Page 19 of Chula

“You ever stitch anyone?” She smiles at me and pulls her dress up, revealing her flat stomach and the scars that decorate it. I reach out my clean hand and run it along the scar as she sucks in a breath.

“I’ve stitched myself a few times before. Rafe made me take a class on it.”

“So you’re a professional, huh?” I tease her.

“Something like that. Let me see it,” she says as I pull my hand away, and she grabs a cloth, wiping the blood away.

“Yeah. You definitely need a few,” she mumbles under her breath before she gets to work. Luna cleans it, stitches it, and then she applies a dressing while I stare at her.

“If you can do all this, why didn’t you become a nurse or some shit?”

“I wanted to. The idea of helping kids like Davey was always something I wanted to do, but not in this life.”

“Why not?”

“The cost is too much. I can’t afford that shit.”

“Yeah, I can understand that. If you could, though? Would you do it?”

“Hell yeah, I would. Do you know what kind of money they make? I could easily take care of Davey with that kind of job,” she tells me as she cleans up her mess and washes her hands. I reach out and grab her hand in mine, squeezing it gently.

“One day, Chula. One day.” She gives me a sad smile that I hate to see on her face, but one I understand at the same time.

Once she’s finished, I stretch a little and turn on the shower.

“Are you really going to wash off all my hard work?” She snaps at me. I smirk.

“I need a shower,” I tell her.

“Fine. I’m going to check on Davey. You need me for anything else?” I step closer to her, crowding her space.

“I need you for a lot more, Chula.”

“You already had me for that.”

“And you think one time was enough for me?” I ask cocking my head to the side to study her face. Fuck, she’s beautiful and something I shouldn’t get myself wrapped up in. She deserves more than a piece of shit like me.

“I don’t know. Was it?” I reach up and wrap my hand around her throat, tugging her closer to me as I shake my head.

“No. It wasn’t.” Then I crash my lips to hers, kissing her like I need her to breath. This is too fast for her, but when I see something I want, I take it. And Luna is something I most definitely want.

When I pull back her lips are swollen, and I can’t help but smile.

“Give me twenty minutes and I’ll be ready,” I tell her. She nods her head but doesn’t say anything before she turns and leaves the room. I hear the door shut, and then she uses the key outside to relock the bolt before I climb in the shower.

It doesn’t take me long to rub one out thinking about her in my bed tonight. I wash up quickly and climb out, drying off and getting dressed.

I spray on some cologne, and then I head for the door, ready for this night. I check the bruising on my face, and I’m a little pissed off, but now I know who I owe an ass beating to.

It’s cold when I step outside and lock my door before crossing the street. I see Henry, one of my other guys, posted up exactly where I told him to be.

“No one in or out unless it’s her mom,” I remind him. He nods his head, and we fist-bump before I head up the stairs to see if Luna is ready. She’s bent over, her ass showing from under her dress. I bite my fucking lip so I don’t go over there and run my hands under that dress.

“You ready?” I hear Tony, which causes Luna to stand and turn around. Her eyes roam over my body before she looks back into my eyes.

“Not bad,” she says with a small smile on her face. Not bad, my ass. I look damn good when I fucking want to. Tony walks over to her and throws his arm over her shoulder as they begin to walk toward me. I eye Tony, and he laughs loudly.

“You want me to hang out here tonight?” Hock asks. I look at Luna, and she shrugs, but I can see in her eyes that she would feel better if he did.