Page 4 of Remorseless

“He’s my best friend. My advisor. My protector. If you love me so much, you should thank him for always looking after me.”

Huffing, Grandda returned to his food and finished his tamale, then grabbed his drink and took a deep swallow.Refajowas half beer and half Colombiana, a local soda. Johnnie preferred shots ofguarobut accepted theRefajotonight. He wanted to finish his meal and spend the next few hours fucking Paz. She’d already packed his bags and cleaned his room.

All that was left was his early morning journey to José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro. Instead of roughing it on a bus, Grandda would allow Mauricio to drive him there.

“There will come a day when Christopher shows his true colors.” Grandda pulled his bowl of mondongo closer. The rich soup made from tripe, yucca, and various vegetables, was still steaming, despite Mauricio setting it in front of Grandda minutes ago. He brought a spoonful to his lips, blew on it, then shoved it into his mouth. “He is jealous of you,” he said once he swallowed.

Johnnie didn’t bother answering. Before this visit, he hadn’t seen his grandfather in almost two years. Not since the day Big Joe almost shot him. If Snake hadn’t called Johnnie, Big Joewould’vekilledGrandda, instead of putting him on a plane and sending him into exile. Johnnie always wondered what had set the man off.

It no longer mattered. That was the past.Presently, he didn’t know when he’d see his grandfather again.

“Christopher loves me and I love him. We’re family, Grandda. Nothing will ever come between us. Why can’t you accept that?”

Grandda gave Johnnie an indulgent smile. “I hope the day never comes when you see the true extent of that motherfucker’s perfidy. When he takes something you want most in the world and leave you with a broken heart.”

“I assume you mean a woman,” Johnnie said dryly.

“He’s an oversexed, violent pig. And, yes, I mean a woman. The way you share broads will be your downfall.”

“Enough!”

“Move here with me. Together, we can plan your takeover of the club.” He nodded to Paz, still thrown into the shadow, out of the light. “She’s yours. I bought her for you. You don’t have to share her with anyone. She’s yours to mold and to train.”

The earlier conversation came to mind and Johnnie narrowed his eyes. “How old is she?”

“Sixteen. Why?”

“Are you out of your fucking mind?”

“The age of consent here is fourteen.”

“I’m not from here, Grandda,” Johnnie growled. “In the States, she’s a child.”

“Are you taking her to the fucking States?” Grandda demanded.

“That isn’t the point.”

“Itisthe goddamn point, boy. You adjust to your fucking surroundings. Besides, here or there, she’s a fucking throwaway.”

“What? A throwaway? What does that even mean? She’s a girl. A human being.”

“She’s a fucking throwaway. Unwanted by her parents and society. I bought her for you and saved her from whoredom.”

“I’ve fucked her for the entire week. She serves me like I’m a fucking king. Isn’t she a whore?”

“Whores are paid. Why do you think I dress them as they are? To distinguishusfromthem.Her labor is free. She’s grateful for the food and shelter.”

“Whores are…? Her labor is…? Jesus Christ, do you know what you’ve made her? Are you fucking insane?”

“John,” Grandda croaked. “Don’t think harshly of me. I promise all I wanted to do was to make you happy.”

“By giving me a fucking underaged girl?”

He shook his head. “No, of course not! I…she needed saving from what she would become. My intentions were all honorable.”

His grandfather had his faults, many of which Johnnie despised, but he was a good man at heart, whom Johnnie loved and trusted. The only person he put above his grandfather was Christopher.

“I bought Paz for you. To make you happy. To saveher,” Grandda reiterated.