31 Chapter 31: No One (2/2)
”Well sir, you see I uh, I...”
I scratch my head nervously.
”Geez, he got a new job and wants to quit selling!”
”Layla!”
She shrugs,
”You were taking too long.”
”Hm, is this true boy?”
I nod awkwardly,
”Y-yessir.”
”Why'd you do it?”
”Excuse me?”
”Layla, out.”
”But I-”
He holds up his hand. She nods the takes her leave.
”Now answer my question; why'd you do it.”
”Why did I start selling? That's easy, I wanted to help my mom.”
He stokes his beard,
”I thought you'd say that. Does she know what you do?”
”Of course not, she thinks I work a real job.”
”So this isn't a 'real job' to you?”
”Oh! T-that's not what I meant!”
He laughs loudly.
”I kid. I know what you meant,”
He walks over to me,
”You know what happens to men who wanna quit on me boy?”
His tone changed from playful to dead serious and cold.
”N-no sir.”
”Good, let me inform you then,”
He puts his hand on my shoulder,
”Any man who wants to lead a normal life has every right too...”
I finally exhale. I hadn't even noticed that I was holding my breath.
”But,”
'Fuck.'
”You're different Ricardo. I've never seen someone sell so much and be able to handle themself so well. And my dear Layla is quite fond of you.”
”Thank you sir.”
”You know what that means, don't you?”
”You'll let me go?”
”Ha, you're my right hand man Rico. Why on earth would I do that?”
'Right hand man? What the fuck?!'
”So...is that a yes?”
”Sure, you can stop selling. But know this, you make that mistake i'll make sure you regret it.”
His grip on me is harder.
”What does that mean?”
”It means that you should've kissed your mother longer boy.”
He claps his hands and three of his goons come out with a squirming person with a bag over their head.
My heart's pounding rapidly.
'Is that my...'
”Ah yes. Thank you boys, please show him our guest.”
They yank the bag off the persons face.
”MAMA?!”
I run over to her but two of the men hold me back.
”LET HER GO YOU OLD BASTARD!”
”Oh my boy, I did not wish for this to happen,”
He pulls the gag out of her mouth.
”If she's out of the picture then you'll be all mine. I have to do this, for you Rico.”
He holds a gun to her head.
”MAMA PLEASE! IM SO SORRY THAT I TREATED YOU SO BADLY!”
”Don't apologize mijo. I knew you were just trying to help.”
Her thick accent and her shaky voice makes it a little hard to hear but I understand completely.
”I love you Ricardo, be good.”
He pulls the trigger. A loud bang echos though the room followed by the thud of her body.
My tears stop flowing, my mind goes blank and my emotions disappear. Everything turns red, then black.
***
[Present Day]
”And I don't really know what happened after that.”
Kaz turns around hastily,
”HE KILLED YOUR MOTHER AND YOU CONTINUED TO WORK FOR HIM?! WHAT THE HELL?!”
”I know, but that day something happened inside here,”
I tap my chest.
”It was like...”
”Your heart shut down.”
She finishes my sentence.
”Exactly.”
”That still doesn't explain why you stayed.”
”I stayed because I wanted to be the one to kill him. I met Carlos and we instantly became close. I told him what happened and he agreed to help take him down from the inside.”
”Sorta like a double agent.”
”Eh, I guess.”
I lay down on the warm grass and she snuggles up next to me.
”Do you think it's back on now?”
”Huh?”
She rubs my chest,
”Your heart. Is it back on?”
”Well sure dum dum. You're the reason.”
She crawls on top of me,
”Really?”
I grip on her thighs.
”You know what else you're turning on right now.”
She puts her thumb in her mouth,
”I'm sure I can guess.”
I pull her hand down.
”You bite down on your finger like that again and I just might lose it.”
She takes my hand and sucks on my finger.
”That better?”
'Ah shit, there it is.'
She repositions herself on top of me,
”Ricky are you...”
”Yup. And it's your fault.”
She runs her hands under my shirt and then pulls it off.
”I guess i'll have to take care of it then, won't I?”
My heart is beating so hard I swear it'll pop out of my chest.
”P-please do.”
She grins as she slowly and seductively unzips my pants.
”You really wanna do it out here?”
I grab her and throw myself on top of her,
”Ah c'mon, a few grass stains never hurt anybody.”