Bindle Punk Bruja by Desideria Mesa

Author:Desideria Mesa
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2022-09-13T00:00:00+00:00

The back of my spinning head bounces against my soft quilt, a snorting giggle escaping my nose.

“Aw, sorry, boss. Little rough on the landin’.”

I grip Gio’s shoulders as he starts to pull away, nuzzling his white shirt to inhale his outdoorsy scent. “You smell good.”

“That’s what the guy in the jail cell said,” he says with a sideways grin. My horrified face twists, deepening his small smile. “Kidding.” His laughing eyes seem to study me as he untangles my fingers from his shirt. “Anyway, you get some rest. It’s been a day.”

“Wait.” My hands cling to his arm like he’s a life raft, the uncharacteristic desperation furrowing his brow. If only I could get a grip on my wherewithal, but my eyes are jerking around like a skipping gramophone. I try to read his hands, but all I hear is his steady breathing. Damn piss water.

“What’s the matta’, doll? You gotta go to the washroom or somethin’?”

“No, I just . . . Where’s Heck?”

Gio’s amused smile fades as he slides his arm from my grip. “He got called to an emergency meetin’ with his trustees in St. Louis. I guess he’s gotta schmooze things ova’ with this whole jazz-club thing—and marryin’ you, of course. He came to the Riva’ Rose afta’ I got arrested and called the lawya’ when Penny and Clip told him what happened. Barely made his train, but he saved our necks, huh?” His cheeks redden as he stands, running his hand through his dark hair. “He’ll be back in a couple’a days.”

“A couple of days?” I whine, pushing myself up, the flowers of my wallpaper dancing around me.

Gio’s gentle arms push my shoulders. “C’mon, boss. You gotta lay down.”

“I can’t. He doesn’t like me being alone at night.”

“Uh-huh,” Gio says, jostling the mattress as he sits. His hand lifts the back of my head, lowering it again onto my pillow. “So, he stays with you?”

“Only when he’s upset,” I slur, pointing my finger in the air. “But don’t get the wrong idea, mister. I ain’t that kinda girl.” Another snorting laugh erupts from my lips. “Well, I am, but not with him.”

“Yeah? Not with your flashy fiancé? With who, then?”

My hand waves around like a lead glove. “Oh, not anyone for a while. Usually some joker who wants me to worship the ground he walks on just because he’s a man. I wouldn’t mess with them at all if they weren’t so damn handsome.”

“So that’s what you like? Joka’s with pretty faces?”

“No, that’s the problem. They like me.” My fingers tease the stubble on his chin, my voice hardening. “‘Oh, Rose, you’re all I ever wanted. I’ll do anything for you—even leave my wife.’” My laugh meets Gio’s sad face, his furrowed brow crinkling his cute little scars. “‘Well, isn’t that awful sweet of you, Mr. Pretty-Face? How can I say no to that?’ So I give you all what you really want—a good mug with no commitment.”

He grabs my hand, his sincerity registering through the fog.

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