The Santiago Cartel

Twelve: Spilling Secrets

August

"Babeh you got the snacks?" I inquired while grabbing two sprites.

We both loved Sprite, but sometimes she would drink the occasional Sierra Mist. Tonight was a night we created as bonding time fa one another. Normally we watched Netflix and movies. However, she fell in luh wit' Orange Is the New Black. I got comfortable in our la blanket fort she made. A lot of niggas think shit like dis' is too girly, but if my shawty smiling then I'm good. So if I have ta put Trigga aside for one day out da week then so be it.

I sat the Sprite in the little cooler unit she brought. She joined me with an array of snacks she neatly sat to the side of the cooler. She got comfortable next ta me and laid ha head on my chest. I sensed some shit been off wit' ha since she got here. I didn't ask because she always closed off. I figure she want me to know she'll talk.

I noticed she wasn't really watching the show. It was watching ha more than anything.

"Babeh" I spoke, while rubbing her stomach.

"Hmm?" she replied, while closing her eyes.

"What's da matter Cha-Cha?" I inquired, while kissing her forehead.

"If I tell you something do you promise not to say anything until I'm done August?" she asked, while looking in my eyes.

I took a deep breath, I knew it had ta be serious- because she rarely called me August. I been wanting her to open up, so I can give ha that.

"Yeah" I stuttered, a little nervous about da shit she had ta say.

She sat up in Indian style, and only then did I notice the tears. I reached my hand up to wipe them away with the pads of ma thumbs.

Dis shit was serious...I rarely saw Cha in ha feelings, and this shit wasn't cool.

I nodded for ha to continue

Gabrielle

I took a deep breath and released it. I have been holding this in for so long that I literally have nightmares.

"Lani isn't just my friend, but she's my sister. We have the same parents, and you are the first person to know this. We don't disclose that information because we ran from Slauson 4 years ago and never looked back." I spoke, while staring at nothing in particular

"Babeh you stressing fa that?" he inquired, while pulling me a little closer to him.

"It's more babe. Just listen okay." I stated, while shaking my head.

He nodded his head, and waited for me to finish.

"My mama was my favorite person. Besides Lani. We were thick as thieves. Anywhere my mama went...we went. My daddy didn't like that. He would try and force us to stay with him, or hang out with him. I always obliged because I wanted to make him happy. It seems like nothing made him happy though. He was always screaming how we looked like Rafael the more we got older. I knew then that he thought we belonged to someone else. Then the beatings started. At first it was just my mom. Then he started beating me and Lani. He would beat us so that our clothes could hide it." I chuckled, as I remembered the beatings so well.

"I got beat one time because I refused to kiss Uncle Evan in the mouth." I thought aloud.

My mama got tired and she went and told Uncle Rafael. He told us to leave before he killed one of us. We were all packed, but mama wanted to go to the bank. When she left that was our last time seeing our mom? Funny. The same night we were supposed to leave her breaks went out. She never even had a chance. Uncle Rafael came to the funeral. I remember because he was dressed in all black. He stood really far in the back. Of course my dad played the grieving victim. We knew all too well what the hell he was capable of.