The Viper (Untamed Hearts #1)(57)

“In the high school parking lot?”

“Sure.”

“People get arrested for things like that.”

“If I’m gonna get arrested, it won’t be for that.”

“I don’t want to hear about it.” She reached around Chuito, ignoring his imposing frame as she opened her door and tugged, forcing it to hit his back. “I’m tired of being the confessional for thieves and gangsters. Are you going to move?”

“You want me to buy you an early dinner?”

“No, are you hitting on me?”

Chuito laughed and rubbed a hand over his forehead. “I got enough f*cking problems. I don’t need to add hitting on my cousin’s chica to the list.”

“I’m not his chica.”

“Whatever you say.” Chuito shrugged. “Dinner?”

“You’re not moving until I say yes, are you?”

“No, probably not.”

“Fine. Meet you at Hal’s.”

“I walked here. We’ll take your car.” Chuito opened the door for her. “Gimme your keys.”

Katie gaped when he actually helped himself to the driver’s seat of her car.

“We need to sit down and start to really analyze the hypermachoism that is running rampant in your family,” she told him with concern.

“Fine, be difficult.”

Chuito pulled out his keychain that was heavy and had all the same tools Marcos’s did. He used a small screwdriver and, with very little effort, popped off the silver top to her ignition.

“You’re breaking my car,” she said in horror.

“I’ll fix it.” Chuito used a different tool on his key chain. He stuck it in the now exposed section of the car’s ignition and looked ahead as he fiddled with it, as if searching for something by feel, and within a few seconds, the car purred to life as if he was simply using a key. He gestured to her. “Come on. Vámanos.”

“My God,” she whispered, because she was sort of impressed, though she knew she shouldn’t be. “Can Marcos do it that fast?”

“Oh, please. I’m so much better at this than him.” Chuito gestured to the passenger seat. “In. Now. I’m hungry.”

Katie walked around to the passenger side and opened it. She looked out to the parking lot to see if anyone noticed that Chuito was essentially stealing her car.

No one did.

She put her briefcase down and then crawled in and buckled her seat belt, but the car wasn’t moving. She turned, seeing that Chuito was staring at her like she was insane.

“What?” she asked defensively.

“That’s it? You just get in the car with a guy who jacked it?”

“You said you were buying dinner.”

“Co?o, no wonder he’s paranoid. You just said you hated me.” Chuito looked behind him to back up. “You are crazy, chica. Maybe you should end up with my cousin. He’s crazy too.”

Katie sighed and rested her elbow on the window. She put her head in her hand as she looked at the scenery. “Is he okay? I got the impression he’s in trouble at home.”

“Your guess is as good as mine.” Chuito sounded as stressed as she felt. “But, if it makes you feel better, Marcos is perpetually in trouble.”

“And you’re not?”

“I try not to be.”

She thought about that for a while, because that was a very different answer than one she would get from Marcos. Finally, she asked, “When was the last time you stole a car?”

“About three minutes ago.”

“Before that?”

“I dunno.” Chuito rubbed a hand over his forehead. “Five, six years ago? Give or take.”

“But you don’t need to steal cars anymore?” She knew he was a very popular fighter; after winning his second UFC title, he was arguably as popular as Clay. “You’re rich from the fighting.”

“I do all right.”

“How come you don’t drive a Ferrari like Romeo Wellings?” Katie asked, remembering that Marcos said Chuito gave money to all his old friends. “Or live somewhere besides over Jules’s office? Clay and Melody Powers just bought that big house on Westerly. You could probably afford one too.”

“What is the deal with the questions?” Chuito barked at her. “No more questions.”

Katie grinned in spite of everything. “OGs don’t like questions.”

“No, they don’t,” Chuito agreed as he turned and gave her a smile. “What do you know about OGs?”

Katie arched an eyebrow at him.

“You’re interesting, Katie. I’ll give you that. Very interesting. Not too many gringas show up and let some Latino steal their car and just go along for the ride.”

“And that’s exactly what it feels like.” Katie sighed and rested her forehead back in her hand as she looked out the window again. “Does he do this to every girl he hooks up with for the week? Leave her heartbroken and ask you to show up and sweep up the pieces? I know that’s why you’re here.”

“You think Marcos stays with women for a week at a time?”

“Doesn’t he?”

“No, he doesn’t. A night, maybe, a week, no,” Chuito assured her as he parked at Hal’s. “And you’re the first one he’s asked me to sweep up the pieces for. I guess that means he’s growing up. I suppose that’s something.”