mafia king

chapter 16 - jail

If you were a soldier you went to jail at least once. I had been caught twice since I started dealing. Aurelio, our family lawyer always managed to bring it down to social work. Aurelio was already there when we arrived, Sandrino grinning next to him. "How the hell did you get him out so fast?" Georgino asked and patted his friend on the back. "New record?" Aurelio straightened his tie. "He didn't have any drugs on him. So it was a no-brainer." "You are kidding?" I asked. "Did you already sell everything by then?" Sandrino pointed to Cassio. The kid had been sitting on the steps of the police station when we arrived. Panting as if he had run here. "Cassio took my coke and ran away with it so we didn't get caught." "I'm smaller and faster than you." Cassio grinned. "Fox." Mario said and shook his head. "I won't argue with the smaller part." Cassio put his hands on his hips. "You know, we are all given the same height from god, we just distributed it differently on our body." He looked down at Sandrino's crotch with raised eyebrows. Sandrino shook his head. "I'll let that one go because your quick thinking saved my ass." Mario butted in: "And because there really isn't any good comeback." Aurelio snickered. He was well built, blonde hair, dark brown eyes and an even better jaw line than Georgino. He had been our family lawyer for over five years, taken over after his dad retired. Family business as well and he grew up alongside Georgino. "Let's go eat. I'm famished after Georgino rang me out of bed in the middle of the night." I didn't want to go but Mario pulled me with them down the street to a 24 hour diner. Mario made sure that I sat at the window and he was right beside me. I saw how Georgino and Aurelio were shooting each other weird looks before Aurelio let his friend go in the booth first. Sitting right in front of me. I nearly bent my fork. Mario glared at Georgino. Aurelio noticed, I think everyone did. Aurelio started a conversation to drag the attention away from us: "So, Marco. What are you up to?" Marco shrugged his shoulders but before he could reply Mario said: "Don't bother asking him. He is way too secretive to share even with me, his best friend." "Cold war over then?" Aurelio asked but hid behind the menu to avoid Mario's glare. I think Aurelio already regretted his food idea. Marco stayed silent which pissed off Mario even more. "He had a date." Mario told Aurelio, ignoring the waitress who wanted to know his order. "And kept it a secret from me." "I didn't know you were his keeper." Aurelio said and I think he had just made number one on Mario's kill list. I ordered pancakes for me and Mario, who looked like he was about to reach over the table to get to Aurelio. The waitress left with our order, giving me a grateful smile. "I'm his best friend." Mario spat and Marco groaned. "Let's just stop this conversation." He put his head in his hands. Aurelio shrugged his shoulders. "No. You did nothing wrong here." Mario clenched his jaw and pointed at Aurelio. "Did you get yourself a lawyer Marco? Can't handle talking to me on your own?" Well, at least my own drama was not the main topic. "Mario." I murmured and grabbed the hem of his shirt, guiding him so he was sitting again. Mario was his most dramatic self when he was hurt. Instead of crying he just upped his drama levels. "You guys are a lot of work." Georgino mumbled and picked at his pancakes. I cocked an eyebrow. "Don't talk to my friends like that." "Yeah!" Mario was quick to agree with me. I loved how loyal he was. "If anyone is a piece of work it's you." Mario said what I was thinking. Then we were all silent. Too tired to stir up even more drama. We ate and Aurelio paid for all of us. Georgino had been willing me to look at him by staring at me the whole time. But I've had it with him. I just wanted to go home, sleep and forget about tonight.

Mario was driving, I had learnt from my mistake from last time. Marco had shoved his car keys into Sandrino's hands and sat down in Mario's car. I wasn't sure what was worse. To listen to a second round of their fight or sit close to Georgino. I chose the first option. At least they didn't make me wanna cry – they just gave me a headache. "Matteo, wait." But I ignored Georgino and as soon as I closed the door Mario was speeding off. Marco bit on his lip to keep from commenting on the speed limit Mario was definitely breaking. "Mario." Marco said, his tone soft and a bit apologetic. Maybe he had realized that letting Mario sit with all these hurt emotions for so long hadn't been his smartest idea. Mario did not cool off on his own. "Do not start with me right now." He spat. "Alright." Marco murmured and turned so he was looking out the window.

Mario stormed off after he parked the car. Marco and I were looking after him. "I know Mario pushed this fight just as much as you did, but can you make the first step?" I asked and Marco let out a deep sigh. "Yeah, I will do that tomorrow." Marco took out a cigarette and lit it. "Georgino is an asshole for what he did tonight." Marco said and handed me his pack. "I don't want to talk about that." "Fair enough, but I'm here for you too even if Mario is everyone's go-to guy for emotional stuff." When we were done smoking we walked up to the main house. "Why didn't you tell Mario about that date if he is the go-to-guy for emotions?" I asked the question that has been spooking around in my head since the day in the park. I was surprised when Marco answered. "That guy knows everything about me. We don't have any secrets between us, not even you know about my hate for oranges. He is just so... close." Closeness, that word make him look like he was going to be sick. Marco kept everyone an arm's length away but Mario had super glued himself on to him. "Mario was infatuated the second your mother sat you down next to him as a baby." "Wouldn't leave me alone." "Since 21 years." I added and Marco shook his head, a small smile grazing his lips. "I'll fix it with him tomorrow."

It was around lunch when I woke up and got dressed in my gym clothes. The gym was nearly empty and I worked out until it felt like my lungs were going to collapse. I noticed Marco doing a cool down in the back and joined him. "Talked with Mario yet?" He grunted. "No. Georgino had me in meetings till two hours ago. I know why you gave your title to me." I grinned but that faded at his hushed words "We have a rat somewhere. Georgino wants to keep it a secret until I find out more." "So you have to find out who it is?" "Yeah, lucky me." Marco hesitated before he said: "He asked me if I knew what you were doing today." I stood up and grabbed my water bottle. "Guess you aren't the only one trying to apologize today. Speaking of." I pointed to the gym doors. Mario had a towel slung over his shoulders and his headphones on. I knew he saw us sitting here but he ignored both of us and went to the treadmill. Marco got up as well and I watched him walk over to Mario. Mario kept his eyes on the machine, but Marco leaned against it and fished out his phone. "Happy now?" I heard him ask and I caught a glimpse of a girl's picture on his screen. Leave it to Marco to apologize like that. Mario stopped running though and crossed his arms. "What took you so long?" He sniffed but Marco didn't tell him what he told me. "Not important. Will you stop biting my head off every time you see me?" Mario nodded and snatched Marco's phone out of his hand. "What's her name? How did you meet? How old is she? Did you guys kiss?!" I walked back to my room after that. I didn't need to listen to this interrogation. No, Marco could suffer through that on his own.