{this is where katrina's life takes a turn. i wanted to elaborate more on the latin mob sonja brought up.}

"Katrina!" Sonja's voice yells as she pounds on my apartment door.

Rubbing at my temples, I debate on just ignoring her and pretend I'm not here. After coming back to consciousness at the tattoo parlor, my body still lying against the carpet, I realized why Seth was distracting me. The door that connected to the hair saloon next door was cracked open and when I looked through the small space I saw police surrounding a man shot on the floor.

Police questioned me when I went to leave the tattoo parlor, and I claimed to know nothing. I didn't want to admit my stupidity. I saw Seth scooping out the salon a couple of days ago, and his behavior either was off. I should've known something was up. Seth is too smart to waste time making out with me when he claimed he needed to leave. I'm an idiot, and now we're out a good chunk of money.

Sonja isn't giving up anytime soon. Sighing, I get up from the couch and open the door. My sister's eyes narrow as she takes me in. I make sure my face is void of any emotion as she looks me over.

"I guess you've heard," I say, folding my arms against my chest.

"Who hasn't?"

Sonja shoulders pass me and as I turn, kicking the front door closed in the process, I watch as she paces back and forth on the carpeted floor of the living room. Her hands at her hips curl in and out of fists as she contemplates what to say. Knowing my sister, she's trying to control the anger she has without screaming the roof off my apartment.

"How did that Gecko manage to get the best of you?" she asks, her feet coming to a halt after her step have created a line of shoe imprints on the tan carpet.

One of my fingers starts to pick at a hangnail on my thumb as I lean against the door, keeping distance between us.

My sister didn't give me time to respond as she throw out her arms. "Oh, wait, I do know! I watched the security cameras back, and saw your legs practically spread open for that Gecko." Her brown locks sways as she shakes her head. "Your taste in men are laughable."

"Shut the fuck up," I seethe, my back straightening. "You have no right to talk about my taste in men when you get a taste of everyone!"

Eyes narrowing, Sonja takes a step forward. "How stupid could you be to have Seth Gecko pull that shit over your head? Now we're out of money with one of the most powerful Latin mobs accusing us of being in on what happened."

"I know, trust me, and whatever I can do it help do damage control I will, but don't patronize me Sonja. I'm not that girl you can walk on anymore."

Her head tilts, "But you are. You let Seth walk all over you. It's just in your nature. You're naïve Katrina, and I'm the one who has to deal with the backlash."

"I'm not naïve! I was caught up in a moment—that shit happens."

"Well that shit now has us in one hell of a pickle sis."

My nostrils flare as the burning in my throat begins. "I'll figure out a way to get the money back."

"We'll do it together because I don't know if I trust you enough to get it done."

"Have some faith in me for once."

Sonja runs her fingers through her hair as she shakes her head once more. "It's kind of hard to right now. Plus, you're the one who always wants to leave this life. The only person I have faith in is myself."

My fingertips block the tears' path down my cheek as I wipe them away. "Fuck Sonja, you're my sister. As much as I would like to leave this place, I wouldn't leave you behind. Do you think so low of me?"

Closing the space between us, Sonja takes my wet hands into her grasp. "Mom always said we were destined for two different paths. I'm starting to think she was right."

"I don't understand," I murmur, biting my bottom lip as my chin starts to tremble.

"After we handle the fallout from this whole Seth Gecko encounter I'm going to go elsewhere. I have another plan in motion and I think it's going to play out for the both of us. If it does, you can finally get away from this place too."

Looking at my sister, my brows furrow as I begin to process her words. "Another plan? Is that what you've been keeping from me?"

"Part of it."

"So, this is it? After we handle this, then I can do my own thing?"

Sonja nods, dropping my hands. "I think it's about time."

The mixture of feelings swirling around inside of me is making me unsteady. I've been wanting to leave this place for a long time, feeling stuck here with a better life out there for me. Many times, I imagined what I'm missing out on in the world, and I've been itching to experience new adventures. Never in my life would I have thought Sonja would be the one to put that plan into motion. Since she made sure I didn't leave with Vick years ago, I was positive she wanted me to stay with her until her dying breath—I guess I was wrong.

On the other hand, knowing she's going her own way after picking up of the pieces of my mistakes, there's an ache that settles and squeezes at my heart. Sonja has been my security blanket, my comfort zone. I know what I'm getting myself into when I'm working at the tattoo parlor, other than recently when dealing with the eldest Gecko brother. I'm familiar with this place, but there's always been a draw to get out. I guess Sonja has always felt the same too.

It's not a secret we aren't the best of partners, or sisters. We clash with almost everything, but at the same time Sonja is still my sister. I wouldn't betray my blood, but when it concerns Sonja I don't know where she stands concerning betrayal.

"Well, what's your plan?" I question, folding my arms back against my chest.

"Don't worry about it for now. Just go to work and I'll inform you of our move in the morning."

Shaking my head, irritation eats away at my patience. "Your trust in me is unfathomable."

"Can you blame me?"

__________

Pulling into the dimly lit parking lot, I notice the few cars that fill the spaces. It's a Sunday night, which means the tattoo parlor is usually slow this time of night. I grab my purse as I open the car door. My boot heel clicks as it hits the pavement. The car lights flash once as I lock the doors. As I go to turn, my body is shoved against my car. A gasp leaves my lips as my eyes snap up to see a man giving me a scowl as he presses against me, preventing me from getting away.

"Let go of me," I seethe as my hand's grip on my keys tighten.

The man starting with this ticking out with his tongue as he shakes his head. "Afraid I can't do that. I was told to give you a little scare first."

"What the hell is going on?" Lifting my boot, my heel comes down and digs into the top of the man's right foot.

"Fuck!"

He leans back just enough so I'm able to slip away. The man lets out string of curses as his hand wraps around my wrist. The grip stings the bones underneath as I try to pry my hand away. My car keys clink together as I shift my fingers to the small spray that Benny made me put on my set of keys to ease his mind.

"You're a bitch," the man says with a growl to his voice. He pulls at my arm as his other hand pushes my body back into my car. "Just like your sister."

A pain flares at the small of my back as I clench my teeth together.

"You fucked up. You helped that motherfucker get away. Sonja claims it was you who that Gecko charmed with his dick. It must've been great for you to be so stupid."

My molars begin to ache as I try to snap at him. "I didn't know shit. I didn't know he was going to pull what he did."

"Bullshit."

Something clicked at the man's side before I see him raise a knife to the side of my cheek. My hand on the spray twitches as I keep eye contact. His eyes spark with interest as the corners of his lips curve up in a smirk. The end of the knife's blade caresses the skin at my cheek before moving down to my cheek. I bite my tongue, tasting the metal of blood, when he lowers the blade to the valley of my breasts.

"I suggest removing the knife."

His dark colored eyes flicker back to meet my gaze. "You don't get to tell me what to do. You're already in deep shit. If we find out you were involved in anyway, I'll come back with a few of my buddies. You and your sister will then pay accordingly."

Arching a brow, I let out a sigh. "How cliché. You 'scared' me. Can I go do my job now?"

His eyes narrow. His grip on my wrist tightens and a hiss leaves my lips before I can stop the sign of pain. The man shows pleasure in seeing the sign of weakness. He pockets the blade back into his back pocket.

"Don't fuck up again."

Letting out a grunt, I lean up so our noses are brushing against one another. "Noted. Now, let me go."

His hand drops my wrist and I don't hesitate in using my hands to push me away—the pain shooting up my arm. The man's smirk turns into a smile. His cockiness irks me to a point where I don't think before I raise my hand and press down on the button. Pepper spray coats his face as the man starts yelling out curses once more.

My heels click against the parking lot as I run to the door of the building. Letting out a sigh as my hand wraps around the door handle, I look over my shoulder to the see man turning to look at me. Pulling the door, I slip inside the building before I can find out if he's packing more than a knife.

I don't stop to interact with anyone. The skin is itching with uneasiness. Once at the door to the tattoo parlor, I put the key into the lock with shaky hands. I pocket my keys as I go inside, setting my purse on the back table before walking up to the front of the shop. My eyes travel to my left wrist as I stretch out my fingers and move my wrist in circular motions. Biting my cheek, I try my best not to whine. No doubt the skin will bruise in a few days.

With my back to the front, my spine stiffens as the door opens. "I take it you want more pepper stray to the face?"

In mid-turnaround, I immediately know it's not the man associated with the local mob who cornered me at my car. It's the man who got me hot and bothered before knocking me out.

"Katrina."

It feels like fire is burning at my cheeks and runs through the veins of my body. "What the fuck do you want?"

{hope you enjoyed this chapter with more of katrina and sonja's relationship. i know i'm making sonja more heartless than how she was in the series, but it's setting up for the outcome towards the end of the season and katrina's reaction to how things play out. also, no benny in this chapter. i figured i'd save him for the next because the next chapter will also be off script from the series to add a little more foundation between seth and katrina before chapter seven picks back up once more with the show.
enjoy the banner i made for the lam sister xoxo}