Love and Decay by Rachel Higginson

have to deal with
me.”
    Santi took a step forward. His people
followed. “Maybe she doesn’t want to deal with you anymore than I
do? Yeah?” Santi taunted. “Maybe she’s tired of your creepy ass
stalking her all over the world.”
    “Look who’s talking, Colombian ?”
Miller laughed. “At least I’m headed home. Why did you come
again?”
    Santi took another step forward. His
shoulders had gone rigid and the look on his face should have been
enough to kill- or at least inflict major bodily harm.
    People in our temporary camp started to
notice the tension. My brothers left their families to walk over
and see what was going on while their wives tucked their children
behind them and out of the way.
    Diego also walked over, an amused grin
stretching his freshly shaved face. He’d complained about being
bored over the last few days while we waited for a good night to
jump the fence. This would hopefully entertain him enough to keep
him from whining about it.
    Although, not too entertained, since I wanted
this idiocy to stop right now.
    Santi stepped closer. “Home to your loco
papí ? Home to find out just how messed up you are, American ?”
    Miller’s body flexed and tensed with
restrained fury. My stomach flipped knowing how close to an
explosion he was. Santi wouldn’t stand a chance.
    He’d be smashed to pieces beneath Miller’s
fists of fury.
    “Stop,” I shouted. “Santi, what’s wrong with
you?”
    Santi leaned to the side so he could see me.
“You’re serious, Page? You’re taking his side?”
    Frustration burned across my chest. “I’m not
taking anyone’s side! This is ridiculous.”
    “Page, let it go,” Miller demanded.
    “You let it go,” I said to his back. His
shoulder blades jumped in response.
    “Are you going to kidnap her too?” Santi
pushed. “A little birdy once told me that’s how your family plays
it. That’s what they have to do to get women.”
    Oh, shit.
    I looked helplessly at Hendrix, begging him
to step in. He was three steps ahead of me. He held his hands up as
he walked into the danger zone.
    On an upside, this was the best English I had
ever heard from Santi. Apparently he hadn’t been giving it his one
hundred and ten percent before today.
    I didn’t know whether to be irritated with
that or impressed.
    On second thought, everything about him
irritated me right now.
    Miller took a step forward, but I grabbed his
wrist, foolishly thinking I could hold him back. He shook it
roughly, dislodging me easily.
    “That’s annoying,” I said to no one in
particular.
    “You don’t know shit,” he growled to
Santi.
    “Miller, stand down,” Hendrix ordered.
    Santi grinned. “Yeah, Miller, stand
down .”
    “Shut your goddamn mouth, gutter rat,” Miller
countered.
    Santi leaned to the side to meet my gaze
again. His expression was filled with rage and disbelief. His
accent thickened again with his emotion. “This is who you want,
Page? This maniac?”
    “What’s clear,” Miller cut in, “is that she
doesn’t want you. It doesn’t even matter if she wants me instead.
The most important part is that she’s over you. She doesn’t want
anything to do with you. Ever again.”
    I opened my mouth to disagree, but then
closed it quickly. It wasn’t a lie. I didn’t really want anything
to do with Santi again in a romantic way. But I also didn’t want
Miller to be the one to tell him that. I could speak for myself,
thank you very much.
    I didn’t get the chance though. Instead of
politely explaining to Santi that whatever little thing we had
going was now at an end, all hell broke loose.
    Santi and Miller launched forward at the same
time, colliding in the middle with fists, fury and determination.
The smack of skin and muscle pounded through the air surrounded by
shouts of those trying to break them up and those that were egging
them on.
    I took a step back and tried to breathe
through my own anger. I was frustrated with both boys. I was
furious with Santi