The Beginning

Tess

Left and right, drinks went out to thirsty patrons. Most of which I recognized as parents from the school. Silas's offer had exceeded expectations to say the very least. It was great business for Jamie, and it was an opportunity to keep my mind off what happened in the alleyway.

For better or worse, the De La Cruz cousins did what needed to be done.

Before Silas asked me, I hadn't considered how many times I'd called the police to no avail. I'd forgotten how many times they showed up, only to talk to my parents and leave us in their incapable hands. As much as I didn't like the way they handled their business, I needed to accept that parts of Nicky were entwined in the grey space between my black and white world.

"You don't want to get me a beer?" The voice in front of me sounded familiar, but it wasn't until I tore my eyes off the back door that I was able to recognize it.

"What are you doing here?" I folded my arms and fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"I heard it was free drink night." Nate leaned forward, his arms resting on the bar. "I didn't think Jamie did that anymore." He caught Jamie's eye and gave a two-finger wave.

Jamie grinned at him but lifted a middle finger.

"What'd you say to him?" Nate wondered, sitting back on his barstool.

Reluctantly, I grabbed a tall glass and placed it under the tap. Perhaps if I served him, he'd leave sooner. "I didn't have to say anything, Nate. Everyone's seen your little video."

"It's been four years." He scoffed as if everyone should have either forgotten it or forgiven him.

"Exactly, shouldn't you have moved on by now? I don't know with Lexi, maybe." I placed the drink down between us harder than intended. Foam sloshed over the top, coating a portion of my hand and wrist, as well as the wood beneath it.

Nate's brows lifted as he looked at his beer, then back to me. "It's like that, huh?" His lips curled into his mouth with annoyance.

"It's always been like that." I replied firmly.

"Bullshit." He spit venomously. "You never would've said something like to me before you met... what's his name?"

So I angry, I was nearly cross-eyed, I breathed deeply into my core. "Are you mad that he helped me find my confidence again or is it that I'm not single anymore, Nate?" I studied his expressions as he searched for the right answer. "You know what? It really doesn't matter. Whatever you and Lexi have cooked up to separate us isn't going to work. He doesn't want her, and I certainly don't want you."

"Old Tess is alive and well." He smirked, taking the first swallow from his cup. "You plan to get drunk and go streaking next? Oh wait."

An overwhelming urge to slap the cup out of his hand almost overtook me. That was definitely "old Tess" behavior. Instead, I took another breath to bring myself some fraction of calm. I glanced toward the back door, silently asking Nicky to return.

As if they'd heard me, the three men slunk inside.

Silas and Marcelo cleaned their hands.

Marcelo broke off from the group, leaving two other boys to scan the area around them. He barked something to Oscar, who was snatched up on his older brother's fist. Marcelo jerked Oscar around, then walked him back to the other two.

"Ever since Nicky walked into town, you've been going through a lot of shit." Nate had swiveled to look at what I saw before he turned back to me.

"It's none of your concern." Unless he knew something that I didn't.

"What if it's him?"

"That's a stupid question."

A wry humorless smirk turned Nate's thin lips. "He got close to you in one night. Maybe he's just doing his uncle a favor." He took a swallow from his glass. "Aren't they the ones who kicked you out in the first place?"

He didn't see the way Nicky defended me to anyone who dared tell him differently. He wasn't aware of the care and comfort Nicky took when it came to me. As immature and self-centered as it sounded, Nicky was actually all about me. Strong enough to accept my mistakes and mature enough to ensure they don't repeat, Nicky... well... he was loving me into a better person. No matter how difficult it became.

And I found myself just as entwined in him. I couldn't take my eyes off him when he knelt to speak with children. His affirming words made me fluttery and lightheaded. Knowing that his strong hands, that had committed ferocious acts of cruelty, had touched me gingerly, intimately, prickled my flesh.

"You're jealous of him, aren't you?" I wondered.

"Excuse me?" The grin dropped, flattening his mouth even further.

"You didn't want me until he did. You didn't bother to call, to apologize. I haven't seen you anywhere except the grocery store since we broke up, and the minute that I'm happy with someone else, here you are. Because you're jealous. Because you want what he has but you're not him and you never will be. Is it worse knowing that you'll have that power, or you'll never have that power over me?"

Nate thought for a second. "You think you're better than us because you're fucking a De La Cruz?"

I couldn't help the wry smile that pulled at my lips. "I think he's definitely better than you. I mean, at least he can make me come."

All at once, Nate reached across the bar and tipped his drink. A combination of the cold beer down the front of my pants and the sudden death grip on my forearm overwhelmed me.

"What the fuck?" I called louder than intended.

It felt like the whole bar went still, save for the music blaring from the jukebox.

Nicky's head snapped up to survey the scene. A split-second decision had him halfway across the room.

"You should run." I advised, watching Nicky push people out of his way to get to me.

"Excuse me?"

Nicky drew too close to stop, and none of his cousins made the move to do so.

I was only able to remind Nate, "You fucked up."

Nicky's heavy hand, balled into a deadly fist, knocked Nate off his barstool.

I could only see the rise of his elbow and listen to each intentional crack of his fist. One after the other, seemingly unending, Nicky did what I'd wanted to do for the last four years.

Silas, Marcelo and Oscar kept the crowd back as they, too, watched on.

I moved around the bar to put an end to it, when Marcelo caught my shoulder.

"Don't touch him. Just wait until he's done."

"He'll kill him." I shrugged Marcelo off.

"I'm telling you." He warned.

Still, my hand dropped to Nicky's shoulder.

Red in the face, gasping for air, Nicky whipped around. His bloody fist cocked near his head; his eyes scanned for the next threat.

"You're done." I squeezed his shoulder. "You win, be done."

As if he were waking up from a daydream, Nicky blinked slowly a couple times. Rising to his feet, he grabbed my wrist and checked my forearm. His thick lips pressed together.

"I'm fine, Nic." I promised.