Page 10 of Angels Fall

I get in. And in doing so, I just… give up. What’s the fucking point?

“Ponte el cinturón,” he says.

I put the stupid seat belt on while he closes my door and walks around to the driver’s side to get in. “My life would get exponentially better if you killed me in a car crash on the way home, ya know.”

Other Guy laughs and says, “Te rindes demasiado fácil,” as he starts the car.

“Fuck you!” I answer back. “I try harder than anyone!”

“No,” he says. “Solo prueba hasta que falles. Entonces te rindes.”

“Dude, you don’t even know me. And you’re one to talk, anyway. You work for that asshole.”

“Sí, pero… tengo planes.”

Hmmm. “What kind of plans?” I ask as we pull through the gate that surrounds the Castillo compound.

“Solo soy un tipo que tuvo la oportunidad una vez. Vendiendo tequilla…” He goes on in Spanish like that for a while.

I wait ’til he’s done and then say, “Tequila sales, huh? Where was that?”

“Acapulco.”

“Is that where your family is?” I ask.

“Sí. Y volveré pronto para conseguirlos.”

“Get them and go where?”

He shrugs. “No lo se.”

“Well, that’s kind of a stupid plan if you ask me.”

“No lo hice.”

I don’t respond right away. This guy is hallucinating if he thinks he’s just gonna hang out with Carlos Castillo as his henchman for a while, make some money, and then take off and go back to his family. “Sorry, buddy, but you’re in the same spot as me. Stuck.”

Other Guy shrugs, then turns his head to look at me and says, “Maybe. But at least I keep my cool and do what I’m told until I have better options. You just lose your temper every chance you get.”

His perfect American English surprises me. And his opinion pisses me off. “Like I said,” I say, crossing my arms. “You don’t even know me.”

“You’re wearing a sexy white dress and red stripper shoes, Maddie Clayton. I know everything about you.”

I laugh. Hell, he laughs too. Because that’s the line Tyler used on Logan right before he clocked Other Guy in the jaw and knocked him out.

“Did you know that guy?” he asks. “The one who hit me?”

“Yeah.” I sigh. “I know him.”

“He’s your boyfriend?”

“No.” I huff. “Fuck no. If there’s one person I hate more than Carlos, it’s that douchebag.”

“Hmmm.”

“What’s that mean?” I ask.

“I dunno. He seemed to like you a lot. Seems like a good guy to have on your side. I don’t remember the last time anyone was able to knock me out like that. Just saying.”