Promised to the Dealer

Chapter 4

Hell

I just took over the slum and my dad has already dumped everything on my shoulders. Alright, I knew the responsibility was mine, but I thought he'd help me for a while or at least be around to clear up any doubts that might arise. I leave home pissed off, there's a pagode playing at the bar on the slum, so I head over there to cool off a bit. As soon as I arrive, everyone stops to look at me. I sit at a table with some of my crew and start drinking. The chicks start arriving, and when I realize it, there are a bunch around me. I stay there, quietly drinking. I've been here for like 5 hours, just downing vodka after vodka. I notice everyone looking in my direction, but they're not looking at me. I turn around and see Antonella standing outside the bar. Great, just what I needed to complete my day. She spots me and starts walking in my direction.

Antonella- "Ali," I give her a stern look, suppressing what she was about to say. "Hell, can I talk to you?"

Hell- "What are you doing here?" I ask and take a sip of my drink.

Antonella- "It's late and you didn't come home."

PH- "What's up? Got yourself a babysitter now?" he says, and everyone laughs except me.

Hell- "Do I look like I need a babysitter?" I say seriously, and he raises his hands in surrender.

Antonella- "Can we go home?" I look at her as she shrinks back, probably cold, but I didn't tell her to come out at this hour.

Hell- "No," I say bluntly, and the girls laugh; she seems embarrassed.

Antonella- "Okay," she says and walks away. I take another sip of my drink.

JJ- "You're gonna let her leave alone at this hour, man?" JJ is my right-hand man, grew up with him. When my dad said I would take over the slum, I already made it clear I wanted him by my side.

Hell- "I'm not her dad to be chasing after her, brother," I say, already a bit tipsy from the drink. He shakes his head and gets up, I'm sure he's going after her. I frown, already irritated with all this. There's one thing that always gives me away when I'm angry: I can't stop shaking my leg, and that's how I am now. What could he be saying to her? The doubt consumes me, I get up and go after them. I stop in front of the bar and look for them. I see them from a distance, leaning against his car. I watch them talking, she smiles, and he opens the car door. She gets in, and he goes around and gets in too, starts the car, and leaves. Where is he taking her? A blinding rage hits me. I get on my bike and go after them, I fly past the car and brake the bike right in front of it. He brakes just in time, almost knocking me over.

JJ- "What's wrong with you, are you nuts?" he says, getting out of the car.

Hell- "Where are you going?" I get off the bike.

JJ- "I was just going to take her for a ride, why?"

Hell- "What do you want, taking her for a ride? You think I'm an i***t?"

JJ- "What's up, Hell? You don't have anything going on with the girl, why are you so paranoid, brother?"

Antonella- "I just want to go home, I'm tired," she says, getting out of the car.

Hell- "You're going home, but it'll be with me," I pull her by the arm, and she looks at me, scared.

Antonella- "You're hurting me.

JJ- "There's no need for this, Hell, you're too drunk, you're going to do something stupid.

Hell- "I'm fine, and you?" I say, pointing a finger at her, "next time I catch you flirting with someone here, I'll shave that pretty hair of yours." I say and see her eyes fill with tears.

JJ- "Stop threatening the girl, Hell, you're not like this.

Hell- "Then you don't know me, buddy, let's go." I pull her to my bike, get on and she gets on right after, I start it up and take off, feeling her grip my waist, I'm going to show her what can happen if she challenges me. I race through the streets of the hill.

Antonella- "Stop, you'll kill me," she screams in my ear, I don't even pay attention and continue until I see the entrance to the slum. I brake hard, making the bike lurch forward, I hear her crying in fear. I turn around and head home, arrive and park the bike in the garage. She gets off and runs inside. I enter calmly, place the key on the table and go to the kitchen, drink a glass of water and my mother appears.

Miranda- "What happened? Antonella came in crying."

Hell- "Nothing that concerns you, isn't she my woman? So let me handle it with her."

Miranda- "You're already drunk, aren't you? Don't forget your responsibilities." I walk past her without even responding and go up the stairs, enter my room and Antonella isn't there. I go to the bathroom and the door is locked, I knock three times.

Hell- "Are you okay?" I ask but get no response. I walk to the bed and collapse onto it, close my eyes and start to feel everything spinning. A wave of nausea hits me, and I vomit on the bedroom floor, everything's spinning. Damn, I think I drank too much. I see the bathroom door opening, Antonella walks towards me looking all blurry, everything goes dark and I pass out.