Page 78 of Bad for You

“And Father Merry?” I question because there’s no way he’s walking away scot-free.

Gianna places a kiss to my forehead—the first kiss she’s ever given me. “You take them all,piccola.It’s what you were born to do. Happy birthday.”

Time is of the essence, more so than ever, now that I know the truth.

I wanted to wait, but I can’t.

Aldo knows someone is stealing from him, but he just doesn’t know it’s his own flesh and blood. And this is the upper hand I need to get answers about my brother.

I don’t even know her name. But what I do know is that she’s trouble, which is why I followed her home.

It’s late, and after the shit I learned today, I really need to get back to Valentina. Aldo wants me to play nice with Gianna, butI’m not sure how long that shit will fly before I tell her to go fuck herself.

But if Valentina continues to fight me, I don’t know what I’ll do.

I choose a side, and that’s Aldo’s. I don’t know why, but I trust him.

Once this is done, I could always attempt to live a normal life, but the bloodlust in me shakes its head, knowing I don’t play nice with normalcy. I’m too far gone for that.

Perhaps, I gravitated toward Aldo because he has something I admire—respect.

He isn’t a good guy, I know that. And although I’m fucking opposed to drugs, they’re going to be dealt one way or another. Whether I deal them or not, people are going to get fucked up. If we sell good product that’s not cut with shit, then maybe that’ll save them from the inevitable.

Nice try, I tell myself because there is no way to justify being a drug dealer. I just have to accept that I’m not an honorable man.

Aldo’s daughter slips from the apartment. I wonder if Aldo lives here. I also wonder if Gianna is her mother.

Fuck me, this is an HBO documentary dream.

I keep to the shadows, watching her closely. She carries an air of confidence on her shoulders, perhaps even arrogance, which will get her caught.

I have no idea why she would need to steal. Money wouldn’t be an issue. So I’m guessing she’s doing it as a fuck-you to Aldo. Perhaps she is Gianna’s daughter after all.

She clutches the straps of her backpack tightly, no doubt to protect what’s inside.

How can Aldo not know his own daughter is stealing from him? I guess love makes you do crazy things, something that Gianna taught us from day one.

Aldo’s daughter turns down an alley, and it’s not to feed the stray cats. I slow down and stick close to the wall. Peering around it, I watch the transaction take place as she reaches into her backpack and gives the guy a small bag.

He eyes it hungrily as he tosses a rolled-up stack of bills at her.

This is small fry. I’m a little disappointed. But she’s smart as she knows anything bigger, and her father would be onto her. Little does she know he already is. I snap a few photos on my phone because it’ll be her word against mine. So I now have the proof I need.

The guy scurries off while she places the money into her boot.

Now is my time to strike.

I don’t mask my footsteps as I approach her. She spins, and it takes a few seconds before she recognizes me.

“You,” she says, not bothering to mask her disgust. “Are you following me?”

“Yes,” I deadpan.

She’s taken aback by my honesty, and her confidence is soon replaced with suspicion. “Who are you?”

“My name is Lennon, and I guess I work for your dad now. Although I use the word work very loosely.”

She doesn’t need me to explain further. She knows she’s in deep shit.

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