File 7: Street Fighter
1704 Words
Santa Barabra, California
Rex 2010
The vicious winds of the open road clunge to Rex, driving down the street towards his mother’s flower shop at lightning speed. Those men could be innocent, the threat harbored merely his own imagination. But he’s the type to figure things like that visually. And when it came to his mama, there was no time for ifs or if not’s. The adrenaline had set in, like fire in his veins, pressing the gas pedal until he turned the corner to the shop. A one-story building with Spanish style crown moldings on the rooftop, Luciana’s Flowers, in carved letters above.
Only a black Sudan was parked outside the shop when Rex parked. Through the glass doors, he could see the suited men, feeling his heart drop into his chest. Three men, armed and dangerous, towered over his mother, Cara clutching the pearls around her neck with a fierce expression.
“Damn it,” Rex curse, checking the glove compartment for his gun. Empty. Remy had run over to his car just as he stepped out with a curse. “What’s happening? Why aren’t you in there helping her?”
Remy stuttered with his words, walking beside Rex’s thunderous strides. “Your mama...she told me to...to leave when they came in. I didn’t know what to do, man. I didn’t bring no gun and they definitely strapped.”
Rex continued to march towards the door, keeping his glare pinned on the men. “You could have stayed in there! Protected her, damn it!”
Pulling the door open, noticing the trembles of his mother’s features, sent Rex into a blinding fit of rage. He didn’t allow a moment to drift by for an attack. The men turned around at the sound of the chiming door. The middleman and heftiest out of all of them was the first to feel his fury. Rex's fist collided to the man cheek, the sound of a sharp crack reverberating off the walls. The suddenness shocked everyone. The man lost his balance, tumbling into the next man like a domino and knocking down a bouquet of roses.
The glass crashed to the ground the moment the third man cursed and swung at Rex. From his peripheral, Rex spotted the man and ducked, sending an iron fist below his ribs, taking him off guard. Noticing the first man trying to regain his footing, Rex kicked him in the gut, making him crash into the guy below him again with tremendous force.
“REX!” Cara screamed, slamming her fist on the counter. “Basta! Basta, por favor!” Rex froze with a huff, the three men trying to stand with their aching injuries. She glared at Rex with eyes that sent him recoiling in his shoes. “What do you think you’re doing, mijo? Have you lost your mind?!” She pointed to the broken vase shattered on the floor, water dripping off the table and roses scattered everywhere. The man who’d stumbled because of the middleman, groaned at the pain of his hand, shards of glass cutting through. Blood swam down his arm. “Look what you’ve done to my shop!”
Rex, stunned for words, opened his mouth, quivering for something to say. “Mama, they were trying to intimidate you! I thought they were going to hurt you…and they’re armed!”
She rolled her brown eyes, crossing her arms. “They weren’t trying to intimidate me. They are here because of your father.”
His eyebrows arched, taken aback. “Dad sent these goons?” The goons had finally grasped their foot, each holding their own set of wounds from Rex’s merciless attacks. “What for?”
She sighed, scratching the side of her bun. “Extra security around here. You know how your father is, always paranoid about our safety.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that the last time they came here?”
She gave him her signature glare, a knot of fright tightening in his stomach. “Because I refused their help, not that it’s any of your business. We have security at home. I would like just a few hours to run my business without feeling like I’m on lockdown constantly.”
“Mama, I’m so sorry--”
“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.” She gestured towards the towering men, each sporting a bruise. The middleman looked away, nursing the imprint of Rex’s fist in his face. Rex rolled his eyes with a half-assed apology. “Sorry, alright. Next time, don’t come in looking like you mercenaries. And buy some damn flowers while you’re at it!”
Cara rolled her eyes before granting the men an apologetic smile, lifting a bowl of complimentary mints. “Take as much as you want. I apologize for my son’s temper.” One at a time, the men grabbed a handful of mints and walked out the door with glowers of their own directed at Rex. He ignored them purposefully. Cara’s looked back at the almost empty bowl with a frown. “Maybe I should have limited them.”
Rex sighed in exhaustion, feeling his wave of adrenaline subsiding as he leaned on the counter. “I thought those guys were going to hurt you.”
“I know, mi amor. You’re such a mama’s boy.” She patted his head soothingly before giving him a hard smack on the head. He gasped at the pain, pulling away from her heavy hand. “But you don’t get to start fights. And clean up your mess. It’s not going to clean itself.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He stealthy eyes found Remy standing by the edge of the door with a blameworthy expression, tucking his head to the side. “Remy, you can go help him. Supplies are in the back.”
He nodded, his body sulking all the way to the back behind Rex to get supply. When they returned with bottles of cleaner, rags, and a broom, the chime of the door rung again.
“What in the world happened here?” a deep, gravelly voice interjected, the crunch of glass sounding beneath his boots.
Rex lit up with a smile, seeing his Uncle Leo march in wearing his blue officer uniform. His mother answered his question with a wearied sigh, gesturing towards Rex exiting the back. “The boy went and made a mess of the place. What are you doing here on duty?”
Leo carefully strolled to Cara at the counter, placing a charming smile that presented a dimple. “Just came to check up on you. Remy called saying some thugs in suits came in here…”
She glared at Remy. “I’m sorry for the disruption, Leo. Rex’s father kept sending more security for the shop and I refused their help. They were just leaving when Rex blew in here like a tornado with fists.”
Leo slyly gave Rex a wink before shielding it with a calm expression, tucking a hand into his pocket. His eyes roamed Cara’s beautiful features, the loose strands of hair falling from her bun along her slender cheek. “It’s no problem. You’re family. Just want to make sure you’re safe, Cara. We all did, right?”
Rex and Remy nodded from the floor, collecting broken shards and thorned roses.
A blooming admiration awoke whenever his Uncle Leo came around. He’d known him since childhood when Rex tried to run away from home after his mom told him he couldn’t have three bowls of ice cream in one sitting. Uncle Leo found him at the park an hour later only a few blocks from his house and returned him home. From that night onwards, he’d become family, always coming over for dinner and getting him out of trouble when the time arose. Lately, he’s been around more often since his dad has been out of the country for business. And honestly, Rex didn’t mind his father absence because he knew his Uncle Leo would be around.
Even his mom smiled more when he came around, which Rex always appreciated. At the counter, they continued to speak in Spanish, his Uncle making jokes that had his mother smirking with a chuckle.
“Who didn’t you call?” Rex mocked at Remy, throwing shards of glass into the trash bin beside him.
Remy shot up, looking offended for his approach to the situation. “I was trying to look out for your mama, man. Trying to help you out. I wasn’t the one going all street fighter of their asses.”
He patted Remy on the back tenderly. “Well, thanks for calling.” Collecting some of the roses, he turned and shouted to his mom, “Quieres que guarde las rosas?”
The door chimed once again, the familiar stride of short legs entering. Rex turned to see who it was, his unruly heart betraying him with a hard thump that left him breathless.
Maya’s gaze immediately fell on Rex crawling on the floor, cleaning alongside a lanky gentleman with cornrows wearing oversized clothing. Rex immediately stood up, his shoe pressing into the glass as he rubbing his hands along his pants. The moment his green eyes glossed over with amazement and elation at her presence made her heart race within her chest. Her heart fluttered tremendously to the point of hindering her words. They were both lost for words, gazing at one another, as though the world stood still only for them.
Cara caught their attention with a smile, “Welcome! Hola, sweetheart! What can I do for you today?”
- Writer
