Even Angels Fall

Chapter 29

                           ~~~~Christina~~~~

I looked at the clock, glad that this work day was almost over. It had been one of those days where absolutely everything went wrong. I suspected that it had alot to do with the fact that I hadn't been sleeping well for the last few days. I was tired and making alot of mistakes.

Because of those mistakes, I was running behind on my duties today. It was already past two, which was the latest that I was supposed to be working till, and I still had to fill all the complimentary bowls of tortilla chips for the dinner rush. 

The restaurant actually closed every day, after business died down between one and two. It opened again at four for dinner. It was Diego's way of not having to pay everyone for a few hours of work that he saw as unnecessary. So, one by one, all my co-workers finished what they had to do and left. 

"Guera, you coming?" Miguel, one of the dish washers, asked as he was headed out the door. "It's late." 

"I just need to finish this." I glanced up. "I'll be leaving in a few minutes." 

"Okay, Chica." He smiled. "See you tomorrow."

"Bye," I said before I turned my attention back to the bowls that were half done.

Five minutes later, the bowls were all full, covered, and waiting to be served. I cleaned up the mess I'd made and turned around to leave, stopping short when I realized that my exit was blocked by Diego.

I glanced around quickly, taking note of the fact that we were completely alone and cursed myself for letting this happen.

"Oh, you scared me." I tried to sound nonchalant rather than scared.

"You are here late today, Christina." He was looking at me in a way that made my skin crawl. And he almost never used my name. He usually called me Senorita like he did with all the girls. This felt too familiar.

"I...I was finishing up the chips," I said, trying to keep my breathing steady.

Diego slowly moved forward, decreasing the space between us, and still looking at me in that unnerving way. Glancing down, he pretended to examine my work.

"I see that." He advanced again when I backed away. 

"I think you work too hard," he said, still forcing me backwards.

"I...no, I'm okay." I struggled to think of any way out of this. Diego was big and clearly wanted more than just hard work from me. He'd always been relatively harmless, but there had always been plenty of people around. What was there to deter him now? 

I bumped into the wall behind me and gasped. 

Diego stopped in front of me, much too close, his eyes sweeping over my face. I shivered when I saw them land on my lips.

"You would not have to work so hard with me," he said, his voice going lower.

"Please," I begged and tried to move around him.

He grabbed my arm and moved in front of me again. "I don't think you understand." He looked annoyed.

"Let me go." I struggled to free my arm, but he only tightened his grip and I knew that I was going to have a bruise there later. I started pushing at him with my free arm, but he only chuckled at my useless attempt before his free hand gripped my stomach.

I froze and stared at him with wide eyes when I realized what he was doing. He wasn't putting much pressure on my stomach yet, but his grip on my arm tightened. It was a clear threat. Either I did what he wanted or he would hurt my baby.