₂ ❝𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈.❞
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THE PLANE FINALLY LANDED AT LAX AFTER SIX LONG HOURS.
Carmen let out a long sigh as she grabbed her carry on from the overhead bin. She didn't take much with her, just some clothes, money, and her passport. She didn't need much, she just needed to get out of the city and away from Beau.
Carmen grabbed the prepaid phone from her pocket checking the time as she waited to exit the crowed plane. She had ditched her phone at the airport, picking up a prepaid one before boarding for her fight. Beau wasn't stupid. He'd more than likely check her phone records, and she needed to stay one step ahead of him. Always.
The warm California heat hit Candy as soon as she stepped off the plane. It had been years since she visited her brother and Candy had never grown accustomed to the dry, stale heat that welcomed her into California.
Her brown eyes frantically searched for a rental car sign. Juan had informed her he wouldn't be able to pick her up due to some work business, though he did say his girlfriend was willing to, but Candy found that too awkward. She would have to be sitting in a car for another couple of hours with some girl she didn't know. No thank you. She'd rather drive herself.
A small sigh of relief left Carmen's lips as she spotted a rent-a-car sign. The brunette quickly made her towards the rental place. She wanted to make it to Charming before night time. Carmen hated driving in a new town at night. That's why she loved the city. She never had to drive and she knew where everything was.
"Hi, I need to rent a car." Candy spoke in a rush as she slid her sunglasses over her tired brown eyes.
"Okay, for how long and where will you be traveling to?" The woman behind the desk questioned with a cherry smile on her round face.
"I'm not sure how long." Candy shrugged as she eyed the woman with caution. "I'm heading to Charming." She added as she pulled her license and credit card from her Gucci wallet.
"Shit." Candy mumbled to herself as she looked at the small plastic credit card in her hand. Beau was more than capable of tracking her credit cards as well.
"Well that's a bit of a drive." The woman laughed. "Let's get you a car so you can be on your way. I need your license and a credit card please." She said as she eyed the card in Candy's hand. A skeptical look crossing her face as she watched the brunette stand there with a blank stare.
"Do you take cash?" Carmen questioned as she snapped out of her daze.
"No. I'm sorry." The woman shook her head. "We need something on file." She added with a small smile.
A sigh left Carmen's lips at the woman's words. Any other person would of been defeated, but not Carmen. She was exhausted, mad, and scared, but this woman wasn't gonna defeat her.
"I'll give you six hundred dollars. I need a car. I have to get to charming." Candy said as she pulled a stack of cash from her wallet.
"I'm sorry I cant." The woman shook her head as she eyed the cash in Carmen's hands. "It's against policy."
"I understand." Carmen nodded, pulling the sunglasses off of her face. "It's just, I just left my boyfriend and I'm on my way to see my brother and my ex isn't the best guy. If you get what I mean." She said as she put on her best 'poor me' face and stared into the woman's blue eyes.
Carmen could be manipulative when the time called for it and the time definitely called for it. The story she was giving the woman wasn't 100% false though. It was just a different version of the real story.
A soft sigh left the woman's mouth. "I have a 2003 Jeep that's available for the week. Just make sure you drop it off at your nearest rent-a-car at the end of the week and I'll take care of the rest." The woman said as she slid the car key towards Carmen.
"Thank you." Carmen let out a sigh of relief as she grabbed the key. "Here." Carmen handed the six hundred dollars toward the woman, an appreciative smile on her face.
"Be safe." The woman said softly as she took the money from Carmen's hand.
"Thank you." Carmen said again with a nodded before placing her sunglasses back over her brown eyes and making her way towards the parking lot.
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THE SUN HAD JUST BEGUN TO SET AS CARMEN PASSED THE 'WELCOME TO CHARMING' SIGN.
After another five hours on the road — give or take with a few stops, Carmen was more than ready to see her brother and finally get a good nights sleep.
It had been a few weeks since Carmen could get a decent nights sleep. She was too scared of the possibility of what Beau could do when she finally closed her eyes that she immediately woke right back up filled with dread.
"Finally." Candy muttered to herself as she pulled into the parking lot of some auto shop. It didn't surprise her that this place was where Juan had given her directions to. Candy knew her brother worked as a mechanic, but that was really all she knew about him.
Her brown eyes took in the motorcycle filled lot. She didn't know if this place catered specifically to motorcycles, but by the way they filled up the parking lot she wouldn't be surprise.
"You lost sweetheart?"
Candy turned around at the sound of a voice. She looked the older man up and down as he stood there staring at her with a smirk on his face and a cigar hanging from his mouth.
"No." Candy shook her head. She was use to men like this. Men that wanted to show that they had power. "I'm looking for Juan." She said as she slid her sunglasses off and crossed her arms across her chest.
"Juan?" The man asked with a raise of his eyebrow. "Oh, you mean Juice." He laughed. "Remi is gonna kick his ass."
Carmen stared at the tall man with a raised eyebrow. Who the fuck was Juice? And who was Remi and why would she kick his ass? She was confused and tired and this man was pissing her off.
"Is he here?" Candy asked with frustration as she began to tap her sneaker clad foot against the pavement.
"Yeah." He nodded. "Follow me short stack." He laughed as he began walking towards a building.
Carmen rolled her eyes at the man but followed behind his tall frame. He wasn't the first person to call her short stack and she doubted he'd be the last.
"Juice!" The man called once they entered what looked like some sort of man cave to Carmen. "Got someone here to see you."
The smell hit Carmen as soon as she step into the makeshift bar. It smelled of weed, sex, smoke, and alcohol. It wasn't a pleasant smell by any means and it took a lot in Carmen to not throw up. The smell reminded her of childhood in Queens, back in that small apartment with her mother and Juan, and the revolving door of boyfriends that their mother kept.
"Carmen!" Juice spotted his sister standing behind Clay with a look of discomfort on her face. Her brown eyes stared off into nothing before she quickly eyed him.
"Juan." Candy said softly as she felt relief fill her body at the sight of her older brother.
He looked much different than last time she had seen him. His dark hair was cut into a Mohawk and he had tattoos on the side of his head, he had put on some muscle as well. The only thing that was the same about his was his big goofy smile.
"Welcome to Charming." He smiled.
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A/N:
I hate how I ended this chapter, but overall I like the chapter. Thank you for the votes and comment!