Page 73 of Crow
“Always,” he said as he leaned back against the chair.
“Enchiladas Suizas,” the waiter said as he placed the plate in front of Angie. “Steak Ranchero for you, sir. Another margarita?” he asked her.
“Yes, please.”
“Another beer and a shot of tequila,” Crow said.
“Very good,” the waiter said, then rushed away.
Angie took a bite of her food, savoring the blend of spices and green chile. “This is delicious.”
“Like I said—it’s the best.”
“So you just have two sisters?”
“I have another one who’s married and lives in Mesa. She’s got a couple of kids.”
“You and Valerie don’t look at all like brother and sister.”
“She’s my foster sister. My parents took in two foster kids—Valerie and Justin. Valerie had a hard life. Her mom was a crack head and the State took her and her siblings away, and that’s how she ended up in the foster program. Justin’s dad used to beat the shit outta him, then the whole family ended up on the streets. His mom was totally fucked up and his dad made Justin beg for money on street corners.”
“That’s awful,” she said before taking a sip of her drink.
“It’s fucked. He’s a couple of years younger than me. When he got out of high school, he took off and hasn’t contacted my family. My mom was hurt that he just bolted, but my siblings and I were glad. He was always strange. I’m glad he’s out of my folks’ lives. Trevor still lives in Mesa, so he’d tell me if Justin ever showed up.”
“Trevor?”
“My brother.”
“Wow, you had a full house growing up. Your parents were kind to give Valerie and Justin a chance.”
“I guess. Valerie is pretty messed up. I love Noah and Maddie, so I put up with her victim antics. But I guess I shouldn’t be talking to you about her since you’re the enforcer.” A smile spread across his face.
“I’m just doing my job. I didn’t plan on being a HUD investigator. When I moved to Alina, I stayed with my aunt and uncle and worked in the deli. After about six months, I wanted to live on my own, so I started looking for something that looked mildly interesting. I spotted the ad for the investigator job, and since I graduated with a degree in social work, it seemed like the best way to get my foot in the door. I was surprised I got the job.”
“Do you like it?”
“It’s okay. I have too many cases, and between the tenants and the slumlords always yelling at me, there are times I want to quit, but I don’t. It’s not my forever job, but I’m getting good experience. My social work background helps a ton when dealing with a lot of the recipients on the housing program. I just like having my own place. Until I moved out of Aunt Rosa’s house, I’d never lived alone before. In college I commuted.”
“Overprotective father?”
She groaned. “Brothers. Do you know that when I got my own place, my brothers –Nick and Dominic—moved here? I mean, can you believethat? They opened a gas station and mechanic shop together and are doing real well, but it’s challenging to hear them question me on everything I do. They act like I’m still their little twelve year old sister.”
Crow laughed. “Don’t be too hard on them—that’s what brothers do. I want to bash every asshole my sisters go out with. The one in Durango—Diana—she’s dating a total fuckface, and I have to fight the urge to keep from beating the shit outta him.” He picked up his beer bottle. “Maybe if you all dated normal men, we wouldn’t have to be on high alert all the time.”
“Maybe if you all gave us some breathing room, we wouldn’t be so defiant and have this passive aggressive urge to piss you off.” She chuckled.
He smirked. “So who are the assholes your brothers have to protect you against?”
Angie pushed her empty plate away and leaned back. “Only one—Devon. Dom warned me about him and so did Sergio—he’s my younger brother and stayed in Denver to help my dad run the mechanic shop. Anyway, with Devon, I should’ve listened to them. He turned out to be a complete jerk.”
“Brothers know best.”
“In this case they did.” She glanced out the window. Strings of white lights wrapped around maple trees illuminated the back patio.
“Did the fucker break your heart?”
“In a big way,” she whispered.
