Page 80 of Demise

The name Moretti gave me, the name the neighborhood calls me. I’ve done a lot of bad things to a lot of bad people. Still, getting out now isn’t something I’m able to do.Not yet.I tried that and I got a Glock pointed at my temple.

“Sometimes I think about a normal life.” I look up at him, thinking about Bexley. “In a way I envy you, Bryce. You’ve got the girl, and now you’ve got the freedom. Not all of us have that option.”

I decide the less Bryce knows the better, so I tell him what I always have. “I’m a businessman, Bryce. You’ve known this from the start. Atlanta is a good city, and Moretti and I saw an opportunity when you got arrested. You can’t blame a man for trying to make money, even if it doesn’t fit your standards.”

He doesn’t respond right away. After all, how can he judge me? No one can judge any man.

Bryce seems to come to terms with this. “Okay, you’re right,” he says.

I nod. “You’re welcome there anytime. We’re going to get this cleaned up. You get back to your family. I’ll see ya around,” I say before we climb into the car and spin out of here.

“Goddamn, that man is a pussy,” Trig says, laughing. “Did you see the way he puked after I shot that gold tooth cocksucker?” Trig lights a joint. “Reminded me of Nugget. Poor bastard.”

I stare ahead at the road before pulling off, riding through a grassy field. It’s bumpy, and I can hardly see in front of us. I stop the car once we near the tree line. There’s a small path, so I keep driving until I can’t. I keep the lights on. “We’ll bury him in those woods back there.”

Sweep, with his new glasses, gives me a look.

“A little exercise isn’t gonna hurt you,” I say, opening my car door.

Sweep and Trig get the body. We walk a little way, and then I toss down the shovels for us to get to digging. It takes nearly an hour. Georgia is full of red clay and that shit doesn’t give.

They heave the man in, and I turn to Trig. “I loved you like family,” I say to him. The car lights filter in through the trees, and the moon shines down on us.

Confusion paints his face.

I look down. “But you betrayed me in the worst way and then lied to my face about it.” My attention returns to him.

He holds up his hands. “Bones,” he says, backing up.

Fire and pain battle inside my chest. “You were an accomplice to my brother’s murder, kidnapped my girl and me, and held us up in a fucking shack,” I seethe. “You deserve more than what I’m giving you.”

“Bones, I swear, I didn’t do anything. It wasn’t me.”

I shake my head. “And still you’re lying. Why’d you do it, huh?” I stalk toward him, shoving his chest. “Why’d you have to put me in this situation?”

“Bones, come on, man,” he begs. I grab him by the collar, looking him in his eyes.

“You tried to kill my woman, Trig. What were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t. I’m sorry, okay. I was messed up for a minute, but I’m fine now. I’m over it.” I notice his face is wet, his hands shaking. “Please.”

I shake my head, pushing him away from me in disgust and heartbreak. Tears form behind my lids because I don’t want to do this, but he’s given me no choice. He made his bed.

I look toward the ground, my jaw tight, a tear running down my face as I recall the first time I met this crazy motherfucker.

Johnny laughs, and it’s a sound you don’t hear too often. “Yo, David,” he calls out. We hear grunting and the sound of something breaking. Both of us take off upstairs.

We hit the hall. “It’s coming from Carson’s room,” Johnny says.

I have no idea who Carson is, but when we step into the doorway, I instantly like the boy. He’s on top of David, wailing on his face with a gun.

“Jesus,” Johnny says, walking over and pulling Carson off the man. But Carson goes back in for another hit, splattering blood on his clothes.

“That’s enough,” I say.

Carson looks over at me. “Who the fuck are you?”

I lift my chin. “You don’t wanna talk to me like that.”

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