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Fifteen minutes later, Ricco pulls up in front of Shorty’s Gym. It’s after hours, but Shorty had assured Ricco he would be here. Frankly, the place looks deserted. Ricco reaches in the back seat and pulls out two guns; he hands one to me. And as he gives me the gun, my skin prickles, and I realize I will not witness a murder; I am going to commit a murder.
I hand the gun back to Ricco. “Hey, I didn’t sign up for murder. I can’t do this, Ricco. I have a wife and a daughter.” Thoughts of Sara and Gina enter my mind.
Ricco gradually pushes the gun back toward me. “You got this, Tony. This won’t hurt your family as long as you do everything I say.” Why does his words make me feel worse than their intention?
As we get out of the car and walk toward the entrance, I grab Ricco’s arm. “Ricco, if things don’t end well for me tonight, please look after my family.” A slight smile crosses his face, and he nods. And at this moment, I know he will.
Ricco motions for me to stand behind him as he approaches the entrance; stealthily he lingers to the left side of the door. He waits, listens, and then turns toward the door, using his gun to tap on the glass.
I hear footsteps, and then the door opens. “Get inside.” Shorty’s voice says.
Ricco and I quickly go inside as Shorty holds the door open. He does not know what is about to go down.
Once we are safely inside, the front door automatically locks. Ricco walks around to the front windows and closes all the blinds. He turns the “closed” sign on and then steps in front of Shorty. “You got the money?”
“Ri-cco,” Shorty stutters. “I have some of it. Once folks heard I associated with the Vitalis, they ain’t been coming around much. Gym business has been slow because of it. And then, I had to put the bike in the shop and had no transport for the side gig. I promise, once I get the bike back, I can make more deliveries and get the money, I swear.”
Ricco shakes his head. “I’m afraid time is up, Shorty. Can’t take any more promises.”
“But Ricco, let me talk to Michael. I can explain to him. He will understand.”
“Sorry, Shorty, ain’t gonna happen. You’re nothing but a loss to him now.”
Ricco looks at me and gestures for me to take the shot. It’s lowered at my side. Raising the gun, I can’t stop the shaking that has taken over my body. I can’t kill another human being. Lowering it back to my side, I look over at Ricco. I can’t do this.
“Damn it, Tony, you know what this means,” Ricco says as he raises his gun and fires off two shots. One lands right between Shorty’s eyes and the other a point-blank shot to the chest. Shorty drops dead.
Ricco turns toward me and says, “Run!”
Knowing exactly what he’s saying, I stare at Ricco. I witnessed a murder, and I clarified that this was not a side job for me. I am a liability to the family, and will be dealt with. Honestly, I don’t know why he didn’t just kill me, but he didn’t. He gave me a head start. So I run.
“Sara, Gina!” I yell as I run into the house, slamming the door behind me. “Sara!”
My wife comes rushing down the stairs. “What is it?” she asks.
“We have to leave. Now!” She looks at me confused, and I add, “I don’t have time to explain. We have to leave.”
“What are you talking about? We’re not going anywhere,” Sara states.
“Sara darling, please do as I say. They are coming for us, and we need to leave. Where’s Gina?”
“She’s upstairs in her room.”
I walk over to the stairs. “Gina!”
“What?” she hollers from her room.
“Pack a bag. Take only what you need. We’re leaving town and never coming back!”
“No! I’m not leaving Jamison!”
“Oh my God, both of you. They are coming to kill me. Pack a damn bag and be ready to go in five minutes!” Both just stand there. “Now!”
It finally sinks in, and they rush off.
Five minutes later, my wife and daughter are waiting by the side door, suitcases in hand. I grab their bags and rush out the door. Both follow me out, crying. I know they don’t understand, and when they know the truth, they will hate me, but I can’t risk their lives. My life isn’t worth shit, but it’s a different story for the ones I love.
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