“Hmm,” Felipe nods, “you were born in Yuma, Arizona to William and Sarah Benson. Your maternal grandparents are alive and living in Connecticut. Celia will have her hands full planning your birthday celebration in two months, and although you’ve been arrested for underage drinking, disturbing the peace, and criminal mischief, you’ve never spent more than a single night in a cell. Now,” he pauses for effect, “tell me something I can’t read from a police report.” Kid’s expression reads like closed captions for the hearing impaired: Please stop talking before I start screaming. Felipe runs his fingers through the boy’s hair. “Why are you called Kid?”
Kid swallows several times before he can answer. “M-m-my dad,” he chokes out. “In the army, he went by Wild Bill, you know…like the outlaw.” His heart is pounding! He will never do anything to piss Felipe off—ever. “I was Billy the Kid.”
Felipe smiles. “I have heard of them. Very sweet, boy.”
“Yeah,” Kid prattles on nervously, “Mama used to like to break out the pictures of me in my diapers and cowboy boots. I had a cap-gun on each hip.” Felipe seems to genuinely appreciate the detail. Kid relaxes marginally.
“Do you shoot well?” Felipe asks.
“Nah,” Kid smiles, “my mama never liked real guns. After she died, I never wanted to carry one. It used to drive Tiny crazy, ‘cause it meant he had to watch out for me.” Kid falls silent.
“Do you miss him?” Felipe inquires.
Kid nods shallowly. “Sometimes.” He pauses. “It’s more like…I forget to miss him and when I remember…I feel bad for wanting to forget again.”
“When you miss him, do you ever think about revenge?”
Kid takes the time to consider the older man’s question. Part of him does—want revenge against Caleb and the others—but then… “When I was twelve, my buddy Shaun Wiseman stole my girlfriend.” The memory makes him laugh. “I was so pissed at him. He kissed her with tongue and everything—was more than I got from her. So I come home and tell Mama m’gonna kick Shaun’s ass, and she said…” Kid finds himself getting a little choked up and takes a deep breath to settle himself, “she said revenge is for people who got nothing to lose.” For the first time, Kid purposely seeks out Felipe’s eyes. What does he want most? The voice in his head screams his answer loud enough to silence any errant thoughts of revenge. He knows his truth. “No, I don’t ever think about things like that. What would be the point?”
Felipe experiences the oddest sensation. This boy does things to him, makes him feel like his heart is new. Following a few seconds of heavy silence, Felipe yawns. He leans over to press his lips to his bewildered lover’s forehead. “Goodnight, Andrew. I want only pleasant dreams for you.” He rolls over and shuts his eyes before the other man can reply. “I’m glad you chose my bed over the floor,” he whispers.
55. Felipe/Celia
Despite the fact his goals are within reach, Felipe is none too pleased after his meeting with Caleb; Rafiq’s apprentice is beyond arrogant. He suspects Caleb is high on Celia’s affections and the idiotic notion he holds something over Felipe because of them—fool. And after all that Felipe and Celia have set in motion to give him a chance at love and his all-encompassing revenge. After all he’s done to make sure they all get what they need in the end! Selfish—all of them.
Rafiq thinks he can fail to deliver his weapons on time and still demand his drugs. Unconscionable! Caleb sleeps in his house, under his protection, eats his food, and fucks his woman, and has the gall to give Felipe attitude. The look on his face when Felipe told him about the cameras…he’ll find pleasure remembering it later, perhaps on Celia’s face.
“Tell me, why do I allow her to sleep with other people?”
“She told me…that…um…she does it to get back at you…for…before.”
Celia can be too brave!
And then there’s Kid. He’s…actually very sweet; Felipe nearly cracks a smile, but remembers he’s on a mission. The boy has to earn his way, be it toward freedom or a new life. Felipe will collect what he is owed.
He barges into Celia’s room full of malicious intentions. Kid, never having experienced Felipe’s jealousy, is startled into dropping the sterling silver hairbrush he was using on his mistress’ hair. Celia only smiles at Felipe through his reflection in her vanity mirror. “Algún problema?”
“Of course not. All is according to plan.”