Page 2 of Alfie: Part Two

“I didn’t sleep well, is all,” I said. “We gotta go.”

“You are lying to me again,” she told me. “It’s become a habit since you joined the mafia.”

“Yeah, aight. Good talkin’ to you, Ma.” I turned and headed down the stairs?—

“Wait!”

I threw an impatient look over my shoulder, only to see her hurrying out of the apartment in her robe and slippers. She stopped on the step above the one I was standing on, and she grabbed my face.

“You’re breaking my heart when you’re sad, my sweet baby boy—but you gotta walk away from the Sons!” She slipped her hands down to my shoulders and shook me a little. “Don’t you see? I’m sure that’s why you are sad—no? Did they hurt you?”

“No, they fucking didn’t, Mom,” I groaned, backing away from her paws.

“Don’t curse!” She wagged a finger in my face, and I was done. She cursed all the fucking time.

“Dad!” I yelled, my voice echoing in the hallway. “Come get your crazy!”

“Don’t call your mother crazy!” he yelled back from…probably the living room. “Giulia! Get’chur crazy ass back in here. Leave the boy alone!”

Cue mad heated rant from Mom in two languages I didn’t speak.

“How many times I gotta tell you!” I hollered at her. “I don’t fucking understand!”

She’d stopped trying to teach me Spanish when I’d struggled with English in second grade. Whatever shit I’d known before then had been forgotten. Well, most of it. I could tell when she was hauling out threats, kind of like now, so I checked out and left.

This time, she didn’t run after me.

I jogged down the two flights of stairs and pushed open the door to humid freedom.

“Have a good one, Mr. T,” I said, passing the old man.

“You too, boy—you take care of those kids.”

“Always, sir.”

I was parked right up front, and I opened the back to make sure Trip and Ellie were buckled in.

Trip handed me the key back. “Ellie hoped you forgot to check the seat belt.”

“You’re such a snitch!” Ellie yelled at him.

“Hey—easy, easy.” I frowned and picked up an empty soda cup from the floor. “Be nice to each other.”

Maybe it was a good thing it was West’s week. I just wanted to go home to eat ice cream and waste the day in front of the TV.

Just when my numbness began to fade, right around the time we reached West’s street, a text from Kellan saved the day.

Fuck ice cream and TV.

Lunch at Finn and Emilia’s if you’re not busy getting railed.

I wasn’t busy getting railed. I’d never be busy getting railed ever again.

I responded once I’d pulled into West’s driveway, and I noticed his car was here. Either he’d gone into the city to pick it up already, or he’d driven it home last night.

I’ll be there.

Eric, Finn’s master tech genius guy, had told us all to be more active on our private phones. It included making plans together, using names, dropping dates and locations, and simply showcasing our family ties to whoever might be paying attention.

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