“You know, I’ve been threatened a whole hell of a lot in my life. But a threat coming from you? It’s almost orgasmic.”
“Only almost?”
“Only almost,” he teases.
“I would say I would work harder on that, but I don’t really give a shit about your orgasms. Grab an ice bucket.” I unlock the door and storm out of the room. This one is going to be a fucking handful. I should have just killed him in the woods.
Tate follows after me with the bucket in hand.
“Izzy!” I call to the head bartender taking inventory behind the large, round bar on the edge off the dance floor. “This is your new barback, Tate. Show him the ropes, please.”
“Barback?” Tate is none too pleased.
“What’d ya think? We were handing you a gun and a pile of drugs right off the bat? You want to be a Deltoro, you work through the ranks.”
“I thought you said I have potential?”
“You do. Running ice. You do good with that and we’ll see what else you can run. Now get to work. Club opens in an hour. Izzy, if he gives you any trouble, tell me. I’ll shoot him.” I tap the bar top.
I hear Tate scoff as I stride off.
Take that,Guapo.
3
Tate
“No te metascon La Tiburona, Gringo. Te muerden.” Izzy laughs condescendingly.
You don’t mess with the shark. You’ll get bit.
“Su mordisco sería bienvenido. And I’m only half a gringo.”
Her bite would be welcome.
Izzy’s chiseled, bearded face morphs into an expression I know well. A welcome surprise. It’s always the same reaction when I bang out someEspañol.
“No sabes lo que estás pidiendo, amigo. When she bites, she bites to kill.”You don't know what you're asking for, friend.
“Soy un chico grande. Puedo cuidar de mi.” I wink.
I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself.
Izzy laughs with a deep, youstupido, rumble. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you. Now go fill up the buckets and get to icing. IfLa Tiburonasees us bullshittin’ around, it will be our asses. And don’t stop running until I say so. Entiéndes?”
You understand?
“Yeah.” I expel an annoyed breath. This is not the way I envisioned my night going. A freaking ice gopher. “Entiendo.”
I understand.
There are six bars in total in Toro Embolado, which literally translates to bull with balls. I don’t know if that’s a Deltoro subliminal message not to fuck with them, or just their way of being funny. Cartels have been known for off-color names and nicknames.
I wonder what La Tiburona would call me?
El pain in the asso.
I chuckle to myself. I think I’m funny even if no one else does.
