Page 14 of Condemned to You

“I do what I can. What can I get ya to drink?” I say wiping down the bar countertop.

“a 7-7.” Marco leans on the bar. “I got a job for you. Pays more than what you’re making busting your ass 24 hours a day.”

Marco is a made-man and I know what kind of work he needs done.

“It’s not my style,” I politely decline.

“I only ask once,” he looks at me gravely. “$2,000 for a job doesn’t sound too bad, does it? All cash.”

With widened eyes, I hand him his drink. 2k for one job. That will go a long way.

“Think about it. If you’re interested meet at the pond when the sun sets tomorrow.” Marco walks away with his drink and goes to a table where 2 other men are seated.

I had no intention of going. It was thundering outside and the night sky lit up with bolts of lightning as I walked home, barely being able to see in front of me. Home. Most people find home their safe haven but for me – it was the last place I’d rather be. The only thing that kept me from getting my own place was my two sisters. Cassie and Marie weren’t old enough to fend for themselves. I was the reason they had food to eat, clean clothes to wear, and a roof over their heads. Finally reaching the front of the broken down house, I huffed in frustration at the loud music. Typical behavior from my mother. She was having one of her parties and I was surprised the cops hadn’t shown up yet.

A few people were in front of the house chatting barely able to stand up.

“Party’s over,” I say to them sternly.

“Buzz kill!” one of them said.

“That’s Cindy’s son. Hates when she gets to have a little fun,” the other sneers at me.

Choosing to ignore them, I entered the house. The music got louder when I opened the door and the house was covered in smoke. Tobacco smoke, cannabis smoke, bong smoke – you name it. People making out, people passed out drunk, people dancing. It was a mess.

“Parties over!” I shout as I turn off the music. “Get the fuck outta here.”

Quickly searching the house for my lack of a mother, I find her in the kitchen cooking up some meth. Nothing pisses me off more than her doing stupid shit in the house.

“Everyone out!” I shout.

“E,” my mother slurs her words, “I thought you were at work.”

“Yeah, that was hours ago.” I turn off the stove and again tell everyone to leave, “You don’t need to go but you need to get the fuck outta here.”

Everyone in the kitchen moans in disagreement making my mother protest. “This isn’t your house E. If anything, I should be telling you to leave.”

Tired and angry, I get in her face, “If you don’t cut this party – I’ll call the cops right now.”

She sneers, “You rat!” lunging at me, I move aside and watch as she falls to the floor.

Sick to my stomach, I walk toward the staircase to my sisters bedrooms to check on them. Both of them are in my tiny bedroom crunched up in bed. Cassie is awake holding Marie in her arms.

“Hey,” she whispers when she sees me enter the room. “E, we can’t.” Dried tears on her face let me know she was up all night consoling Marie. They hate nights like these.

“I know,” I reply. “Gonna make some changes around here. Promise.”

There is no other choice. I need get them out of here and Marco is the answer.

The flight was just under 4 hours but within that time all I could think about was my past. It felt like I fell from the top and am now worse than I was before I became Emilio Pugliese. If only I were back in the simpler times when I was just E.

“Why me?” I stand looking confused.

“You knew my brother, Marco.”

“Knew him on the streets, did a favor or two but I wouldn’t call him a friend.”

“We were talking just moments before he was killed,” Luca gulps and clears his throat, “He told me if I ever needed help or didn’t know who to trust that without question it’d be you.”