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“What up, Luce?” Gio answers.
“Yo, you gonna go visit the bitch in the cell? We need to know who the fuck he had in his pocket asap.”
I hear him take a deep breath before replying in a faraway tone, “Something came up, we’ll be home in fifteen.”
He hangs up before I can ask anymore questions, leaving me to wonder what the fuck just went down. I shouldn’t have left like I did, but all I could think about was my mother being so close to death, and I needed to get her out of there.
I type out a text to Vincenzo, who is now on Alan duty in the cell, so that his brother, Joey, could rest.
Me:Everything good there, brother?
Vince:All’s good, bored asf tho.
I chuckle, picturing Vince the Butcher carving slabs of meat off the motherfucker just to give himself some entertainment.
Me:I hear Candy Crush is a real time passer.
Vince:The fuck outta here.
I roll off the bed and make my way back to the kitchen, deciding a drink is definitely okay to have right now, all things considered. I grab the crystal of bourbon I’ve hidden in the top cabinet, where little short stack Lexi can’t reach it, and pour myself a generous glass. I’ve never understood how people could sip on this stuff like it’s wine or some shit. Even with how long I’ve been drinking for, I still have yet to feel that smoothness country singers write about.
I bring the cup to my lips and shoot back the entire glass before pouring another one. Lexi will no doubt smell it on me, but like my ma and her flask, sometimes you just need a little something to calm the nerves, and right now, my nerves are fried and wired.
Things have gone south pretty fast the last few weeks, and I’ve done my best to compartmentalize all the bullshit, but I’m almost positive I’m all out of tiny boxes. All I want right now is to kill Alan, find the fucker who worked with Pink, and fuck my girl alongside my guy.
I hear the sound of keys jingling outside the door as I scroll through my phone so I quickly down my drink. Gio walks in first, his eyes matching his faraway tone from earlier, with Lexi on his heels.
Her eyes slide to mine before skirting to the empty glass on the table.
She swallows and walks over to me as Gio closes the door, but my eyes are locked on the way Lexi’s shoulders are slumped, like defeat weighs her down.
“Luce, I’m sorry this happened. I’m sorry that my presence has brought so much pain and heartache to your family. If you never want to see me again after this, I would completely understand.”
I pull out a chair for her at the table before replying.
“I’ll be honest, sweetness, if it weren’t for my mother’s life being put in danger, I wouldn’t give two fucks what follows you, and I wouldn’t have considered stepping away from this.” She nods her head, already coming to the conclusion that I'm ending things with her. But the fact is, there’s only one Lexi out there and I'm gone for her already.
I tip her chin up so she can see my eyes, “But I’m already in too deep with you. Letting you go now would ruin me. I’m not going anywhere.”
“And neither are you, baby.” Gio adds as he leans on the back of a chair.
My brows furrow as I look between them, “What’s that mean?”
“I saw how angry you were with me and everything that happened at your mom’s house. I’ve caused so much damage to your life, all because I’ve found happiness with you and Gio. I just…”
She trails off, wiping her eyes and shaking her head, “I just thought it would be best if I left.”
I know I was thinking of the same thing earlier, but hearing her say that sends an angry stab through me. The thought of watching her walk away feels like a death I couldn’t live through, selfish I know, when I was thinking of doing the exact same thing to her.
“I wasn’t angry with you, Lex.” I start, doing my best to convey what I was feeling, “I was only thinking of my mother being so close to dying on me too. I knew Gio had you, and from what my mother told me, it seems you can hold your own. You’re not a fragile little girl, but my mother is and always will be the first woman in my life.
What you, me, and Gio have going right now is completely new to me, so I won’t always act the way I probably should. I’m damaged goods, sweetness, but you’re never the reason for my anger…unless you walk away. Even then, I’ll find you, and I'll kill anyone who stands in my way.”
She stares at me, her eyes bouncing between mine, “You tell such pretty lies, Luce.”
I shake my head, “Pretty lies are sweeter than ugly truths, but I’ve given you no lies.”
