The Promise He Made.

Chapter 18

"Damn baby, you are kicking our ass," Gale said. I soft smile.

"What can I say? I'm a pro." I said. Dad chuckles. The truth is I've never gone bowling. Never got into it. Well, I probably should join them once in a while. I really was kicking their asses.

"Looks like you've been practicing," Dad said. I nod. Gale walks up to me and wraps his arms around me. My heart thumps. He goes to kiss me.

"Um, not in front of dad," I said. He sighs.

"Ok." He said kissing my cheek. He walks away and I let out a breath of air. "What do you want to drink baby?" He asks.

"Let's see?" I said remembering. "Cherry Coke?" I said. He smiles.

"You always say that. Every time." He said walking away.

Thank goodness Violet likes the same pop I do.

"Hey, Vie I have some business to attend too. How about you and Gale stay a little longer." Dad said. I look at him skeptically.

"What kind of business?" I ask.

"The kind I can't talk about." He said.

"With who?" I asked. He looked at me weirdly. "I mean will do," I said. He smiles and kisses my head. I let out a breath of air.

"Being Vie is like running a marathon," I mumble. I turn around to see Gale crossing his arms. "Hey, baby," I said. But he didn't budge.

"Cut the crap Aria." He said.

"What?" I asked still in character.

"Violet hates Cherry Coke. And she always let your dad win." He said. I sigh. "Where is she?" He asked.

"I don't know Gale. She just asked me to keep you two distracted for the night." I said. He sighs.

"I almost believed you." He said.

"What gave it away?" I asked.

"Besides the obvious? When you got your first strike you lifted your arms in the air and your birthmark is on your left. And your nails aren't done." He said. I sat down. "Let's go home." He said.

"Can we please stay? It's my first time bowling." I said. He sighs.

"Fine." He said. I smile.

"Thank you," I said kissing his cheek.

Violet's P.O.V

"You are going to be fine," Oscar said. I glare at him.

"That doesn't help," I said. He chuckles.

"Here's the letter." He said. I take it from him and look at Miguel's house. "Give him a little attitude. Aria does it." He said. I nod.

"OK, I'll be right back," I said getting out. I walk up to the stairs and knock on the door. After a minute Rico opens the door.

"Aria? What are you doing here?" He asked? I roll my eyes the way Aria would.

"I've got a message for Miguel," I said. He opens his mouth to stay something but the door was pulled open more. And Miguel stood there with all his glory.

"What are you doing here Aria?" He asked. I smirked.

"I've got a message for you," I said holding out the letter. He looked at the white envelope and his eyes landed back on me.

"You can't be here right now." He said.  I opened my mouth to say something but a girl walks up and puts her hand on his chest.

"I'm Alex." She said. I felt angry.

"Aria," I said. She smiles and looks up at Miguel.

"Who is she?" She asked.

"My girlfriend," Rico said pulling me to him.

"You have a girlfriend?" She asked. I kept my eyes on Miguel.

"Like I said I'm only here to give this to you," I said to Miguel. He takes it and stares at me.

"Alex go in the house." He said. She sighs and walks in the house. Rico hurry ups and shuts the door. "What are you doing here?" He asked.

"The better question is why would you ask her- me to be your girlfriend and then dodge me for 2 weeks to be with her? You know what you aren't worth my time." I said getting ready to walk away.

"Why didn't you listen to Rico earlier?" He asked. But I had no idea what he was talking about. I turned around to look at him.

"Because I can. Because I'm not his girlfriend or a dog." I said go with it.

"I told you how dangerous Oscar can be and yet you got into the car with him? He could have killed you." He said. I giggle.

"Yeah, right," I said.

"You may hate me for my decision but if anyone knows you've been around me they will use you against me to take over the drug cartel." He said. I was shocked.

"Take over what?" I asked. He rolls his eyes.

"You can pretend to forget everything that has to do with me. Even the fact that you saw me kill someone but you need to listen to me. It's the only way I can protect you." He said. I took a step back.

"You're joking? Right?" I asked. He looks at me.

"Why would I joke about that?" He asked. I take a few steps back. "Aria why are you asking like that?" He asked. I take a few deep breaths.

"I've gotta go," I said running down the driveway. I heard the clicking of a gun and I hit the ground. My shoulder was stinging with pain. I move my hand to my shoulder and look at it to see blood. I look up a second to see Miguel running over to me. I looked back at my hand and everything went black.