Chapter 40

“From the—”

“No. Yeah. I know damned well what money. El carbon.”

The wipers could barely keep up with the downpour.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“Jerk. I’m a jerk, an asshole. Estupido.”

“You never spoke Spanish to me before. Maybe once…once or twice.”

Z twisted his perfect lips into a brief pout. “I probably should have started off with some nicer words, I guess.”

“I mean, yeah, but I like it.”

“Hombre de sonrisas. That’s better.”

“Man of smiles. Carmen told me.”

“I rarely mix the two languages,” Z said. “I guess it might take me a little time to get back into being all-American. That’s a story for later…if we get a later. I still find it a little hard to believe you’re giving me a now, considering the way I acted.”

“I get it,” I said. “I might have done the same thing, if I were you. My father took money from a charity. He’s the ass. You saw him do it and couldn’t get away from me fast enough. It makes sense.”