Zen dusted the hallway mirror. She lifted it with the strength she gained from hours of training at the Arrio compound, and lightly dusted the back. Somewhere in the past hour one of Suzanna’s friends had broken out the android fluid and as such everyone was busy getting high. Zen had taken her notes for the day. Now she was doing her real job and cleaning the house which wasn’t so bad. A scream alerted her to the brunette finding the trapped mouse in the kitchen. She had yet to be rid of it. Just as she was moving on to the bedrooms the doorbell rang.
Probably another of Suzanna’s friends
She went to get the door but Suzanna shoved her to the floor and ran to get it. She opened it and let a handsome stranger in. He was quirking one perfect brow and a devilish smile played on his lips as Suzanna led him to her room.
Does she even know who he is?
Zen scoffed but peeked into the room to spot the stranger talking to the brunette who was almost gone on android fluid. It was the drug of choice in this era. It came from the fuel of androids.
I’ll stick close by just in case pretty boy acts up.
Zen drifted to the bedrooms and began to clean, keeping an ear on the girls. After a while, she didn’t hear a thing and went to check things out. She found the boy looking through Suzanna’s palm book while the girls were all knocked out. Zen knew it was hers by the cute dog chain on the palm book. She snickered and turned to leave.
Serves her right to let a stranger into the house. He could rob her blind! Then again they’d probably blame it on me instead.
“You shouldn’t be looking through that,” she said.
The boy looked up to show the most amazing eyes of clearest blue to Zen.
“She said I could look through it all I wanted,” he said, smiling that devilish smile of his.
Zen sighed. “She’s not exactly in her right mind right now. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t even know who you are. I’ve never seen you in her group of friends before.”
He smirked. “I knocked on the wrong door but was so graciously received that I couldn’t disappoint,” he said.
Zen smirked. “I knew it was something like that! Well, what’s your name at least?”
“Stephan.”
Zen rolled her eyes. “Is there a family name that goes along with Stephan?”
“Not for you. Well, I must be leaving. Give my regards to…”
“Suzanna Constantine,” she provided smiling.
“Yeah, her. Maybe I’ll drop in again…”
Zen shook her head. “Nuh-uh. You are a literal stranger. You don’t get my name besides I’m just a Brownie.”
He ran his fingers through tussled copper locks and then nodded. She showed him to the door and he stepped out. She held out her hand.
“Huh,” he asked confused.
“Don’t try to be slick. I know you still have the palm book. Give it.”
He fingered the rose-colored book in his pocket before handing it over.
“Sorry, I must have forgotten about it.”
“Sure you did,” muttered Zen as she grabbed the palm book away and shut the door in his face.
###
Rosa felt eyes on her again. This was the fifth time she had felt them and sure enough, she turned around to find her boss staring again. She turned back to her work on setting the table for lunch and ignored him. Instead, she reminisced on her daughter’s disappointed glare last night and sighed. She knew that as a Low, Zen had no choice against a mandate by her uncle, but she just wished that her baby girl would think for a minute before rushing off to do who knows what at her uncle’s!
Ai being a mother is not easy. You are always the villain no?
She began ironing the clothes and sighed. He was staring again and it was becoming quite distracting. Her employer was none other than Don Rodriguez her supposed arch nemesis or would have been had she been an Arrio. She wasn’t. She was an Amargarita and a Low. Rosa finished the clothes and put them away in the closet before starting to dust the room. It was a light dusting since the other maids had done so and she was just there to make a sweep of the place. She was mostly in charge of the living area and the kitchens as the main cook most days.
I don’t know why? I’m not such a great cook
She went back to the kitchens to start on the dinner since lunch had passed. She took out the ingredients for her Arroz con Pollo and began to prepare the chicken.
###
Isaias sipped his water and faced the leader of the Callejeros gang. This would make or break the deal. It was already dishonorable that a Low was making the deal and not their Boss. Luis wanted to sell Guerrero's Blood to the gang leader so he had to make a deal that benefited both parties and at the same time ended with them benefiting more underhandedly. He hated these types of deals but Luis was the Boss however he hated it and the Guerrero’s Blood was one of the most virulent poisons out there right now that only they had thanks to him. It was worth millions according to Shea and they could use the money to better fund the place plus he could always make more. It was no skin off his back.
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“You drive a hard bargain. 10 million for the poison.” The Callejero said.
Isaias smirked. “You and I both know that poison is worth fifty million easily on the black market. We’ll sell it at half price. Twenty-five million.”
The Callejero made a sign to his Boss who nodded. He turned back. “Very well Twenty five million dollars for the poison. May we see it?”
Isaias nodded and snapped the case open to reveal a light almost turquoise tube.
The gang member picked it up and investigated it. “This it?”
Isaias glared at Luis who nodded. Instead, Isaias growled and stormed off. Luis grabbed his arm.
“What are you doing,” he whispered. “We’re in the middle of a transaction Isaias! Get back in there!”
Isaias bent til their noses touched. “You want to make a faulty transaction with the gang that rules the whole northern sector and controls the distribution of our supplies? Be my guest hermano but I’m not dealing with the fallout. You do it.”
“We need the money!”
“Then hand over the real poison! I can make more Luis.”
Luis scowled and took out the real poison from his jacket pocket handing it over. “You make more after the meeting!”
Isaias snatched the vial and inspected it nodding. “Sure thing boss,” before walking back and presenting the real poison to the Callejeros.
“They were the same color but not the same consistency. Some lesser must have confused the two poisons,” Isaias said, shaking the Callejeros’s hand.
“How did you know the difference?”
“I’ve worked with this poison before.”
“You wouldn’t happen to know its creator would you?”
Isaias looked at Luis who shook his head. His eyes narrowed.
So I can make deals but I can’t be known for my real skills? Fine!
“I’m afraid that’s a secret from the public.”
“Too bad we would have paid them millions to make us some poisons.”
Isaias seethed. “Yeah. Well, pleasure doing business with you. I hope we can continue to be partners from now on.”
The Callejeros nodded and left the White room. Adequately named for the white walls and the long white couch in the back. It was the only room apart from the Green room and the cold room that had air conditioning. The leather seat upon which the Callejero was sitting was taken from the poker table. There was only a large metal desk where Isaias preferred to sit and greet the gang members of the collective gangs.
The protocol was that he sat behind the desk, not on it but since the protocol was supposed to be Luis doing the transactions, no one got onto him for that discrepancy. Now as he walked into the Green room which was no more than a greenhouse really, he sighed and began picking the different poisons to make the Guerrero’s Blood once more. Walking into the adjacent lab with the ingredients, he began the bunsen burner and looked for the other things he needed. He’d make this poison and be done for today. Halfway through his cooking, Nathan showed up. His usual wrap-around sunglasses blocked the view of his eyes.
“Hermano! Have you checked the board the Guerreros left yet?”
Isaias turned his Bunsen burner to simmer and added another poison. “Nope. Why?”
“Out of all the Hormigueros, only one person passed the exam.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Luis is mad as always. You should check it out. Might surprise you.”
Isaias nodded and stirred the poison watching it turn a pretty turquoise color. “Well this is done so I’ll go and check it out now,” he said pulling off the heavy gloves and lying them beside the Bunsen burner. He poured the poison into a vial and corked it. He’d clean up when he got back. He put the poison on the cold rack and left the lab. Nathan followed. Isaias walked to where the men were playing poker and to where the board was.
The Hormigueros gave him space and watched them smirking at each other. To them, Isaias was their boss, not Luis. He did everything a boss did except he didn’t have the title. He had respect though and for the Hormigueros that was something sacred. Isaias looked at the board and searched for his name. He found it at the top of the list. He had been the one to pass the exam. Isaias stood numb for a minute and Nathan clapped him on the back.
“You are one lucky son of a gun Isaias. No one else even came close to your score.”
“What does this mean Nate?”
“It means if you want to...you can join the Guerreros now. Their next meeting is in a week. I was told to let you know.”
###
Rosa served Don Rodriguez and noticed as he gave the others the night off but not her. She finished serving him and made to move when he held on to her serving arm.
“You will join me Amargarita?”
Was that a question or a command?
She nodded and went back to the kitchen before walking back out and taking a seat across from him. She straightened her smock and tailcoat.
Why is he here? Usually, he’s eating with his Arachnids
“Rosa, you didn’t serve yourself.”
“Was I supposed to?”
He nodded.
She got up and served herself a plate then returned to the table. Despite not being Arrio good manners were beaten into her young like all her siblings and she had not forgotten them. She folded a napkin over her lap. She began eating daintily when he offered her some wine.
“I’m a Low,” she said.
“I won’t tell,” he said, smirking.
She smiled and took some wine. It had been years since she had any wine so she only served herself half a small glass and took a sip.
“Mmm, good vintage,” she muttered.
He smirked and took the bottle back. He hoped it would make her more amendable to him. He knew he wasn’t the most outgoing person out there. He had lost her once though and wasn’t planning to lose her again so soon.
“Rosa would you like to know what last night was about,” he asked knowing she wouldn’t be able to say no.
“You were there?”
“Yes, for the better half of it.”
Rosa’s eyes narrowed and she frowned. “What was the night about then? Zen and Isaias can’t tell me and I worry they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.”
“Don Vasquez wishes to transport his Aruba home to somewhere closer to Argentina. However, Vasquez and Bernado are hiding something that could destroy everything. Make sure your children know about intergalactic crystals. They have one and are capable of having them be the ones to hide it. It’ll only cause problems along the way for everyone.”
“An intergalactic crystal! How did they get a hold of one? Aren't they protected by the Galactic Council?”
“They’ve gotten daring in their old age. I don’t know how but I’m certain of its validity.”
Rosa stood up a little too fast letting the wine go to her head. Don Rodriguez snapped out of his chair and put his arms around the falling woman. She collided with a hard chest instead and blushed.
“Thank you, Carmelo.”
“Always Rosa,” he muttered, bringing her closer to him. She blushed harder and fought the hold. He let her go and she quickly picked up their plates and washed them.
“Well, I’ll be heading home now. Have a good evening Don Rodriguez.”
“Rosa we can talk more on the crystal tomorrow over dinner.”
“Okay.”
Wait did I just accept a date from Carmelo?
His answering smirk showed her the answer to her question.