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head. Jobs aren’t easy to come by for felons. I say we take it into our own hands.”
    AJ’s chair squeaks as he pushes it back and stands. I expect him to lay down his cut. He jerks his chin at me. “I don’t give a fucking fly’s ass about the color of a man’s skin as long as he’s not dangerous to this club or my woman. I need work ’cause the old lady’s having a baby. I like where you’re going with this. What you got figured for officers now that Fox is dead?” This is not what I expected from AJ, but pending fatherhood does strange things to a man. I’ve been there.
    “Congrats, brother.” Coke slams him on the back and several others offer congratulations. I wait for the men to quiet. “Skull is my VP and Vampire Sergeant at Arms. Johns was an accountant before he got locked up in state, so he’s taking over as treasurer. Didn’t think we had any money for him to handle. Now he may have bitten off more than he can chew.” The guys laugh. “Coke wants no part of voting rights, so I say my new officers step aside and let the brothers vote for who they want to sit regularly at the table.”
    Curly Sue, who’s been mostly silent, speaks up. “AJ has my vote.”
    I look around and see a bunch of heads nod. AJ grunts. He backed Fox, but we all have respect for AJ. Unlike Fox’s other henchmen, AJ stayed out of your business and never ratted if you said something about Fox. “Anyone else?” I ask.
    No one volunteers another name. “Show of hands for AJ,” I say.
    All the men raise a hand.
    For the first time today, I smile. “It looks like you’re the new secretary, AJ.”
    “If my old lady doesn’t kill me, I’ll take the job,” he says with a grin.
    That’s another thing I like about AJ…he has admitted to being pussy-whipped before and he has never cared about the hell the guys give him. A heavy feeling settles in my chest. I knew that feeling once too.

 
    Sofia
    I STAY THE NIGHT in a small Las Cruces hotel. It’s clean, comfortable, and meets my needs.
    I call Lorene, the only phone number in my new phone. She answers in a whisper. “Hey, can’t talk right now, girlie. I’ll call you back tomorrow.” The call ends.
    Lorene has no idea I’m coming for Frank. She’s been part of the Desert Crows since Frank got my mother addicted to drugs. She also helped my mom escape. She’s a strange one and the closest person I have as a friend. We’ve never met in person, but I know she would try to stop me if she knew my plans. I stare at the phone in my hand before resting it on the nightstand. I need sleep. I close my eyes and think of revenge. The statue of the Virgin Mary and the peace of the mission creep into my mind.
    I’m tired. Tired of being angry. Tired of living a half-life and tired of hatred. I fall asleep cradled in the serenity from the church.
    I sleep better than I expected and wake up easily. Today’s the day. I should go for a run, but I decide on a large breakfast instead. There’s a diner across the street from the hotel. After I shower, I walk over. Mountains surround Las Cruces. This is a far cry from the more tropical climate of Florida. It’s just as hot, but low humidity makes it bearable.
    I order a full meal. Maybe my last. I’m about four hundred miles from Peach City and I don’t know if my stomach will be able to handle anything when I’m closer to my goal. The food has too much salt and they used canned vegetables for my omelet. The orange juice is concentrate. Even so, it’s surprisingly edible. The coffee is good and strong, which helps too. I gaze out the window at the mountains. They’re beautiful in their own way. If somehow I survive today and escape, could I build a home here?
    I cut off the thought. It’s too late for dreams.
    The best I could hope for is prison. First degree murder is punishable by the death penalty in Arizona. I checked. So be it.
    I toss three dollars on the table and walk out of the diner. I walk back across the