Chapter 17
1176 Words
Chapter 17
This should be fun
Carrington
Fall came with the arrival of Christine and Elliot, and it also ended my time at the house with Gloria, which I had enjoyed.
The prison also released the Frazier boys. Their slime of an attorney got the Frazier boys out on a technicality. That was my luck. Brian couldn't help me since he had more significant issues with his family business.
I called the Mendoza, Garza, and Santiago families and put a bug in their ear about shipments regarding the Frazier family. I figure that would keep the Frazier boys busy.
*****
Gloria
I got ready for work and thought about Carri. This summer was excellent, and it was nice not to worry about Maurice or his brothers. Then the front door opened and closed.
I walked out of the bedroom and to the top of the stairs, coming face to face with Maurice.
“Hey, Gloria.” Maurice smiled.
Words eluded me. I gulped. “I didn’t know you had gotten out.”
“Yeah, our suit found a technicality, and the judge released us.”
“Oh.”
“I had time to think. It happens when you’re in the clink and drying out. I was terrible to you. But I want to make it up to you if you let me.”
I didn’t trust Maurice after what he put me through before he went to jail. He moved closer as I stepped back, and he stopped. “Gloria, I won’t hurt you.”
I gave him a disbelief expression.
“That was the issue. Drinking caused me to become a terrible person. I’m sober now.”
I wish I could believe him, but I couldn’t. That’s how it started.
“I’m attending my meetings, and my brothers warned me that if I touch another drop, they’ll kill me.”
“I wish I could believe you, but I can’t. Excuse me.” I walked past Maurice.
He stood there, crestfallen, but I didn’t care. I endured abuse from Maurice. He can claim that he’s sober, but it’s a matter of time before he falls off the wagon.
It didn’t matter. When Carri graduates, I was leaving with him. But something would change my decision, and I didn’t know it yet.
*****
Carrington
Christine and Elliot settled in. Christine visited Troy, leaving me with Elliot. Let me rephrase that. She ordered me to watch Elliot. He enjoys creating issues.
I walked out back to find Elliot to show him the campus. A knife flew by my head and landed in the back of the house. I looked at Elliot, annoyed.
Elliot walked over and yanked the knife out of the house. “Do you mind? You distracted me from my target.”
I noticed a picture of Christine tacked to the house behind me and took the film down. “Flinging a knife at a picture of our sister isn’t a target.” I rolled my eyes.
Elliot shrugged.
“Be nice. Christine helped change your diapers.”
“That doesn’t matter. Everyone changed my diapers.”
“Christine also beat your ass several times.”
“Semantics, Carri.”
I sighed. Christine terrified Elliot, and he refused to admit it. Our sister took Elliot in hand many times, and it wasn’t pretty. Even when he got older, he didn’t scare her. It didn’t matter if he could chuck a knife up a hill fifty feet into a tree. Yeah, my siblings were crazy.
“Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“I’m showing you the campus today.” I turned to walk away.
“And to check on that woman that you’re seeing.”
I stopped and turned to him. “I’m not seeing anyone.”
Elliot walked towards me. “Well, you’re a cheat and a liar, and your deception will make Mason proud.” Elliot walked past me.
I’m sure if Christine doesn’t beat Elliot into oblivion, I will.
We left the house and traveled to the campus. I showed Elliot everything, taking him to Kate’s bakery when we encountered Marco.
“Look, who it is,” Marco said to his cronies, who snickered.
“Who let the dog out of his cage?” Elliot asked.
Macro and his cronies stopped laughing. Elliot didn’t smile.
“Be careful, boy.”
A pocket knife landed at the tip of Marco’s shoe. I did a double-take. Elliot stood there, unamused. Marco reached down, yanked the knife out of his shoe, and screamed as blood pooled. Elliot took the knife from Marco and wiped the blade on Marco’s shirt before replacing it in his pocket.
“You aren’t the most intelligent one in the bunch, are you?” Elliot asked.
Marco hopped around, holding his leg. “I’ll kill you,” Marco spoke through gritted teeth.
“Challenge accepted.” Elliot walked away.
I sighed and followed Elliot, leaving Marco to cry like a little b***h. I caught up with Elliot. “Was that necessary?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because while you worry about sticking your d**k into someone you shouldn’t, that family is planning.”
“The Fraziers are idiots.”
“Never underestimate an opponent, brother. It will cost you.”
We walked to Kate’s bakery.
Elliot might be the youngest of us, but he read people better than anyone. He didn’t bother with romantic entanglements because he didn’t have the patience for them. If he met a woman, it would be a miracle.
We entered the bakery, and Kate noticed us. She walked over and hugged us. Then Kate looked at Elliot. “I understand you’re starting trouble.”
“That’s doubtful,” Elliot replied.
Kate pointed at the door as Maximilian and Mickey entered the bakery.
“It seems big brother called crazy one and two,” I said.
Maximillian and Mickey strolled over to us.
“Maxie and Mickey Mouse. It’s been a while. I guess Marty let you out to play,” I said.
“We got a message for you,” Max said.
“Dare we ask what that message is?” Elliot asked.
Kate shushed him.
“Watch your back,” Mickey said.
They turned and left. There wasn’t anything cryptic about that message.
Kate rubbed her chin. She did this when she was thinking about something. Elliot was stoic, not reacting to the situation, which made him dangerous.
“Those boys are planning something. I’ll call Mason.” Kate went into the back.
“I don’t think we have to worry,” I said.
“What did you do?” Elliot inquired.
“Nothing yet.” I walked away to make a phone call.
If the Frazier boys were out, I needed to keep them busy, especially Maurice. I made an anonymous phone call to the Santiago, Mendoza, and Garza families about the Fraziers and shipments. That would keep the Frazier boys busy, but other deals got made that I would find out about later.
Why couldn’t I have a normal family?
- Writer
