Los Carnales

Chapter 40: Stronger With You

TW: Pedophilia, rape, sexual harassment, homophobia, racism. Please skip over if uneasy to protect your sanity.

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December 31st, 2007
Monday 8:25pm - Estrabao Cartel HQ

There was another party Candy got invited to—Lauren's 'Los Carnales NYE' party at one of the members' mansion at Miami Beach—but she chose to attend her family's although every bone in her body screamed not to, to run the other way and go to Lauren's party instead. And in retrospect, she should have listened. Some folks learn the hard way to trust their gut—and, come on, one can't ever truly blame them when most of earth's population learned to trust someone else's word before they give their own a shot. Why would they listen to themselves first? That's just crazy right?

Candy stepped out of her Mustang parked by the curb, not the driveway...she didn't live there anymore—no longer belonged or had the privileges the house once came with, especially not with cars. In fact the last time she was here, the only memory she had, she stole a Jeep and ran someone over with it. That Jeep could no longer be used. But anyways, the heels of her white Scarpins scraped against the smooth concrete leading up the pathway to the front door decorated extravagantly to match the New Year's theme, also guarded by four men in designer suits different shades of blue. Yellow garden lights were placed around each perimeter, rounding the stone angel fountain and blocks of trimmed grass, balloons were tied to posts, all windows were lit up showcasing celebrated people...

But that was just a front. Anyone outside looking in would think this was another normal party in the neighbourhood. Wrong.

The men stationed out front weren't too pleased to see Candy though they still paid their respects with a kind curt bow and made sure she made it inside the mansion safely. What hit her as soon as she entered her former home was the distinct smell of champagne, a mixture of expensive cologne and perfume bought by those with no proper sense of smell, food wafting over from the kitchen occupied with top chefs, loud music coming from the band playing music the Estrabao family grew up listening to in Cuba.

Candy saw the musical men dressed modestly as opposed to the rest of the party: one guy playing the claves, another on the percussion drums, some fellow fiddling masterfully with the double bass, two on the rhythm guitars, a short black man playing the guïro next to another going off on the trumpets. They occasionally sang in harmony but one of the old men strumming the guitars belted the lyrics with a set of lungs built for the kind of singing that immediately made one feel at home. Perhaps that's one of the big reasons she immediately settled in the party, blending in with the sea of bodies dancing, chatting, holding drinks, everyone talking loudly over the other. She smiled as she stood in front of the band past the white marble foyer, soaking up the environment and feel good vibes. She'd be lying if she said she didn't miss this.

"Karla! Dios mio, is that really you??" Thomas, one of her many uncles, called after her as he squinted, on his way over to her. He looked exactly like most of the men in the family business: well groomed black mustache and a thick shadow of a beard, slicked back greasy hair, fairly small chocolate eyes with a hardness to them, and a body kept fit throughout the years. "It's me, Tommo!"

Candy spun around, grateful to have found someone so soon. She worried she'd have to search high and low for one of the important members that'd lead her to Luca. "Hi! Wow, it's been a long time. How are you?"

"Can't complain, can't complain," he swallowed her whole with his gaze fixated a little too long on her body. Thomas whistled, "You look gorgeous. Absolutely stunning, Karla. You're a woman now, ah?"

She did look amazing. The white silk-mousseline one shoulder dress complimented her slim curvy figure; her curly styled mane was shiny and voluminous, giving a clear view of her dangling crystal ruffle earrings; lips a flirtatious strawberry colour, eyelids painted a medium shade of bronze with dark liner and long lashes. Candy turned heads the minute she got there—a reaction she loved receiving from everyone but Thomas. He just felt...off.