Copyright 2020 © Dee Garcia
All Rights Reserved
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to real events, real people, and real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the Author’s imagination and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, organizations or places is entirely coincidental.
All rights are reserved. This book is intended for the reader of this ebook ONLY. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the express written permission of the Author. All songs, song titles and lyrics contained in this book are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders.
Cover Design © Dee Garcia with Black Widow Designs
Editing: © Mitzi Carroll
Formatting: © Dee Garcia with Black Widow Designs
Contents
Note from the author
Playlist
Prologo
I. Parte Uno
Capítulo 1 - Benni
Capítulo 2 - Benni
Capítulo 3 - Benni
Capítulo 4 - Benni
Capítulo 5 - Benni
Capítulo 6 - Benni
Arcángel
II. Parte Dos
Capítulo 7 - Benni
Capítulo 8 - Benni
Capítulo 9 - Andrés
Capítulo 10 - Benni
Capítulo 11 - Andrés
Capítulo 12 - Benni
Capítulo 13 - Andrés
Capítulo 14 - Benni
Capítulo 15 - Andrés
Capítulo 16 - Benni
Capítulo 17 - Andrés
Capítulo 18 - Benni
Capítulo 19 - Andrés
Capítulo 20 - Benni
Capítulo 21 - Andrés
Capítulo 22 - Benni
Capítulo 23 - Andrés
Capítulo 24 - Benni
Capítulo 25 - Andrés
Capítulo 26 - Benni
Capítulo 27 - Andrés
Capítulo 28 - Benni
Capítulo 29 - Benni
Capítulo 30 - Andrés
Capítulo 31 - Benni
Arcángel
Sneak Peek of Book Two
Also by Dee Garcia
About the Author
Dedication
This one is for me.
Because there’s so much of me in it.
Note from the author
Dear readers,
If you couldn’t tell by the dedication or the mass amount of love that went into me talking about this book, it means a lot to me, has so much of me in it. I know I can’t please everyone and that it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but all I ask is that you give my Birdy girl and her boys a chance. <3 Now while you guys get to reading, I’m gonna go get crackin’ on book two. ;)
XOXO, Dee
P.S: When you reach the end, make sure you flip the page.
1. Crown - JAY-Z
2. Bitch Better Have My Money - Rihanna
3. Delincuente - Farruko & Anuel AA
4. En La Intimidad - Ozuna
5. Circles - Post Malone
6. Bad Things - MGK & Camila Cabello
7. Locked Up (Remix) Akon & Styles P
8. Chances - Jill Barber
9. MAMACITA - Black Eyed Peas & Ozuna
10. STFD - TeZATalks
11. She Is My Dream - The Tads
12. Get You Some - Captain Planet & Brit Lauren
13. Suga Suga - Baby Bash & Frankie J
14. Yikes - Nicki Minaj
15. Algo Me Gusta De Ti - Wisin & Yandel
16. Dear Mama - 2Pac
17. Play with Fire - Sam Tinnesz & Yacht Money
18. Dangerous Woman - Ariana Grande
19. Got You On My Mind - NF
20. Self Control - Bebe Rexha
21. Loco Contigo - DJ Snake, J Balvin & Tyga
22. Bad Idea - Ariana Grande
23. Te Lo Quiero Hacer - KAROL G & De La Ghetto
24. Way down We Go - KALEO
25. I’m Upset - Drake
26. Down in Flames - Ella Vos
27. The Night We Met - Lord Huron
28. Coming Down - Halsey
29. lovely - Billie Eilish & Khalid
30. Don’t Let Go - Farruko
31. It’s All Right - Sam Cooke
Listen to the playlist here: https://bit.ly/birdyUE1
My name is Benita Adriana Villanueva.
I go by Benni—Birdy, or la Jefa on the streets. I’m twenty-eight, an illegal Cuban immigrant, served two separate sentences in County, and now, well…have a seat, court’s in session.
As I sit here beside my attorney, elbows to the table, my head hanging low between my shoulders… I won’t lie to you.
I fucked up.
For real, this time.
This isn’t me getting caught selling a few baggies down in Calle Ocho or riding around with an ounce with the intent to distribute. Na, I fucked up royally, and now, they’re about to rip me a new one. Drown me in this hell of reality.
“All rise for the jury.” The bailiff's booming voice snaps my head up.
Sounds of shuffling fill the room as the entire courtroom rises onto their feet. One by one, the jury begins filtering back to their seats, my shaky hands smoothing out the olive-green blouse Mami insisted I wear.
She’s here behind me with my brother and my sister, the despaired echo of her hushed sobs meeting my ears every few moments or so. I can’t stand to hear them. They’re nothing more than a painful reminder of just how glaringly I’ve let her down.
I’m practically choking on my sins.
“Please be seated,” the judge orders, dropping everyone into their seats once more. “The record should cite that all jurors are present, all attorneys and represented parties are present. Will the defendant and counsel please rise?”
On my feet yet again, directly in the spotlight as the courtroom bounces their stares between the judge, the jury, or me.
My heart thunders in my chest.
“Will the jury’s foreperson please rise?”
An older white female in a tweed pantsuit stands with papers in hand.
The judge acknowledges her with a subtle tip of his bald head. “Madam foreperson, has the jury reached a verdict?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
The judge nods a second time, his sharp green eyes bouncing to my form for the briefest moment before returning to the woman. “As to the charge of trafficking a large commercial quantity of Schedule II drugs, what is your verdict?”
Thump…
Thump…
Thump…
This is it, the singular moment that will change everything moving forward.
The woman clears her throat, shoulders confidently squaring as she drops her gaze to the papers in her hands. “We, the jury, find the defendant, Benita Adriana Villanueva, guilty.”
♫ Crown - JAY-Z
“Ángel!” I cry out, throwing my head back as he rams into me within the tight confines of his car.
I’m a sweating mess—my long, ebony hair clinging to my skin. Every window of the Renovatio is fogged
