Amaya's POV

It was Wednesday morning, October 23rd, my 25th birthday. 

The 13th anniversary of my father's death. 

He had just turned 29 when he was killed. 

Mami was about give birth to Sara.

It was a strange birthday. Everything had gone great in the morning. Mom had me off to sixth grade, the twins were two and causing a wreck at home. My parents had made me birthday pancakes and gave me a bike before driving me to school.

It was the last time I saw the white Mustang I now drive for years. The last time I saw my Papi, I was running into school. Hours after going to school my Tio came to get me. I thought it was a birthday surprise but when we pulled into the hospital parking lot I knew something was off.

Santos filled the packed waiting room surrounding my mom. Cholos and cholas, Tios and Tias, family and friends poured in. No one telling me what had happened.

A week after the cops finished their investigation we buried him next to my Abuelo. My Abuela flew from Miami to visit. It was the first time I had ever met her. She told me that she left the gang life right after my Abuelo got stabbed to death.

Just like fate they died the same way. Father like son.

Here I sit 13 years later next to his tombstone; skipping school, smoking a cigar, reminiscing by myself.

After the cigar was finished I stomped them out, I said my goodbyes and got back into my car. Not a lot about today was good but at least I was a quarter-century old.

I got coffee at Mugs, went to the high school and had my mom dismiss the twins. Today was no good for any of us but it was harder on my younger sisters who never got to spent time with our dad. So I thought what better way to cheer someone up than with dress shopping.

Before I knew it the twins along with Monse and Ruby where walking out of school.

"Your mom told us to go with you. I hope that's okay?" Monse said.

"Yup. Get in." All four of them got in and next stop was to pick up Sara.

Sara ran outside the middle school and got in the middle of Ruby and I.

"Shopping!" She screeched. 

I drove all the way to Los Angeles with all the kids talking at a loud volume. Lilia and Katia had decided they wanted to match but not have the same dress. Sara and Monse were told they were gonna be damas. Ruby would choreograph the twins first dance. And I just wanted to drive off the highway and drink.

When we got to the shop the sales ladies ushered the twins into the back. Other sales ladies had Sara, Monse and I looking at dresses for us.

And Ruby. Ruby was gawking at one of the sales ladies.

"Isn't he dating Jasmine?"

"No, not really? I don't know. Jas is passionate about Ruby and Ruby is passionate about a sock." Sara looked at me and stuck her tongue out. She thankfully moved on to another rack.

"Got it. What type of dress says mother of the birthday girl?" I held up two dresses. One with a beaded bodice and another with a lace design down the sides.

"I think the second one. What are you picking out?"

"Well I have to order a jumpsuit for Mario's wedding and I was thinking this." I pulled out an A-line, deep V cut and a slit on the side.

"Ohhhh. Yes, that'll look good. What about a jumpsuit?"

"Angelica already approved one. Can't go against the bridezilla. What did you pick out?"

She showed me a floor length black dress. "I'm not good at this. I know it has to be a short dress but I liked this one." Monse had good style but just not for the right events.

"Try it on. Maybe it can be for prom."

"I don't know. Its expensive."

"Then get a job and pay for it yourself. Sometimes you need a little sparkle in a dull world."

"I guess."

Before I could hand the dresses I picked over Lilia and Katia came out from the dressing rooms in their dresses. The ONLY ones they would try on. 

Lilia's dress was a high neck tank top type dress with beading and a full skirt. Katia wasn't too far behind with a keyhole cutout in the front, cap sleeves and similar bead work and skirt. 

Both red dresses, not what they both had said they wanted.

"We decided to match in red while our court wears black and the common folk can wear whatever."

"Okay, then I'm gonna put this back." Sara had two red dama dresses.

"Wait!" Katia grabbed one of them.

"Look at it. It looks like both of our dresses."

"Yes, this is what you two are wearing but in red."

"What about these?" I held up my dresses.

"Mami, mine and for Mario's wedding." Ruby had joined us now.

"Yes to all of these. Go try them on." He pushed all of us back into the rooms and sat down.

I laughed when I heard him ask for a glass of champagne and they gave him sparkling cider.

I walked out in the jumpsuit so Ruby could say yes or no.

It was one shouldered, floor length and flowy.

"I hate the color. But otherwise its good."

"Angelica wants me to order it in black."

"So, Spooky told me you talked to him. What did Cuchillos make you do?"

"Did he really have you of all of the Core 4 try and talk to me? Ruby not gonna happen. Crazy bitch is still out there." The sales lady came over and measured me.

"She isn't out to get anyone. What did she do to you?"

I shot him a look and he backed off. The sales lady helped me get down and then into the dress meant for my mother.

I felt a hundred times older than I did when I first woke up.

Now the twins were trying on other dresses but the first ones were truly their dresses.

"This is perfect for Mami!" Katia gushed.

"Okay." The sales lady came over and I told her to order it a size up. Just in case I told myself.

"AJ try on this." Lilia thrusted a dress towards me.

It was mesh, backless and fitted. My worst nightmare.

"Okay."

Once again I was back in the room getting dressed.

This was something I would have loved to wear when I was a teenager.

I walked out and felt all the eyes on me. 

Monse and Sara had on their matching dama dresses, Katia and Lilia had on their first dresses and Ruby was on the phone.

"Look at you stunning ladies. Looks like you're going somewhere important."

At the sound of that voice everything in me screamed threat.

Katia and Lilia were in lalaland not paying attention, but the man got Ruby's and the other two's. 

"AJ talk outside in five. I'll let you finish playing dress up."

I watched that sick son of a bitch walk outside the store in his stupid black cowboy boots.

I walked back into the room and shrugged out of the dress. I redressed in my clothes and grabbed my purse.

"Stay in here. Do not look at him, do not talk to him. Got it?" I said sternly.

Each of them nodded.

"If I'm not back right away, pay for everything and go to the car." I handed Ruby my card and car keys.

"Got it?" Ruby nodded at me, speechless, mouth hung open.

"What about that dress? Do you want it?"

"Sure." I said walking into a meeting I thought I was finished with.

Before the door shut I heard Monse say 'Call Spooky'.

Oscar's POV

Just like I had predicted Amaya was shopping with her sisters and Ruby tagged along.

Ruby called me to let me know that they'd be back sooner and that her party needed to be set up faster than expected.

He also said he needed to tell me about some dude that showed up to talk to Amaya.

For the first time in six years Whack-Whack let Santos into the Rabbit Hole. 

Señora Sanchez had us decorating and setting up while she made sure Lupe was picking up the food from Dwayne's. And she was going to pick up the cake from Abuelita.

Amaya hates her birthday, I don't know why in hell her mother was throwing her a party.

Marco came out of the back with more tables and it was the first time we saw each other since my boys shook him down.

"You know she's gonna hate this. Right?"

"Oh, yeah. Can't wait for the drama."