yep," she said cautiously.
"Well, she's relaxed now. She's watching television. Which I had to compel her to do."

"What do you mean?"

"She just wants to clean, sweep, and clean...I informed her repeatedly that she wasn't supposed to. Where did you get this girl?" She whispered the final bit.

"She simply needs time, and plenty of it. Knowing that, she can unwind and do anything."

"Well, it felt like a long time."

"Has she eaten?" I know there weren't many groceries in the house. I was going to get that fix shortly. I'll probably stop at the grocery store on my way home.

"She's never hungry, but when I offer her food, she eats."
I couldn't control my smile. I wanted to, but I simply couldn't. It's the first time in a long time that I want to finish my work and head home simply so I may have a little discussion with her. My dazed smile rapidly faded when I spotted my cousin exiting a taxi cab.

"Would you like to talk to her?"

"No," I said, moving the phone away from my ears. "It is in the rear." I pointed Abigail to the back of the garage. She nodded and walked in. I could hear her fighting loudly with Reaper. They can never reach an accord.

I returned the phone to my ears. "Hello," I heard Lucia's voice repeating. I gritted. Despite my desire to avoid conversation, I responded to the girl.

"How are you doing?" It felt strange coming out of my mouth. I only check in with my parents and a few close family members.

"Fine,"

I smiled and gave a nod. I felt at peace hearing her voice, which was unusual for me.

"You are watching television."

"Should I not?" She asked.

"Oh, no. You should. I was hoping you would do it all day, but Garcia said you couldn't stop cleaning. It is not your job."

"I feel like I should."

I nodded. She won't be comfortable for a while. "You may sleep when you are ready, not on the sofa or the floor. On the bed." I harshly instructed. I hope my sternness did not frighten her. I really did not want to treat her poorly.

"I don't want to sleep."

"Okay, inform Garcia that I could be a bit later. Bye."

"Bye."

I walked back inside the shop, three sets of eyes on me.

"You sounded so gooey on the phone." Abigail giggled. "Is this your new Mexican novia?" Abigail asked.

"No, she's simply a girl I'm assisting."

"Told you." Reaper whispered.
Abigail stepped toward the bags, grasping all four handles. "Heavy? Everyone pay up today?" We moved to the rear room.

She put the bags on the table. Reaper and Uncle closed up shop.

"Not quite. Mark." I murmured as I went into my pocket and handed her $5,000.

"You have to mean business with them. When they don't pay up, you kidnapped their bitches, mama, father, niñas and killed the mother fuckers."

"That is what I told her." Reaper came in.

She opened all four bags and poured the money out. She grinned, picking up a stack and ran her fingers through it.
Reaper and I used to kill, but after we understood we could deprive them of their possessions and subsequently take their lives, the process became much easier.

Of course, this was a secret that not even The Trapz, our boss, could torture out of us.

Abigail began to remove the rubber bands from the money and distribute them about the table. She first counted them the old-fashioned way, then ran the money through the counting machines. Uncle walked in with cans of beer in his grasp and handed me one.

"What about this girl?" He began.

I exhaled.

"You should focus on marrying one of them, niñas blancas, and having mixed babies."

I shook my head and took a big swig of my beer. "I'm not interested in having children or having a white girlfriend. They're nuts." I scoffed.

"And the girl you're interested in isn't insane. Just wait till she's settled in and then start cooking for you and shit."

"That will not happen anytime soon."

"All joking aside, are you certain you want to pay that much money for this girl to be legal here?"

I looked at Abigail, who was gazing back at me while counting the money. She appeared to be waiting for my response.

"Yep."

Reaper grumbled aloud. "She's gonna get her heart shattered. You remember that bitch."

"Could you stop calling the girl I used to love bitch?"

"Those are the precise words of a lady, which breaks her heart."

I rolled my eyes.

"I have to admit that spending that much money on a girl right now is a no-go." Abigail stated. She wrapped the cash in an unworn elastic band and dumped it in a clean bag.

"She is my duty. You don't see me asking any of you for assistance, right? That's because I handled this myself."

"Let's leave her alone, people. She got this." Abigail laughed.

"I do,"

"No comments?" She raised her hand.