Troubled With Tattoos

Chapter Thirty-One

Princesa

On edge would be the perfect word to describe how I was feeling. Other than scared, hungry, in danger, hungry, tired, did I say hungry already? Cash's words ran through my head over and over again. I couldn't get them out. 'I'll have you so fast and your little friends won't be able to help you.' Those words gave me chills. Surely the boys could protect me against anything right? But for some reason, Cash always seemed to be one step ahead. He knew I was in the closet, which sucks because that's the best hiding spot in that house.

I clocked in to work just as it reached four o'clock. A simple five-hour shift, I got this. Those dog treats looked slightly tempting. Why was I so hungry? My mind raced through what happened today with an occasional image of lasagna in the background. The door dinged and I looked up to see the backstabber herself. I rolled my eyes pretending to be busy. Oh look my nails are kinda crooked, I should file them.

"After today you might as well consider yourself fired," I said harshly. She deserved it, she deserved everything including Cash.

"Violet, I can explain. Please just hear me out?" She said with tears in her eyes. She looked distraught but I wasn't about to fall for another one of her tricks. I crossed my arms and sat behind the register signaling her to speak.

"Kara, she told me you were flirting with Cash. When I didn't believe her she told me that if I didn't do this for her she would break up me and Cash. She said she was going to ruin my life if I didn't help her." She pleaded.

"So instead you agreed to ruin mine?" I said bitterly as I picked the dirt from under my nails as if it were the most interesting thing at the moment.

"Oh come on, suspended for 3 days is nothing. And Kara didn't even get the cops involved." She sighed. I gave her a look that said 'seriously'. Do I believe her or not? Wheres my little angel and devil that are supposed to sit on my shoulder like in the movies? I should order a pizza.

"Still goes on my permanent record," I added.

"Violet you're a lot stronger than me, I'm sensitive and I get scared way too easily. I'm sorry, I hope you will still be my friend because we made some pretty fun memories together." She hesitated to laugh. I thought about it, maybe she was right. Maybe she didn't deserve everything she got.

"You broke my trust Liz, it's going to be a long time before I can trust you again." I shrugged. Being her friend wasn't on my agenda anymore. I have Rose and the boys.

"I'm sorry," She pouted sitting in front of me on one of the waiting chairs. Her jeans were ripped and her purple shirt was tight showing a bit of cleavage. It was Cash's idea to blackmail his own girlfriend. I know it was, but she would never believe me. She loved him. He's trying to ruin my life and I couldn't even tell my friend about it.

"Let's order Chinese." She said pointing at the Chinese option on the screen.

The door dinged right after we placed our order.

"That was fast," Lizzie said excitedly as she jumped up to meet the delivery person. But instead, she was followed back by a tall tanned boy with long black hair that reached his ears. He had tattoos up his arms like all the boys.

"Hi, I'm Carlos, I just got hired." He rolled his tongue. Lizzie's eyes widened hearing his Spanish accent. Oh, right the trainee. I get to train this guy? Thank you Cherry. Wait a second, this is a trap. She's trying to get me to fall for this Spanish boy so I won't talk to the boys anymore. Aunt Cherry, I am on to you.

"Well Carlos, I'm Lizzie and this is Violet, she's the owner's niece. We both work here too, we just ordered Chinese if you want some." I watched as she talked to the smooth looking boy.

"Cool, I'm starving." He smiled as he glanced between us. I showed him how to use the register as the actual delivery boy came with our food.

Hours had passed and only a few animals had come in today. Carlos was getting the hang of things and I was enjoying just having to supervise. Although he had a slight staring problem. Every time I looked up he had some kind of grin on his face. We had an hour left and I was wondering why Camden hadn't shown yet. He said he would visit, he always kept his word. Maybe something went wrong, what if he got shot again? I started to make myself anxious and tried to calm myself by playing solitaire on the computer.

"You can use that king," Carlos appeared from behind me, "right there." He said pointing at the empty spot. I was too distracted to focus on the game. He moved closer than I had wanted, great another guy who can't seem to leave me alone. Just what I needed. I began eating leftover Chinese food.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" He asked out of the blue. I slightly choked on my pork fried rice before fixing myself.

"Kind of a random question," I stated focusing back on the solitaire. I repositioned myself on the chair so that I was as far from him as possible.

"You didn't answer it." He shrugged leaning against the desk. I managed to not make eye contact as I kept my chocolate eyes staring blankly at the screen.

"Why do you want to know?" I asked curiously. I wouldn't even know how to answer that question. I mean Austin and I aren't dating but we're not nothing.

"Because I think you're muy bonita." He said spinning my chair so I was facing him. Now if I was eating I would have definitely choked. His tan arms locked me in place. He had black eyes that were staring deep into my soul. He started leaning in closer and I pushed him away just as the door opened.

"Sorry I'm late- who the hell are you?" Camden said with an annoyed look on his face. He was glaring down Carlos and I watched in amusement.

"I'm new, do you need something?" He said politely with a bit of harshness. Oh, boy Carlos what did you just start. The boys were acting like animals, almost as if they knew each other.

"Is he bothering you, Violet?" Cam asked bending down to my ear level. Nope, I'm just minding my own business here playing solitaire. It's not often guys fight over me, I could use some popcorn. I'm rooting for Camden, He could break him like a twig.

"Nope," I said popping the p. I was slightly scared Camden was going to punch Carlos but then I remembered that was only something Austin would do.

"Well my shifts just about over, hasta mañana, Violet." Carlos winked before strolling out of the store snickering. What was that all about?

"Why is he here?" Cam groaned holding his face in his hands. I swayed back and forth in the chair.

"Cherry hired him," I said offering him some Chinese food. He looked at it before sighing. His mouth opened just slightly as if he was about to say something but I had to get what happened earlier off my chest.

"I messed up Cam," I mumbled. I looked down at my hands awkwardly. The boys were going to kill me. Why did I throw out threats I knew I couldn't even dish out.

"I might've threatened Cash..." I whispered running my hand through my hair. Cam gave me a look but none the less smiled at the end.

"Violet, you can't fight a squirrel stop throwing threats out." He rolled his eyes before sighing.

"I didn't mean to, I was leaving the principals office and he bumped into me," I explained. We were talking quietly now.

"What did he say?" He hesitated to ask. I bit my lip trying to decide how to tell him the story. He was going to be pissed, I could be starting world war three right now. I told him what he said and how he trapped me between the wall and himself. To say he was mad would be an understatement. He left to call the boys but he said he'd be right back.

I, on the other hand, had to clean up the shop to close. I don't know what Carlos was talking about, neither of us work tomorrow. Crazy Spanish boy. Cherry finally taught me how to count the drawer at the end of the night so that she wouldn't have to come in late. Which reminds me her new boyfriend was having dinner with us tonight. She was crazy about him already.

I was counting the money before I caught sight of a small post-it note tucked just under the drawer. It stuck out just enough so you could see it. I plucked it out, it was empty. I flipped it over to find a small note.

'Nadie puede salvarte, princesa'

It was in Spanish so it had to be from Carlos, but it said, princess. Cash calls me princess, as much as I hate it. I took my phone out to look up what it meant in English. Cam strolled back in just as I finished typing the words. He peered over my shoulder looking down at the note and my phone.

No one can save you, princess.