Unbreakable

7

The bar is way too busy for it to be 1 in the morning.

I'm about three shots in and feeling pretty tipsy. I needed the buzz to be friendly to some of our assholes customers tonight.

They seem especially shitty tonight.

Ava's kicked out at least 3 men so far and I'm pretty close to kicking out one guy that's too wasted to remember that he's asked for my phone number 3 times.

I glance at him and he winks making Ava laugh beside me.

"He's feelin you girl." She nudges my arm.

I roll my eyes at her as I pour two shots of vodka, hand her one and we throw it back.

Some random guy walks up to a few of the men sitting at the bar, says something to them that makes them leave some cash and head outside.

Finally, it's starting to slow down.

I check on my remaining customers, avoiding phone number guy and start to clean behind the bar.

My attention is drawn to the door as Oscar walks in with a group of members from his crew.

I look at Ava and we roll our eyes in unison. The members of the Verdugo Gang were chronic sexual harassers.

We're pulled out of our silent conversation when the energy in the bar takes a turn.

The volume dropped significantly and a few people have turned in their seats to watch Oscar and his group.

I look over to see what the big fucking deal is and I'm immediately drawn in by the man I spot.

I've never seen him before.

He walks in behind Oscar, in dark jeans and a black zip up jacket.

His presence has completely claimed the attention of almost everyone in the room. My own included.

Oscar said that one of the bosses was coming in to do business for a while and without a doubt in my mind, I know that must be him.

I watch him unzip his jacket and take it off revealing a white T-shirt and tattoos that are covering every inch of his smooth beige skin.

Black ink travels from the tips of his fingers, all the way up to his neck, flowing around the sides of his head and leading around and above his ears.

My eyes take in his absolutely flawless face, his pouty lips, his perfectly pierced nose, and finally his deep green eyes.

That were staring back at me. Shit.

I look away and I continue wiping down the empty spots at the bar where someone had spilled some beer.

Ava comes up next to me and leans toward me.

"Don't look now, pero te esta viendo. With 'fuck me' eyes." She says, biting her lip.

I give her a light shove.

"Yo, shut the fuck up." I say, laughing. "I ain't open for business." I add.

"Girl, you need to change that because you ain't been laid in how long? Shit, since you fucked that white dude Cameron a few months ago."

I look away, guilty.

I still need to confess that I fucked her brother the other night.

"Look, about that. I need to talk to you."

I stop wiping the bar and face her.

She gives me a funny look. "Who the hell you been sleeping with? I know that look of regret Cairi."

She crosses her arms in front of her and leans against the counter, clearly amused.

"Aye mami, can we get some service over here!"

I turn around to see Oscar standing at the bar grinning at me.

I glare at him. "What do you want?"

He chuckles and gives me a smirk.

"That ain't no way to get your tips beautiful."

"Oscar, you got about a second before I move on to another customer that doesn't piss me-"

He cuts me off, "Damn, okay. A round of Henny at the table and uh, one water."

I nod my head.

The bar has slowed down even more after Oscar, his thugs, and the mystery man came in.

A couple people left and the rest lowered their volume and seem on edge.

I take the tray of drinks over to Oscars table where they're all intently listening to mystery man.

And while they all stare at him, he's staring at me. Fuck, he's beautiful.

I start to pass out the drinks and I watch as they pass the water down to mystery man.

Interesting.

"What's good, baby?"

One of the men they call Oso, puts his hand on my lower back and leans back to get a look at my ass.

"Why the fuck are you touching me?" I say calmly.

Oso and a couple of the men laugh.

"Don't be like that Cairi." His hand moves lower. "You're always mean as fuck girl."

I step away from him.

"Puto cabrón." I mumble under my breath.

"Bitch, what did you call me?" He asks, raising his voice.

I see Oscar chuckling to himself knowing my patience is running thin as I turn to walk away.

"Yo, is that why the fuck your man used to beat the shit out of you? Ya damn mouth? Fucking bitch."

I whip around, ready to tell him to fuck off.

"You think that's funny?" A calm, quiet voice comes from the end of the table.

Silence.

I look up and stare at the mystery man at the end of the table.

"I'm speaking to you." He says a little louder, his voice ice cold.

He's stares at Oso, with a face as hard as stone.

It takes a second for Oso to realize that the man is talking to him but when he does, he looks down at the table in front of him.

"Na." He answers not daring to look back up.

I stand there, extremely confused by whatever it is I'm witnessing.

"Why don't we apologize to-" he looks at me with his intense green eyes, waiting for my name.

"Cairi." My voice comes out softer than I'd like.

"Cairi." He repeats.

The sound of him saying my name makes me want to melt into a puddle on the floor right fucking here in front of him.

"Perdón." Oso says clearly frustrated.

I look at the man that possesses so much power and I hope that the confusion isn't showing on my face.

"You won't embarrass me again."

He states it calmly but there's a certain intensity behind his words that gives me chills.

He looks back at me.

"Thank you, Cairi." Mystery man says, dismissing me.

I can't speak so I simply nod my head and head back to the bar.

I'm pulled back down to earth and realize that most of the bar has fallen silent.

Ava is staring at me, eyes wide.

I need a fucking cigarette.