Remembering Raimondo (Complete)

Family

I left the restaurant replaying in my head the conversation I had with Raimondo. He didn't seem so badass to me, all this warning of a ganster man attached to his dark side and all I see is a man apologizing for no reason. Gangster my ass. The only time he's ever got close to a scarface persona was when he was drunk. Jeff on the other hand was something, a smart ass who seemed to regard me as a child for his amusement.

I kicked a rock making it skid across the pavement and hit someones foot. Lifting my head I was made to regret ever leaving the plaza. My body just went rigid with exhaustion at the mere sight of a now smirking Austin.

This city is unbelievably small, to think moving would've made some kind of difference. It's like he has no where else to be but within a point-two mile radius of where I was.

Before he spotted me, well before I kicked the rock towards his foot, he was unloading tires from his truck onto the pavement while other men carried the tires into an old shop.

"Looki here." He chirped.

Oh brother. I got the sudden image of him with a pitch fork, straw hat, and a missing front tooth with his 'looki here' accent.

"Should I consider getting a restraining order?" I stopped in front of him and jammed my hands in my pockets. Otherwise I'd be tempted to use them.

"Don't flatter yourself," he spat laughing at his own remark. "You still don't want to tell me how you know-"

"By way of a friend," I interrupted him, wanting nothing more but his departure. All this interest of this Jeff makes me wonder what would happen if we showed up at prom together. Him and Ema would probably set up yellow tape and dress in black suits with matching shades and interrogate the life out of me.

“You guys aren't seeing each other are you?” he looked at me through his lashes while setting another tire on the pavement.

“That's really none of your business.”

"I see," he looked down at his hands. "I'll see you around." He continued unloading tires from his truck onto the sidewalk.

I walked past him towards the park.

"Hey," he called after me.

I stopped and looked over my shoulder as he placed one hand on his hip and wiped the sweat off of his forehead with another.

“I ask... because Jeff's my brother... he's not a good man, stay clear of him."

His brother? How in earth is that possible? I didn't know Austin had any brothers, and none other than Jeff for that matter! My jaw slightly dropped but I quickly composed myself.

I shook my head and continued to walk towards the park.

Great, I just got myself into a family feud. Who knows, maybe I'll be on Jerry Springer's by the end of this week. Raimondo is Valerie's Ex, who's Ema's sister. Ema is Austin's girl, who's brothers with Jeff. This is becoming a Middle Eastern soap opera. And to top it off Austin is warning me about Jeff who seemed like an alright guy, disregarding the fact that he made a mess in my kitchen, barged into my apartment, and carried a gun.

“Not a good man!” I scuffed under my breath.

So far he's been a better man than Austin, he's the one I should really stay clear of. And to think I thought he was a decent guy, turns out him and Ema do make a good match for each other. If the shoe fits...