It was too early in the morning. I couldn't barge in her house with Jack there. Had to wait till he went to school. I went home. I sat down for a moment. Someone's here. I can feel it. There! I drew out my gun and pointed. It was just to scare the guy, since I had no more bullets. It wasn't a guy.
-What are you doing here?
-I couldn't sleep.
-Go home. I can't be seen with you.
-Why? What happened? Did you go to talk to him?
-Yeah, kind of... -. I had left running without explaining my intentions.
-You were so mad when I told you... What happened?
-If we start hanging out again, someone will think I killed him.
-You killed him??
-Look. You can't be here, OK? Yeah, I did. I couldn't help myself. He fucking desserved it. And you too -. She was shocked, but not freaked out. Not glad, either. She stood up.
-OK, I'm leaving.
-Good.
-When will I be seeing you?
-Never-. I closed the door. I heard a couple of sobs and her footsteps later, leaving. I couldn't deal with her. It was better if she thought we'd never see each other again. I was better if we never saw each other again. I had more urgent shit I needed to take care of. I slept a couple of hours. I took my gun with me. I walked to her home. But on my way, I thought I had recognised someone. I couldn't believe it. It was him. That fucking asshole! I ran as fast as I could towards him. I had an advantadge: he still hadn't spoted me. At the sound of my furious running he reacted and turned around. When he saw me he showed the greatest fear. He ran as fast as he could too. I was getting tired, but I wouldn't give up. I reached his coat and pulled with all my strength. He stopped and started to fight me. He was nothing against me. I hit him so hard he quicky started bleeding all over his face. We were starting to atract attention to ourselves, so I pushed him into a dark alley. He was moving desespetatly under my firm tight arms. I pushed him to the ground, pinning him to the floor.
-Wh- What do you want from me??
-Where's the money, you fuck?
-What are you talking about?
-DON'T FUCKING PLAY GAMES WITH ME, YOU MOTHER FUCKER! YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!-. I was completely outraged. -WHERE THE FUCK DID YOU PUT JACK'S MONEY??
-Fuck you!-. I got even madder. I started to beat the crap out of him. He yelled, but no one came.
-SHUT THE FUCK UP! You mother fucker! I should kill you right here and now for what you've done. Who else did you tell about Jack besides Johnson?
-I'll tell anyone I want to, you stupid piece of shit.
-That's it!-. I drew out my gun.
-FUCK! OK, OK! Don't, please!
-What? You didn't know I was capable of something like this? Didn't you know shit about me?
-You are no killer!
-YES I AM! She lied to you so you wouldn't be so afraid, you asshole. BUT YOU SHOULD!
-OK, OK. Don't kill me, I'll tell you everything! I still have Jack's money with me. I didn't tell anyone else, I swear-. I searched in his coat. I got the money.
The alley was dim and silent. I remembered many other times I had been in places like that. It produced a special feeling in me. I had got up, but he still hadn't. Too afraid. He thought he had survived. He was wrong. I broke the silence with my gun. A increasingly high murmuring filled the air in the neighborhood. I exited the alley so no one related me to the incident.
Had the money. Time to return it. I rang her bell. She wasn't happy of hearing my voice.
-YOU SAID YOU WOULD DISAPPEAR!
-I had some trouble, I just...-. She hanged up. I didn't have time to argue. I broke the glass doors of the building and ran inside. Knocked her door and threw the money at it. -Here you go, you bitch! I solved YOUR problem!
I ran back out. Few people saw me, but they hardly had time to do anything. OK, that was one problem solved. But I didn't know how the fuck to get that Bobby guy. I felt something picking my back.
-Keep walking. I have a gun. Do as I say or I'll kill you -said a voice. No way in hell I was getting mugged. I turned around punching the guy's hand and making him drop the gun. I threw a pair of punches at him, but he defended himself. I was surprised by his agility. I kept at it, but he was too good. He knew martial arts. Then, I got a glimpse of his face.
-Hey, calm down! I was just kiddin'! -said Ted.
-Hahaha. Yeah, well, be more careful.
-Yeah, like you could hurt me!
-How's Sarah? -I asked as I started walking. He followed me.
-Better than ever. You should see her in action. She kicks butt in court. Way better than your father. I tell you, if I ever get caught on something, I'll come to her-. Ted was my sister's husband and my best friend. My sister worked for my father's successful lawyers buffette. I didn't make it through college. But Sarah did. She lived her life by the book. Except with Ted. Ted was the only true friend I made in the streets. We had been partners for a while and got out of big shit. Then, I once introduced him to my sister. They hit it off right from the beginning.
-Yeah, she's always been the smart one.
-So, what are you up to?
-Well, I'm in deep shit. But I won't drag you into this.
-No, c'mon, I want to!
-No, you have come clean now. I'll get you in trouble with the woman.
-C'mon, tell me something.
-I'm looking for a guy called Bobby. Any ideas?
-I don't think I know a Bobby... Unless it is... Robert Spiegel...-. I realised he was right. I kept quiet. I changed the subjet of conversation.
-How's the old man doing?
-He's fine. He's still with that woman, Darla.
-She only wants him for his money, the bitch.
-Well... I don't know. He says he loves her.
-Ha, love. He doesn't know what love is.
-C'mon...
-C'mon what?
-You aren't exactly the definition of lover-. I stopped.
-What are you talking about?
-You never were in love-. I got very angry. I grabbed him by the neck.
-Are you kiddin' me? I almost got killed by love! I HAVE THIS SHITTY LIFE BECAUSE OF LOVE!-. I was shaking him. That ought to teach him. I was wrong.
-No, Mike. You have this shitty life becuase you chose to. You don't wanna live any other way. You like to wallow in self-pitty. So she died, big deal. It was years ago. Millions of people go through something like that or worse and come out even stronger.
-SHUT THE FUCK UP! -I cried pushing him to the ground. I turned around furiously and walked away from the asshole. I couldn't believe it. How dared him? He knew better than anyone what I'd gone through. The single fact that destroyed my life, the only time I truly fell in...
Always look both ways before you cross the street. I didn't know what hit me. Suddenly and for a split second, everything moved quickly, showing me disconnected images. I catched glimpses of the street, the sky, a building and, lastly, the floor. I opened my eyes. All my senses were affected, like working less than they should. I felt defeaned and I saw everything out of focus. Then I made out my hand lying on the asphalt and splattered with blood. I tried to push myself up with my other hand. I barely was able to do it. I raised my torso and I saw drops of blood falling from my face to the ground. My body was aching all over. Slowly, my senses were getting back to me, and also my strength. I finally got up. There weren't too many people in the street. The car that hit me had stopped, and the driver was getting out. Some people were approaching me. I couldn't stay to talk with them. I would go to the police and then they might find out about all the things I had been doing las night and today. I started walking away from them and then ran as fast and as balanced as I could. I finally got home. I went to the bathroom, took a shower and tried to fix my wounds. This was probably the worst that could happen to me. Why did I have to get ran over right NOW? I was going after Robert. I couldn't wait anymore. This surely meant my death, but all I cared was taking him with me. I couldn't go against him this way. My right leg still hurted like hell. I got Johnson's gun and mine and loaded them both. I pocketed some extra rounds of bullets. There was only one solution for my pain and my lack of agility and adrenaline. I set up four lines of the coke I still had and aspired them all at once. This wasn't casuality. This was destiny.