Finally getting settled into the house I grew up in, the house that I have not been back to in almost a decade, I decide to venture out into town. Driving down the main strip, I see the old butcher shop and see Papi Reyes outside sweeping and can't help but stop. He was my dad's best friend. I park my car and get out. I see him walk back into the shop and a couple of minutes later, I find the nerve to walk inside. Hearing the bell over the door chime, Papi turns and sees me standing there. His eyes wide with shock. "Charley?" he asks. I smile and say "Hola Papi." He walks up to me and pulls me into one of his famous hugs that I used to love so much. I feel myself tear up as he pulls me back to look at me. "You look beautiful Mija." he says and I can't help but hug him again. "I missed you Papi." I whisper as his hold tightens on me. "We missed you too Sweetheart." he tells me. About that time, we hear the back door open and I look up and see Ezekiel standing there. "Charley?" he asks and I nod my yeah. "Hey Zeek." He smiles at the name I used to call him when we were kids before he pulls me into a crushing hug. "When did you get back?" He asks as he puts me back down. "Couple of days ago. Moved into the old house now that mom's gone." I tell them. "Sorry to hear about your mom, Char." EZ says. "It's all good. Barely spoke to her after I left. But decided I missed home." I tell them. "So you're back for good?" Papi asks. "Yeah. I'm not leaving again." I tell them. I see the kutte on EZ and ask "Prospect?" He nods and I hug him again. "Proud of you mano." Him and Angel both wanted to be a part of the Mayans MC when we were younger. "Angel too." EZ tells me. "Really?" I ask softly. "He's missed you too. We all have." Papi says and I smile softly. We talk a little more and I give them both my number. "Don't tell Angel I'm back just yet. I'm not ready to see him." I tell them and they nod. I see Papi look at me and I say "I just need a couple of more days. I told you all when I left that when I came back I would explain everything and I plan on it. I just need a couple of days." I tell them and they agree to not say anything.
A couple of days later, I still haven't reached out to Angel. I don't know if I can. When I left, I just left a note with their Ma and left. I am sitting on my couch, channel surfing when my phone rings. I look and see that it's EZ. "Hey Zeek. What's up?" I ask. "I need a ride. There's three of us." he says. "Tell me where. I'm leaving now." I tell him. He knows all him or Angel has to do is call and say they need me and I'm there. "Meet us at the back alley behind Pop's shop." he tells me and I know that means they need a quick out. "Be there in ten." I tell him before hanging up.
I pull down the alleyway and see EZ with two guys. One of them being Angel. Little shit. I pull up and they get in. EZ in the front and Angel with the other guy in the back. "Thanks for this." EZ says. "Anytime Zeek." I say and I look in the mirror and see Angel's eyes go wide. I'm the only one that calls EZ Zeek. "Charley?" Angel asks. "Hi Angel." I say and the other guy says "I'm Coco. How do you know these two?" he asks. "We grew up together." I say simply. We get a good bit down the road where they are seemingly out of danger and Angel says "Pull over." I do as he asks and he says "Get out." I do what he asks again and before I know it, he's pulling me into a hug so tight I can't breathe and I hold him just as tight. Pulling back slightly he asks "You back?" I smile and say "For good." He crashes his lips with mine in a searing kiss that takes my breath away. When we separate, I hear Coco ask "Take it they were close?" I start laughing and so do EZ and Angel. "You could say that." EZ says. "We gotta go Angel." I whisper. "Yeah." he says. Looking at EZ he says "Get in the back." EZ does what Angel says and I tell him "You drive. You know where we're going." He nods and we get in the car and start driving.
Once we get to the clubhouse, EZ and Coco head inside, leaving me and Angel at the car. Cupping his face I say "I missed you Amore." Kissing me softly he says "I missed you too. Don't leave again." he tells me. "I won't. I promise." I tell him. He pulls me close and just holds me. I pull away and say "I need to talk to you, EZ and Papi." I tell him and he nods. We gather EZ and I follow them to Papi's house. Walking in, I say "I need to talk to you three." They nod and we all sit and they wait on me to speak.
"I know when I left, all I left was a note and I am so sorry for that. I just didn't know how to tell you why I was leaving. I had to. About a month before I left, I went hang out with my friend Amelia and her boyfriend. They took me to hang out with a couple of his friends. But they left me there. We were drinking and before I know it, I am being held down and raped. When they were done, they kicked me out to walk home. I didn't know anything more than their first names. I tried to tell mom but she didn't believe me. Told me that no one would do that to me that I was just a whore. All that went through my mind was that the one person I loved more than anything wouldn't want me. Didn't help that mom was telling me that no one would want someone that's damaged. I couldn't handle it anymore and had to leave. I had to get my head right." I look at Angel and he reaches for my hand and I say "I know now that you wouldn't have abandoned me. None of you would have but back then, my mind was so messed up, I had to get away and reset. I missed you guys so much. I'm so sorry I left. I'm so sorry." I say as I start to sob. Angel pulls me into his lap and holds me. Whispering in my ear "I love you baby. I'm never letting you go again. It's okay. We got you." he tells me as I feel EZ kneeling in front of us, his hand on my knee and Papi sitting next to me, holding my hand. After a few minutes, they leave me and Angel alone. "Don't leave me again. I need you here with me baby. I never stopped loving you." he tells me. "I'm here. I'm not leaving again. I love you so much and you were all I thought about after I left. I missed you Angel." I tell him. He kisses me softly and says "I missed you too mi amore."
