Riot

14. No Sacrifice

“I get you’re mad, Hottie, but don’t you think that was a bit too much?” Joe stared ahead while driving.

Julie coked her head sideways and sighed. “Stop defending him, Joe.”

“I’m not defending him. Okay, he did something that got you pissed, but so what? You messed up too.”

“Yeah, but I don’t order my guys around to beat the shit out on some friend of his.”

Joe gave a bitter small laugh. “That doctor is not just a friend, Julie. Admit it.”

“He is to me.” She shrugged. “Even if there were something more between us, don’t you think he should have come to me first and ask what’s going on?”

Joe made a face like what she was saying was an absurd. “No.”

Julie simply shook her head. “You’re just the same.”

The car finally came to a stop. Julie couldn’t wait to get out of that suffocating mix of tobacco and buzz. She opened the door and had already put a leg out when Joe grabbed her arm. Julie glared at him, what quickly made him to lose it.

“Just get over it, Julie. He’s done his best to keep it cool between you two.” Joe pleaded.

“Sure. Pointing a gun at me was the right way to do it.” She emotionless answered and got out of the car before he had a chance to say anything else. Julie closed the door and quickly walked into the coffee shop. Joe drove back to his brother’s apartment while going through lines in his mind that maybe would help to calm his brother down. He knew none of them would work.

Allison was the first to notice Julie’s presence, her wide eyes made it clear. A lonely costumer gasped after noticing her too. Julie ignored them all, lowered her head and sneaked upstairs to her apartment, not bothering to close the door because she could hear Allison’s footsteps behind her.

The door was closed just as Julie threw herself on her couch, wincing in pain as she did.

Allison crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared down at an almost passed out Julie. “What happened?” She demanded.

“Not right now, Ally.” Julie moaned.

“You’re all fucked up Julie. Where were you?”

“Ally, please leave. I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“What did Billy Darley did to you?” She pressed.

“Nothing!” Julie yelled while sitting up. The movement was so quick and aggressive that made her dizzy. Julie took a deep breath. “Please leave.”

Allison nodded, despite her will to shake the truth out of Julie, and headed back downstairs. Her friend was going down hill.

Julie got up and looked for some pain killers.

…

“How is she?” Billy asked as soon as Joe set a foot in his apartment.

“Just the same. She’s really pissed Billy.”

“I fucking know that. Damn it!” He punched down the couch.

Joe sat on the chair and looked at his big brother. He had seen him pissed beyond countable times, but this was different. Billy was hurt.

“She’ll need some time, but she’ll get over it.” Joe tried to comfort him.

Billy shook his head and snorted. A heavy and ironic sound came through his nose. “I really thought I was gonna lose it, Joe. By a moment I really thought I was going to put a bullet in her head. I got so fucking blind that I didn’t see how scared she was.”