Michael's Story

Chapter 31

None of the messages or calls Michael sent to Junie went through, which could only mean she blocked him. Michael was growing irrational, thinking about how he should show up at Junie's home and demand that she speak to him. The only thing that stopped Michael from popping up on Junie was that she'd lost her dad.

Michael would give her another day; if she didn't respond after that, he'd wait outside her complex until he spoke to her. Junie couldn't break from him like that, not if he disagreed.

There was a sense of entitlement to Junie that fed into his ego. No other man would ever have the opportunity to lay his hands on what Michael claimed as his. Michael could not imagine another man having Junie the way he had her. No man that wasn't him deserved Junie.

Unfortunately, life wouldn't let him sit around and mope about Junie all day. Michael had decisions and money to make.

Felix and Rico walked into the sitting room with Michael. One of their critical briefings was about to take place. Michael faked his nonchalant mood, but inside, he was craving Junie. He couldn't let his boys see him in such a state.

On top of missing Junie, Michael regretted letting go of Julian. Over the time he'd known Julian, Julian had become like a little brother to Michael and Antonio. Though he'd never said it to Julian, Michael had a love for him.

It was a critical time for Michael. He had to get Alejo and Gerardo off his streets and make the city his sanctuary again. These new brothers brought the heat, and Michael needed everyone at the top of their game. Yet, personal issues were trumping all in the stress area.

"Gerardo... this motherfucker is like a chameleon; you see him, then you don't," Felix said.

"But that is his address, right?" Michael asked.

"Yep. Just give us the go, and we'll," Rico pursed his lips and then pumped his trigger finger.

Michael leaned forward, "I need y'all to do something first."

"What's up?" Felix asked.

Rico and Felix gazed at Michael while Michael's eyes bounced between them. Finally, his genuine emotions began to spill out as he struggled to ask them for a favor. Michael used the tips of his fingers to rub his eyes. Rico gave Michael's knee a brotherly pat.

"You good?"

Michael breathed out and then scratched the back of his head, "I got a couple of things I need y'all to handle,"

"Like what?" Felix gestured with his hand for Michael to keep explaining. Michael drew in his bottom lip, squinting one of his eyes as he tried rephrasing his words.

"I had a little disagreement with Julian and let him go," Michael told them.

Rico and Felix looked at Michael as if he'd lost his mind.

Felix held a hand to intercept, "Please, tell me you have a good reason."

"I couldn't imagine Julian doing anything wrong," Rico said.

Michael threw his hands up. The way the two of them were waiting to hear what Michael would say next told him, they knew Michael had done something wrong. Michael dropped his head down; sitting up straight, he was ready to come clean.

"That Trinity chick, he fucking with her. I called her a bitch, and he didn't like it." Michael responded.

Rico twisted his face, "You fired him because you disrespected his girlfriend?"

Felix chuckled, shaking his head at Michael, "You and your fucking pride."

"The person she put behind bars was the same person she slept next to every night. So I was looking out for all of us."

"You got every right to be suspicious, but, honestly," Felix leaned forward, "Eric was beating the fuck out of that girl." He said seriously.

Hearing the truth slightly humbled Michael. As much as his pride wanted to respond defensively, he wanted to hear more about what Eric had done to Trinity.

Rico added, "We went over there for the money, and her face was..." He only shook his head,

"Trinity's a pretty girl. Gorgeous. I couldn't even tell it was her when I saw her. She got his ass cooked, but, I hate to say it, he deserved it."

Felix said, "If any man ever put his hands on my daughter like that, she'd better put his ass behind bars. That would be ten times better than what the fuck I would do to him."

Rico agreed with Felix's statement with a handshake. Regret infected Michael. He owed Julian a huge apology, but Junie wasn't the only one ignoring Michael's phone calls.

"I can't get in touch with him. Talk to him; tell him to call me so I can get him back in position."

"What was the other thing?" Felix asked.

On cue, a phone call from Travis saved Michael an embarrassing explanation of his current dilemma in love. Immediately, Michael picked up. He intended to ask Travis if he was around Julian so he could offer him his job back. Still, Michael was interrupted by the delivery of Travis's urgent message.

*****

Gerardo sat massaging his temples. The stress brought on by his younger brother was chewing away at his sanity. Six months ago, he promised himself and his wife Berta that he'd stop smoking, but he needed something to take the edge off. So Gerardo kept his eyes closed, trying to block his brother out.

"You need a piece of that gum or some of those patches." Alejo joked.

"And you need to shut the fuck up." Gerardo ashed his cigarette.

Alejo twisted his neck, "It wasn't my fault. It was yours."

"There's a reason why I'm the oldest. There was a reason why I made the rules. There's a reason. I got away, and you didn't." Gerardo shook a finger at Alejo.

"Enlighten me."

"You're a fucking idiot, Alejo. That's why."

"Guess what, when they say my name, they mention yours, too. So we're one and the same, brother." Alejo responded.

Gerardo chuckled sarcastically, "Clever," his smile dwindled, "I'm tired of looking at you. Let yourself out."

Alejo rose, "Gladly."

Gerardo flipped his brother off, and Alejo gave him the finger back. Then, mumbling obscenities about his brother, Alejo exited his brother's home. Speed walking to his car, Alejo fished out his keys. As he stepped off the curb, Alejo dropped his car keys in the street. Scraping his keys off the ground, a car rolled up next to him.

Before Alejo could stand straight, someone pressed a gun against his temple. Alejo quickly raised his hands, dropping his keys back on the ground. Then, slowly, he came to stand up straight.

Alejo didn't know what was coming next, whether kidnapping and then murder or just plain murder. Remembering that he'd left his gun underneath the driver's seat, he had no way of protecting himself.

Alejo knew that this was Michael showing him the outcome of his decisions. Just as Alejo attempted to turn his head, one bullet was fired into his skull, killing him instantly. Instead of giving Gerardo the same kind of punishment, they couldn't risk being caught in the middle of a murder.

Gerardo would finally get what was coming when a better opportunity presented itself. The car peeled off down the street, leaving Alejo's lifeless body in a pool of blood. Gerardo sprinted outside to aid his brother, but it was too late. Dropping to his knees at the site of Alejo, Gerardo screamed out in anger.