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CHAPTER THREE
‘BALL’ ERYN MARTIN
I take off my blazer and fold it over my forearm as I begin my ascent of seven flights of stairs. I'm not out of shape in any way, but can we just agree that stairs were made by the devil?
The burn in my legs reminds me of all the times I went fishing with my pops, walking for hours to the best spots just to sit there for hours and catch only a few little catfish. It wasn't much, but the time spent with him was worth it. I have significant memories of my dad and I'm grateful for it.
One of the many things my father taught me was patience. I don't do things in a rush, I wait, I plan, and then I execute. Moving and acting without full thought is the best way to get yourself locked up or six feet under.
That's not my M.O.
It's how I went from working for someone to being my own boss and raking in the cash. My family wants for nothing because of the hard work I put in myself.
I’ve become business partners with almost every Italian Famiglia and Latino Familia, but I am the Boss in my organization and that’s the way I like it.
This life doesn't give handouts. If you want something you gotta get it yourself and I'm doing it the best way I can, with hopes that I'll still be here at the end of it all.
Finally reaching the top floor, I make my way to the Garza apartment.
The door is ajar, and Miss Garza is hobbling to the small coffee table with a platter of cups. Seeing my shadow cast on her floor, she turns to me with a beaming smile, "Leo! Come in, come in. I’m surprised you came to find me."
I open the metal screen door and enter the small room but rush over to her when she struggles to sit while keeping weight off her left foot.
"Well, I hadn't seen you for a couple of days and ran into Dice. She mentioned you hurt yourself and I wanted to pay you a visit." I hate the lie, but it comes easily.
It's either lie and play nice or put my gun on display and have her keep Dice's delicious mouth shut.
I'll take the latter route.
"I didn't know you knew my daughter." She grabs a steaming cup of coffee and offers it to me.
Taking the cup, I smile, "I didn't until today when I went to the bank."
We sip our coffees and relax a little, but I need her to call her daughter.
"I was just coming by to see if you needed anything since you can't move around. I'm running errands and I can pick up anything you need until you're back on your feet."
Raquel's eyes mist as she gives me a watery smile, "Ah, hijo," son, "I appreciate that very much." She reaches over and pats my knee in a motherly way and my stomach twists. I don't deserve her appreciation after threatening her daughter all morning.
"You don't have to though; I can't call Dice because I don't have minutes on my cell phone. I answered when Julie called because I thought it was Dice, but that was my last minute."
She shrugs like it’s no big deal. Meanwhile, my brain is backfiring.
"Minutes? Those still exist?" I'm completely baffled. I thought minute phones went out ages ago when low-cost cell plans came out. I feel like I just took a trip to the past with this conversation.
Raquel lets out laughter at my obvious confusion, "This generation will never know the minute plans."
I take out my cell phone and swipe it open, "Here, call her on my phone. I'm going to get you a new phone too. What if you had an emergency and needed to call the police?" I shake my head as she chuckles and takes my phone from me.
"Emergency calls take no minutes from the plan, but I'll call her anyway because we do need some groceries."
I don't think she'll be so friendly with me once she speaks with Dice, but I'm still going to get them some food and a new phone, I'll just leave it at the doorstep.
Raquel looks at the phone with squinted eyes, so I reach over and dial the numbers as she speaks them, then I put it on speaker.
After ringing twice, Dice's whiskey voice comes through, "Hello?"
"Hija, Leo just dropped by to check on me. Thank you for sending him. You know how I love seeing handsome men." Raquel chuckles and winks at me while I scrub a hand across my mouth and smother my laughter.
