Pulchritudinous

Chapter 4

⚐Orphic⚐
mysterious and entrancing

-

I sometimes look back at my life and wonder how it could've been altered. Ponder how many times we were on a tight rope that was seconds from being cut off. And just... letting our imperfect world fall from under our own feet.

In the end Louis took constant risks to keep me safe and with a home. Safe from what? Having to walk home alone, where there's the chance of being raped, mugged, or killed.

But about those risks? One that I consider the most perilous was drug dealing. Though I'm not going to lie, it was always good money.

His hands were clean, if the law was concerned, and Louis had so many customers. I was never told much about it to, if he let me in on what others considered to be too much... I could find myself killed.

I knew it was to keep me safe. He truly stayed out of it, considering himself. Never smoked, sniffed, and anything more than a beer was basically nonexistent. He knew I was a responsibility, and I've always admired him for putting me first, even when he had his whole life ahead of him.

But it was risky. Dangerous. He had to come through for his customers, always. Or I was a target. My school wasn't heavily protected, even if they acted like it was. Neither was the apartment.

Today was a perfect example of this as I looked into the eyes of one of the men Louis worked with. Andre.

As he walked into our apartment, he glanced at me with a slight smirk, and had the audacity to look at my brother in the face and say,

"So, she up for sale yet?" Louis laughed along with him and the guys he carried along, before a cold look came to his face that resembled one of murderer,

"Touch her, you're dead, Andre." He threatened without humor even grazing his features. I could already imagine his piercing grey eyes turning hard, and held my breath as I looked at my nearly empty plate,

"Relax brother, just here to give you what you need... Why weren't you at your spot this afternoon?" I heard Andre ask, glancing up and watching him cross his arms.

I slowly started eating again, putting my focus on the conversation, my eyes flickering  to the two bulky men at the door. Their bodies were marked with obscure tattoos and wearing all black clothes. One wore dark shades while the other just adjusted the watch on his wrist. I looked at it for a second, realizing it's a Rolex as my eyes widened.

I try to ignore it, though clearly taken aback by the fact that they could even own something like that. I look back down as I listen to Louis reply, nodding slowly and clenching his jaw,

"I let you know I wasn't gonna be there beforehand, Lauren had something we needed to go to." He didn't even glance at me, his expression remaining cold as he held out his hand, "I'm guessing you have part of my pay then?"

Andre nodded uncertainly, as if he never even heard Louis tell him this, and I saw his fingers were shaking right before he stuffed them into his pocket.

I look away and roll my eyes—of course, the guys on some type of drug. Why did Louis even work with this guy?

He pulls out wads of cash, hundreds actually, and starts counting them. He hands a good half of the amount to my brother. Louis recounts it, before nodding stiffly. Andre starts to hold out his hand to say bye, before his phone goes off with some annoying rap song coming from it.