She stopped in her tracks and closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. ‘This is way too fuckin much for me right now. I need to get out of here.’ She exhaled and turned back around, her heart twisting uncomfortably in her chest at the look on Carmen’s face. It was one of pain and love, of frustration and worry. ‘She looks so tired. Damn it. She could’ve left me before after the shit I pulled but she’s still here waiting for my sorry ass. She still wants to be with me. And I can’t be without her.’ Shane walked towards the bed once more and for the second time that night, She was on her knees in front of Carmen. She reached out and took Carmen’s hand in her own thinking of how she wanted so much to make this relationship work, to keep Carmen by her side and make her happy.

“You’re right, it is bullshit.” Shane began, “He called me and wanted me to introduce him to my higher profile clients so he make money off of them and give me a cut in return. He basically wanted me to be something like a pimp. I told him no and he threatened me with telling you and everyone else I know about the things I’d done. But I still told him to fuck off and then this happened.”

Carmen was staring intently at the woman before her. It was finally coming together, ‘So he wanted to compromise Shane’s stability and she wouldn’t do it even after he threatened to ruin her life.’ A wave of pride and awe swept through the latina as she had this revelation. Shane was not willing to throw everything away for the sake of some extra cash in her pocket. Carmen smiled softly as she listened to Shane continue.

“I swear I was going to tell you everything tonight, I just never got the chance to and now…” Shane trailed off as the fear started to bubble up inside of her. ‘She knows. Fuck. Once she’s got time to process all of this she’s going to be disgusted with me. What if she leaves me? What the fuck am I going to do?’