Page 76 of Savage Saint

“Thank you.” I take mine and sip it, before tilting my head toward the kitchen. Dad’s already munching on cookies. “What’s Dani’s deal? What’s he buttering you up for?”

“Video game.” I knew it. “He’s been super helpful the last two weeks. Does all his chores without being asked.”

“So bribery is working.”

“We call it motivation,” Dad corrects, his lips twitching.

“Capitalism.” That gets a laugh out of Mami, and I lean over to kiss her cheek before standing. Not that I want to, but I’ve caught my father looking past me toward his study a few times. Almost excessively. “Thank you both for lunch, but it is time I also earn my weekly badge of honor by helping an abused electronic heal. Where’s the printer he butchered?”

Mom points to the study.

Dad doesn’t meet my eyes but also points.

This is not good.

And I confirm it a few seconds later when I enter the room. “What the hell?”

The beautiful new printer I bought them a few weeks ago looks like it’s barely survived a war.

There are streaks of ink across the outside casing.

The color cartridge lid is open, and I can tell the colors are in the wrong slots.

A massive dent runs along one side.

And when I crouch down and open the paper tray, there is enough crumpled paper jammed inside to qualify as an artistic statement piece.

I stare. I blink.

There’s more.

“Dad!” I yell, noticing this man somehow managed to crack the screen panel.

Immediately, I hear retreating footsteps. He’s trying to escape.

I run out of the study and find Mami laughing, and the front door is wide open. Catch sight of him escaping—heading toward the colmado again—but I do hear the tail end of his complaint.

“I didn’t do anything, but also check the Wi-Fi!”

17

GENESIS

Seven days of freedom disappear in the blink of an eye.

I did laundry, organized my closet, and spent a quiet afternoon at the beach with a book I barely read because the ocean was far more interesting. Between the warm breeze and salty air, I’d found myself stretching out beneath the warm midday sun and closing my eyes for what was supposed to be a few minutes.

It turned into a nap and a light tan on my already golden skin. The glow is beautiful days later.

I also did some shopping, wandering through stores buying things I need, some I don’t, and a few pieces of lingerie I have no idea when I’ll wear. Still bought them, though.

Because I’m crazy. Because it’s been more than six months since my last date.

It’s been a week since the bistro.

Yet he’s never been far from my mind. Confusing me. Toying with me.

While shopping, a tall man in a black shirt and jeans disappeared around the corner of a building before I could get a good look. It also happened at the beach, my iced coffee almost slipping from my fingers as I caught sight of a muscled man with tattoos and a sharp jaw wearing a baseball cap and shorts.