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Isa?”  She actually seems genuinely concerned for once.
    “I hope so. He is going to need you Ari. I won’t be here to pick up your slack.”
    “So you keep telling me. I’ll light a candle for him.” And there she is folks, my twat of a sister.
    I go into the kitchen and stick my hand in the cookie jar in search of gas money. Great, five bucks. Perfect.  I smack my hand against the counter.
    “I’ll be back to drop Papi off then I am going into the store after, so you had better be here when I get back. He doesn’t need to be lifting or doing anything. You’ll need to be here to make sure he eats.”
    If she isn’t I don’t know what I’ll do when I get a hold of her.
    “Do you have a few dollars? I need to put gas in the car.”
    Saying nothing, she digs through her purse and reaches me a ten. She usually pretends to be broke.
    “What’s this job?”
    Thinking quickly, I come up with a lie. “I was going to wait for Papi, but I got a job as a live in nanny. The position fell into my lap at the hospital and I have to start immediately.”
    “Well that’s just great Isa. Do you ever think of anyone else other than yourself? I have a job too ya know.” Sure she does.
    “Okay Ariala, I am so sorry that I am growing up and doing something for myself. Excuse me for wanting a life other than waiting for you to get your act together so Papi doesn’t go into an early grave with the stress you bring in on him.”
    I don’t need this right now.
    “Whatever Isa, just go pick up Papa.”
    Slamming the door, I tune her out and drive to the hospital.
    I don’t know what to say to Papi about my moving out for a while. Turning up the radio, I try to block everything out and just drive.
    I decide it will be better if I don’t tell my Papi the truth of where I am going. He’d never allow it but he needs this from me.
    My father has made sure I have always been taken care of. It’s my time to do the same for him.
    My father made a deal with the devil and it is up to me to pay his dues.
    **
    “I need to go into work Isa. I’m not a child, I am a grown man. I don’t need to sit at home twiddling my thumbs.”  Papi is so stubborn. The doctor told him to stay away from the bookstore for the next week.
    “I know you are worried about paying Tristian, Papi, but you don’t have to worry about him,” I tell him as I pull into our driveway.
    “What do you mean, what have you done Isa?” he wheezes, his cheeks reddened in anger.
    “Please, calm down, nothing bad. I made a business deal with him. I found a job out of town working as a live in nanny. I’ve been wanting to tell you about it but wasn’t sure how you would feel. But anyway, more importantly, he has agreed to let me make payments to him weekly no matter how long it takes,” I lie smoothly.
    “Mi hija, he is a dangerous man. You shouldn’t have done that. You will never be able to work that kind of debt off.”
    “I will be fine, as long as he is seeing some green he will let us be,” I try to assure him but fail miserably.
    His face is red and he looks ready to spit nails at me. “I won’t stand for it Isabella!” He shouts at me before slamming the door forcefully and going inside the house.
    I follow him inside seeing him going for his shotgun in the hall closet.
    “What are you doing?” Ariala shouts as he starts loading. “Has he lost his mind too?” She looks to me for an explanation for his outburst of anger. Our father has always been quiet and reserved. He rarely raises his voice and never a hand to any of us.
    I shake my head at her. “Papi, listen to me. I am an adult and free to make my own choices. I will do it with or without your blessing, but I would rather have it,” I plead.
    He looks so angry with me I can’t bear it. I knew he would be, but I didn’t expect it to hurt so badly. I’ve never disappointed him. I’ve always been his perfect girl.
    “Not if I kill him first,” he states menacingly.
    My heart drops to