Page 7 of Sins & Paradise

It’s nearly closing time but I notice Magda pulling out a few to go boxes and loading them up with a large order of muffins and breads along with a few pastries that we didn’t sell during the day.

All in all it’s six boxes of food. Maybe she’s going to donate that stuff? The possibilites rush through my mind and I’m so focused on figuring out what she’s going to do with the food that I don’t realize someone walking up to the bakery.

This time when the bell on the door jingles to signal we have a customer I turn face first in that direction.

My heart squeezes in my chest and I can’t find enough oxygen in the room to take a deep breath. My vision goes dark for a second and I have to grab hold of the counter to keep from falling over.

“Aye dios, Angela, estas bien?” Magda questions, her concern clear in her voice. I can’t respond. I still haven’t found my air yet. All I can do is nod.

My eyes don’t leave our guest.

A man wearing a leather vest splattered with patches and words is staring at me. He’s tall, with enough scruff on his face to let me know he hasn’t shaven in awhile. His arms are bear and I can see tattoos and brands on his skin. His light brown eyes nearly mirror mine but inside of those orbs are deadly secrets I’ve seen before. He stares at me the same way Miguel used to.

I’ve never been more sure in my life that whoever this man is, he’s come straight from Florida to bring me back home.

The angel of death has found me.

Three

Lobo

It's been way toolong since a woman has taken my breath away.

Initially, I was annoyed when Coca asked me to walk over to the bakery to pick up an order she'd placed. There were quite a few other people that could do it instead. Of course, I knew everyone was busy trying to make sure we had everything we needed to have the compound move-in ready, but what's the point of being the vice president of an MC if I have to do all the grunt work, like picking up food?

I didn't want to seem like a bitch about it, so I grumbled and walked out of the large space toward the small bakery that I'd been in a million times before. Magda was almost like one of the family.

Her bakery had been in town ever since I was a little boy. It's a staple.

If I'm being honest, it’ll feel good to finally be able to taste one of her arepas or some of her coffee again.

What I wasn't expecting was to see this obviously skittish yet undeniably beautiful woman standing behind the counter with her.

Magda has always worked alone. Except for the few times she's tried to take on a little help, I could count on one hand the number of times I've come here and seen anyone besides her behind that counter.

She's not from here. There's no way I'd have missed her if she was from town. Sure, we've been gone for a few years, but the people in this area very rarely moved away or had any new people move in.

"¡Hola! Qué bueno verte." Magda walks out from behind the counter to kiss my cheeks and wrap her arm around me in a hug. I accept the affection, but I don't have much to say in return. I'm too busy staring at the other woman, and she's too busy staring at me. I'm pretty sure if a stiff wind blew through the bakery, she'd fall over.

I tilt my head slightly and smile at her. It's enough to break her from her trance, and she quickly rushes into the back.

"She's new," Magda says in a thick accent, and I nod my head.

When Magda begins pulling me in the opposite direction, I shake the thoughts of the woman out of my head. Of course, I'd like to know more about her, but I don't have the time or the patience to deal with someone who stares at me like I'm about to rip her head off. No, I've got a club to build back up and a crew of men who need me to be on my best game.

Magda gives me the heaping mound of food for the club, and I slide a few extra dollars in the bill for her. She deserves everything, and I only hope the few extra dollars will help her in some way.

I turn my head to scan for the woman I'd just seen, but either she disappeared or she's off hiding somewhere. Good for her. At least she knows to stay out of trouble.

Magda smiles as I walk to the front door and back out into the blazing heat.

I shouldn't be concerned with the woman, but something inside is basically screaming that I go back to her. Something dangerous that I can't afford to listen to.

After all, what's the point of caring about something else when it will more than likely just be taken away from me?

I've lost too much already. I'm not about to set myself up for another loss.

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