Jimena was once the toughest chola in East L.A. No longer in a gang, she is still feared by many. nothing scares Jimena. Nothing, that is, except for the reappearance of Veto, who was once the love of her life. That terrifies her, because Veto was killed by a rival gang one year ago. Or was he? Jimena discovers that he made a devil's bargain that could cost both of them their lives.
Diana was the goddess of the hunt and of all newborn creatures. Women prayed to her for happiness in marriage and childbirth, but her strength was so great that even the warlike Amazons worshipped her.
No man was worthy of her love, until powerful Orion won her affection. She was about to marry him, but her twin brother, Apollo, was angered that she had fallen in love. One day, Apollo saw Orion in the sea with only his head above the water. Apollo tricked Diana by challenging her to hit the mark bobbing in the distant sea. Diana shot her arrow with deadly aim. Later, the waves rolled dead Orion to shore.
Lamenting her fatal blunder, Diana placed Orion in the starry sky. Every night, she would lift her torch in the dark to see her beloved. Her light gave confort to all and soon she became known as a goddess of the moon.
It was whispered that if a girl-child was born in the wilderness, delivered by the great goddess Diana, she would be known for her fierce protection of the innocent.
Jimena started across the dark kitchen when she saw someone going througj one of the cupboards. She grabbed a cast-iron skillet from the stove and turned on the light.
"Veto!" she gasped. The skillet fell to the floor with a loud thud.
Veto smiled lazily, his flashing eues and high cheekbones as bold and beautiful as those of his Myan ancestors.
She must still be dreaming. Veto had been dead a year now.
"Jimena." His whisper across the room filled the empty ache inside her. How many nights had she imagined seeing him again?
"What-" She started to ask him what had happened, but he closed her mouth with a kiss.
Her finger caressed the tiny scar that slashed his right cheek. His skin felt warm.
A noise startle her and she pulled away.
Her grandmother stepped into the kitchen. "Jimena, what was that noise? Were you talking to someone in here?"
"Veto," she started to say, but before the word left her mouth she turned back. The kitchen was empty.
She touched her lips remembering his kiss. Were her feelings for Veto still so strong that she had conjuredup his ghost?
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