Mafially Yours

42

"I am trying, Huncho! Everyone is saying that the house has been inhabited, you know, for such a long time. The two small houses around have never seen the owner!"

"Fred, Fred, sh." I raised my hand to his face and looked away. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, "And after you get mad at me for yelling at you." I mumbled, walking to my desk, "Listen, I want you to do something, but if anyone finds out you are behind this, I will be the one to bury you." He nodded. "I want you to call the fire department. From a payphone, Fred. Please focus. Just simply say that you were passing by, and you smelled fire, and when you looked around, you saw smoke coming out of this specific house. And give them the number." All the boys in the room exchanged looks, mesmerized by my ideas. I mentally rolled my eyes and took a deep breath. "Once the fire department moves, they will reach the owner. And of course, the owner will fear his big mansion getting devoured by fire so they will show up before the sun is down. Before the moon is up, I want you to make a deal with this owner to sign the house papers the same night, Fred."

He nodded again and stared at me.

"Go, Fred. Please focus."

He walked out of the room. I took a deep breath. "I need to make an important phone call." I waited for the other boys to leave the room before dialing his number. I knew this phone call wouldn't go well but I didn't have a choice but to do it. In moments like this, I wish Brad was alive. He was sure of what he was doing and never had to make a phone call to excuse himself for not being able to keep his word. But one thing he taught me well was to stay confident even if you know you are wrong. This was what I knew I was doing right.

"Huncho?"

"Hey Al," I sighed, "I needed to tell you something."

"Go ahead."

"The house is not ready yet. We have been trying to find its owner and as soon as we do we will buy it and let you know."

The silence was long and I could only hear his heavy breath. I rolled my eyes, knowing what would come after Al's silence.

"Are you serious, Huncho? I knew I shouldn't have followed your words blindly. I shouldn't have told my people."

"Al, listen–"

"Huncho, Huncho, check, I promised my people a house in the city. You know what happens when you tease savage animals with a treat and you don't give it to them? They bite you."

"I didn't say it won't happen anymore, Al. Listen to me, we are just going to take a little bit more time than promised because we can't find the owner."

"Huncho, brother, listen to me. There is no more business between us until you tell me the house is ready for us to move in."

"What does that mean? We are out of your protection?"

"My promise means nothing if you can't keep your own. So the second you tell me the house is ready, you're under my protection again."

The line ended and the beep kept ringing in my ears for the next few minutes. I was furious. Not only at Fred who put me in this situation but also at Al for not giving me a second to explain myself. I punched my desk and sat down, trying to think of an alternative to protect ourselves without Al's help until he moved in.

"Damien," I called.

He walked in and closed the door.

"What is happening?"

"Find a man to go to Al and tell him to come for a quick meeting."

"Don't you have an assistant now?" He teased.

I gave him a death stare making his smirk disappear from his lips.

"Fine."

The man left in the morning, a few minutes after my conversation with Damien. He came back and told Damien to tell me that he wasn't going to accept any meetings with me until his house was ready. Aside from telling the man to highlight the fact that our business is on pause until they move in.

I sighed, knowing exactly what to do.

"Send him again. But tell him to tell Layla, that Huncho wants to see you. Without telling Al, Damien. Al can't know she is coming."

With the setting of the sun, I see a car parked in front of the door. Right then I knew that it wasn't over. I quickly got up and made my way to the door to welcome her in. I opened the door before she knocked.

"Wow." She simply said. Her long flowy skirt and baggy shirt gave a desert vibe but somehow she was able to look good. Her long wavy hair lay on either side of her face. As usual, her hair wasn't parted in the middle, making only half of her face show perfectly.

"Does it look like I was ready for you?" I smirked.

"A little bit too much." She smiled back.

I stood there for a couple of seconds, admiring the start of my victory.

"Sanchez," I yelled, not parting my eyes from hers. A few seconds passed before Sanchez found us.

"Yes?"

"Flatten the four of her tires."

She raised her eyebrows but her smirk grew.

"What?"

"Do as I say, Sanchez."

"You're telling him to ruin my car in front of me?"

"So? It better you know my intentions"

"You could have just politely invited me to stay the night"

I clicked my tongue. "Al wouldn't be so happy with you if he found out you willingly stayed."

"Why do you want me to stay, Huncho?"

"I guess you have to wait to figure it out."

She lay on my arm with a cigarette in her hand, creating clouds of smoke in the room. Our clothes were piled on the floor and the bed sheets were barely on the bed anymore. We were both lying on our backs. I watched her as she took a deep puff and slowly let it out creating a new cloud reaching for the ceiling.

"I won't be able to convince Al anything though." She started.

"I didn't ask you anything."

She turned her head to me bending one of the legs. "I know you too well, Huncho."

"I don't think so love."

She giggled and got comfortable in my arms. "I have been in your life the longest, Huncho. I know things about you Brad didn't. Don't tell me I don't know you." She rolled her eyes, taking another puff.

Right when she breathed out the smoke, I saw Elena's face just outside of my half-open door. We made an eye contact that broke my heart. I quickly broke it and turned to Layla and kissed her then looked back at Elena's eyes. Layla realized my attention was on the door so she looked behind. But when she met Elena's eyes, she walked away. I let out a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"Why?" Layla softly asked, knowing exactly what I did but I refused to admit she could read me.

"Why what?"

"Why did you want her to see us Huncho? Why did you leave the door open?"

"What makes you think I left it on purpose?"

"Huncho!" She gave me a warning look, wanting me to cut the lies.

I took a deep breath and scratched my chest, "maybe that will make her not think of me anymore"

Layla frowned. "She likes you?"

"Yeah."

"Who is that? I saw her before."

"Brad's daughter."

"No way!"

"Yeah."

She stopped talking for a few seconds, staring at me, trying to pressure me to talk about it but I remained silent.

"Why don't you give it a try Huncho?"

I looked at her as if she had grown a second head.

"You know Layla!" I closed my eyes for a few seconds, "I don't do relationships! I don't have time or energy"

"Or maybe you haven't forgotten Angela yet." She uttered words that hit me like stones in my face.