Alexis

Sigari Cubani

Cuban Cigars

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"Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;"

Ezekiel (25:15)

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The day after Frediano bought tickets/seven days before the flight

"Get the fuck out. Vegas?" Rose demanded, an eyebrow highly raised to show her discontent. She stopped in town to drop off some sketches and to go over a new line that she was releasing "soon". In her world/fashion world, soon did not mean soon.

Sitting on a stool at the island, I nodded as I chewed, my fork suspended in mid-air. I put my hand over my mouth as if I was going to verbally confirm what she said but I had no intention. Freddie closed the fridge and turned around. He set down cheese, meat, condiments, tomato, and lettuce. He already had bread out.

"Yep, flying out—"

"I can fuckin' read it—" Rose angrily snapped. She was talking about the copy of the tickets that Freddie made. "You're out of your fucking mind— I don't understand how the hell you two can be so fucking stupid—" She was ranting, not finishing her sentences.

I looked over at Freddie. He swigged his beer and assembled a sandwich on the countertop. I swallowed before I spoke, ignoring Rose's rant. "Fred, you're making a mess. Get a plate," I corrected.

"I'll clean it up," he dismissed and put the top slice of bread on his sandwich.

I rolled my eyes and looked at my plate to fork more of my lunch.

"ARE YOU FUCKING LISTENING?" Rose demanded as she hit the marble island. I widened my eyes as I looked at her hand on the island. "You two are making a lot of stupid fucking decisions! I saw the fucking news! I'm not stupid! I've been through all of this before! Alexis!" Oh, God, no, I don't want to be personally attacked. "You? Where is the sweet little girl I know? Murder? Are you fucking kidding me? You're hurt— okay! I tell you what, John has two sons— did you know that? You took someone's father!"

I kept my face straight as I stared at her but her words made me mad. Sweet little girl? She's dead. She died when my dad was murdered. I'd never be her again and I hated it and mourned her because Little Alexis was my dad's daughter. Pride and joy.

"How is that fair, Alexis? How the fuck is that fair? What? An eye for an eye? His sons did nothing to you! And look what you did to them! He had grandsons! Little ones, Alexis. What did those babies do to deserve this?" Rose raged. I stopped eating. Freddie awkwardly looked between us as he swigged his Bud Light. "What? You want to kill everyone until you get to Roberto? THAT'S FUCKING STUPID! You taking away someone's family! Do you really think this will make you feel better?" she demanded.

"This isn't about me," I interjected, "this is about dad."

I don't know how she got my goal so misconstrued. All of this was for my dad. Sure, I had some selfish streaks of personal revenge but it was ultimately for my father.

Rose scoffed and ran her perfectly manicured hand through her perfectly cut hair. "You're so deluded, it's ridiculous. You make no fucking sense— this isn't fair, it's not just! But you're not gonna listen to a fucking thing that I say!" She grabbed her keys and the tea that she brought with her. "Forget everything I fuckin' said. It's not like I've been through this before— for forty-something-fucking years! Look what happened to Michael! Look where it got him! But sure! Do whatever you fucking what!" she yelled as she made her way to the front door. She slammed it behind her.