Page 38 of Capicú Summer

I pick up my pace, feeling my orgasm build at the base of my spine. “You should answer that.”

“Fuck no,” he grits out, “They can wait until my girl is sated.”

With that, he smacks my ass and matches my frantic rhythm. Pleasure coils tight in my spine, wrapping around the base like a vine. Just as I feel myself tumbling closer to the edge.

“YAEL!” Lenny shouts, his tone full of urgency. “Adriana!”

The moment shatters. I practically jump to my feet, fixing my dress, praying he doesn’t notice that I was just fucking his cousin. No one knows about Yael and me. And it will be fucked up if people found out this way, especially Neno, who’s taken a liking to Yael again. And Lenny, who just two days ago was my boyfriend.

“Fuck… Fuck…” I grumble, pacing around the space.

Lenny finally makes it up, his face flushed from the heat, sweat covering every inch of it. “It’s Neno,” he blurts out. “He’s been shot.”

The silence is deafening. My chest caves in, and the rooftop starts to spin. I can’t breathe, and before I know it, I collapse onto my hands and knees—purging my stomach onto the cold floor. I can’t think. All I hear is the echo of the gunshot, even though I wasn’t there. Yael rushes to my side, his hands gathering up my curls.

“Adri,” he whispers. “I need you to be good. I need to go see…” Yael’s voice trembles as he asks Lenny. “What happened?”

“He tried to rob the gas station,” Lenny pauses, his gaze flicking between us, something dark flashes in his features, but I can’t pinpoint what exactly it is that I see.

“Puñeta⁠*,” Yael grits out, and I feel his urge to run to my brother. I feel the same way, our eyes clash, and I nod, giving him the permission to leave. Yael wastes no time running down the stairs, forgetting his phone. My hand darts out and I grab it, when I notice the missed calls on the screen. All of them my brother’s.

“Move, bitch.” A dark, husky voice pulls me from the memory as my back slams into the cold surface. I wince, feeling the weight of his body pressing into me. I blink fast, coming back to the present—realizing that I’m being robbed. My gaze darts to the door leading to the main house, my heart sinking at the thought that my sick Abuelo is probably sleeping.

“Where’s the money?”

I could laugh.

We barely made anything this morning. “There’s nothing to take,” I mumble, trying to slow my pulse, so I can breathe and think of a way out. I close my eyes, when I feel the warmth of his breath fan my skin.

Repulsion sweeps through me in waves, the closer he gets. “How about⁠—”

The sound of Yael's voice makes my eyes snap open. “Adri.” He calls out my name from outside the door. The masked intruder places a finger against my lips, his hip grinding into mine, just so I can feel the metal of the gun. I stay quiet, afraid of what happens next. Yael tries to open the door, but it just rattles. The gun digs deeper, and all I can think about is—not again. A single tear escapes the corner of my eye, relief washing over me when Yael finally walks away, knowing he’s no longer in harm's way. Only for panic to kick in, the moment I realize I’m alone with my sick Abuelo and two strangers.

“Grab anything valuable and let’s go,” the one closer to the door barks out, while the one pinning me in place, leans closer.

“We should have some fun first,” he replies, ignoring the string of curses that spills from the other’s lips, disapproving of whatever he’s about to do. I swallow hard, the urge to scream has me biting down on my lip. “You look good, ma, maybe I’ll leave the cash and just take the ass.”

I shake my head.

A firm no. My voice won’t come, but my eyes say everything my lips won’t convey. There’s movement in the far corner of the room and I track it. Hoping that it’s not another assailant, I hold my breath waiting for the great reveal. Just when I think all hope is lost, Yael comes into view, after sneaking in through the back, and I couldn’t be happier for all the late nights he snuck into the bodega just to hear me yap about life and make out behind the counter.

I’m careful to not focus on the spot, even though I track each movement as Yael inches closer to the one by the door, machete in hand then, before the masked intruder can react—over his neck.

“Oye mamabicho⁠*, let her go,” he orders, his voice low and dangerous. The stranger in front of me freezes, his grip faltering, giving me enough room to bring my knee up and hit him right where it hurts.

“You fucking bitch…” the man sneers, his hand shooting out to grab me.

“Don’t even try it, I’ll kill him and then you for touching her. I’ll be smiling in my mugshot, while I do it. Piensalo Chulo⁠*.”

The masked man looks behind him, stopping when he notices the calm demeanor with which Yael holds his buddy. That stillness reminds me of Lenny, and I look away, unable to stomach the shame. Sirens blare down the street, the man goes to run but I’m quicker, grabbing the large sardine cans and chuck one behind him. It connects with the back of his head. He groans loudly, his hand moving to the back of his head. Only for me to hurl another can—this one hit him at the temple.

“Nice one, Ciela.” Yael’s approval makes me breathe a little easier, or maybe it’s the cops approaching. Either way, I relax. A cold breeze drafts between us, a ghost's hand, familiar and gentle lands on my shoulder. The feeling of safety, hard to ignore, and I close my eyes. All I feel is my brother, here, close to me.

“Neno,” I whisper, and the tears come easily.

After filing a police report and answering questions, I was over today. Today sucks, not just because of the robbery, but because it marks six years since Neno was murdered. For this to happen today, of all the days, is just the icing on the cake. Abuelo wheezes through a cough, snapping me out of my daze. The smell of Vicks and sickness hangs heavy in the air.

“Mija,” he rasps, his voice hoarse from the lack of use. I lean closer, feeling the tears already forming. “No estes triste. Mi niña, mi única nieta.”⁠*