Page 85 of Paco
Linda clutched the top button of her red blouse. “Why would you ever say such a thing to the man who helped Chelsea?”
“He was kissing her.”
Linda shook her head. “They like each other. He’s been the only bright spot in Chelsea’s life. I’m grateful to him for bringing her back home, and for making her glow with happiness amid all the horror she’s had to endure. Leave them alone. You always did this when she was a teenager and I never said anything, but I will now. Leave her alone. I mean it.” Linda walked away and went over to the sink. “And stop drinking so much,” she added in a low voice.
“Is everything okay in here?” Sandy asked as she came into the room and went over to Linda.
Pushing her shoulders back, her chin lifted, Linda grabbed her sister’s hand. “Everything’s perfect. Peter’s finished with the steaks and it’s time to eat.” Glancing at Peter, she pointed to the platter. “Bring those to the dining room. Chelsea, Paco, come on. The food’s going to get cold.” She waited until Peter left, and then she and Sandy followed him out.
For several seconds, silence descended on them. Then Paco hugged her close to him. “I can see where you get your strength from, babe.” He kissed her quickly. “Let’s get some food.”
***
Paco sat inthe SUV across the street at the end of the block, watching Chelsea’s house. Ever since Bull Dog and Jacko had told him they saw a man matching Bobby’s description lurking around the house and neighborhood a few days before he and Chelsea had arrived in Findlay, he’d been living on adrenaline. The night before, when Bull Dog had come over to the motel for Chains to relieve him, he’d told Paco that he hadn’t seen the Bobby guy in a couple of days. The news hadn’t comforted Paco, it just lit up all his red flags. And so he sat watching her house.
Several of Chelsea’s cousins filed out the door, waving their goodbyes. Sandy and Dave left next along with a few friends. Soon everyone was gone. The sky had turned from gray to black, and the stars twinkled and shone in the frigid night air. Opening a thermos, he poured a cup of coffee and sipped it slowly; he was there for the night.
I’d rather be in your warm bed with you in my arms. I gotta find Bobby and Victor and get rid of them. How can I go back to Alina with them still out there?He took another sip of hot coffee.How can I go back without Chelsea? Fuck.She got to him. The way she smiled, talked, smelled, and felt in his arms had seriously melted the steel surrounding his heart.
Her shadowed outline danced from behind the curtain, and he watched her while his body heated from want.
The light went off and Chelsea’s house was encased in darkness. He leaned back and kept his gaze steady.
