Page 123 of Legal Returns
“The only reason you’re still alive is because I know you’re not going to tell. If you open your mouth, I will return for the rest of your family,” I say with a grin as I lock on his gaze. I nod and smile wider. “You know I will.”
Leandro’s eyes go wide as he sobs behind the tape over his mouth. He looks frantically between me and his father’s dead body. I wait for him to return his gaze to my eyes.
When he does, more tears spill down his cheeks and snot bubbles come from his nose. True terror begins to shine in his brown orbs. However, his nostrils begin to flare with anger.
I keep smiling at him, knowing he wants to kill me. I already know that’s never going to happen. Still, he will try.
“I should kill you now. It would be the right thing to do, but I won’t. You’re a child.”
He is. He’s only a year younger than me. This might have gone differently if he were older.
I continue in a menacing tone. “I’m only allowing you to live because the example I will make of you will sound around the world. Silencing those who will use you to get to me.
“If I were you, I would forget all about me. Live your life and forget this night. If you don’t, you will die. It will be fun taking your head off,” I say.
With that, I stand and throw up two fingers and walk away. I call over my shoulder. “Respect my warning. Don’t play with me.”
I make it out of the house and step into the new car Mo-mo gave me for my sixteenth birthday. I freeze as a vision hits me. Looking back at the house I’ve just come from, I find myself standing inside. However, this isn’t tonight.
Even in the vision, I can feel my confusion. I tighten my hold on the wheel as the vision won’t expand and reveal anything else to me. I try several times.
I sigh in frustration and shake my head. Giving up, I start my car and take off. Sometimes you have to allow things to happen as they are meant to. Stopping them does nothing but open a new cycle for worse to happen.
No matter how much it will hurt the intended, some things aren’t my right to touch. If I do, I assume the blame and consequences.
Obviously that place has secrets I’m not meant to see. Not yet, at least. However, I will note what little I received and date it in my notebook.
As I drive away, something tightens in my chest. However, I can’t see why. I purse my lips and make a call to get my mind off it.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Elijah. I’m on my way back. Did you finish your assignments?”
“Yeah, they’re done. I’m not trying to get in trouble. Paulie pissed Mom off again.”
I snort. “I’ll pick up a pizza. You want anything else?”
“You already know what I want. I told you. I don’t think it’s weird when you show up with things I’ve been thinking about. It’s cool.
“I’ll be waiting. Thanks for the call, Sammy. Love you, bro.”
“I love you too. Tell Paulie I’ll sneak him some pizza and his favorite gummy bears too, if he doesn’t snitch on me.”
“You know he’ll snitch if he gets caught.”
I laugh. “Yeah, I know. I’m going to kick his ass later, but I’ll still bring him something.”
“Okay, cool. See you soon.”
EPILOGUE
On Point
Sammy
Six years later …
“Good work,”Uncle Uri says as our sparring match comes to an end.
