The Liability

Chapter 13

Hugo's POV:

I walk downstairs irritably, hating how I had to get dressed and ready so early, for something that would take two seconds... I walk into the kitchen to see Ricco, who looks at me amused.

"What" I challenge
He just smiles shaking his head.
"Well?!?" I bark.
He chuckles again
"Well good morning to you too, aren't you just a ray of sunshine" he mocks
And then continues with
"What the hell happened to you."

Ugh. I knew he'd ask.
I roll my eyes.

"That pain in the ass Louisa happened" I chime

His eyes go wide and for a second I think he's about to show some sort of sympathy... but then his laughter bellows in larger volumes than before instead.

"That little thing—
He breaths in between laughs
—did THAT to YOU?"

"Are you done" I spit
After he calms and quiets down, a few minutes pass and he speaks again.

"Actually, I do have a question."
I look over at him again with warning to make it worth my while. Especially since he just had a grand time making fun of me.

"How did she know how to fight like that?" He says skeptically.

And now it was my turn to question. How much do I really know about her. She could be anyone... I underestimate her based on appearance, but still.

However I cannot just go in and question her. she could have been lucky.

"Hey Ric" I speak
He looks up quizzically.
"Were those stars on Louisa's ceiling? Or was I not seeing properly?"
He looks down bashfully and for a second i think he kind of likes her. But then I remember the reality of the situation. There is no way.

"Yes, I put them up, thats why I borrowed the ladder. I figured she'd want to be in her room more than out here...."  He trails off, "So I added some decoration, hopefully she likes it." He says earnestly.

It's things like this that makes me wonder sometimes on why he hasn't got himself a girlfriend. But I know he has a different side to him. I hear about some of the things he does, that he thinks I know nothing about.

I come back from drifting off and look down embarrassed. He is right. She has no reason to even want be out here after the shit I've thrown her way.

But so what! Its not like she hadn't done anything
to get the responses she's gotten.

I walk out and open the door to the restricted room, selecting specific things off the shelves and boxing them, I get thing ready before driving off to meet someone and trade off at an abandoned lot...

I step on the asphalt ground with my gun in the back pocket concealed by my shirt.

I turn at the sound of tires plowing over the textured surface. After the vehicle parks a man who is fairly well built stands next to a slightly shorter man who steps out. Both are then accompanied by a twerpy looking individual who looks like he is about to shit his pants.

The twerpy guy walks over as his friend, and most likely superior waits by the car taking a call.

"Is this the stuff" he asks in a raspy nervous voice, hidden behind a facade of confidence.

"The best of its kind." I state.
He reaches out to grab the package , but not before I catch his wrist, and give his scared expression a stern one.
"Money." I say.
He throws his head back laughing. This little shit has some balls.

"Right, forgot your a mobster at heart"  he says mockingly.
He reaches out for a case and shoves it towards me.
"200,000, as agreed."

I look him over before taking the case.
"Now hand it over" he says with authority, to which he has none of.

I chuckle at his cockiness.
Then I stare at him and speak
"Not so fast. I want to see the money for myself."
He looks over to his superior questioningly probably wondering if this was supposed to go his way, versus me just handing it over. But his boss is to busy on the phone to bother looking at this pretty important transaction.
Must trust him a lot to send him over clueless and unprepared.

After a few moments I confirm the correct payment and hand him the package.

Before he turns to leave, I say one last thing "I may be a mobster, but at least I'm not someone's bitch."

He stops, hearing it, but then keeps walking.
I don't wait for them to leave first. I'm far too tired, so I take off, satisfied and even more rich than before I showed up.

I sit in the car for a second trying not to fall asleep right then and there, and after a moment of silence driving back home, I decide to go to my room right away and rest. But not before stopping into the downstairs bathroom to take an Advil in hopes of removing this dastardly pain originating from my nose that's giving me a headache.

As I walk up the staircase I pass the infamous painting, it felt like yesterday that it was done. I stare at the evil pair of eyes on the devilish man before me. It takes a lot in me to hold myself from tearing this painting up and burning it. And instead I tear my eyes away angrily and keep walking. I'm about to pass her door.... when I decide to do something else.

I pull out my phone to send a quick text to Xavier, whom among other things, like being talented and gifted in many things that this job requires, is also an exceptional cook.

Hell, as a kid and throughout his life his mom signed him up for classes left and right. I laugh remembering the time he was at my house when we were 13 maybe, and he sat down looking at me with an annoyed grimace, before endlessly ranting about everything regarding what his mother made him do.

To: X
"Hey man, can you whip up some chocolate chip pancakes and bacon?"

I tap the send button.
And as I'm about to continue the on route to my room, I pause when my phone goes off.

From: X
"Sure mate, I'm on it. It'll be ready in 20, you want me to bring it up to you?"

I steadily type my reply,
To: X
"No, but thanks. Could you bring the tray up to Louisa instead and just leave it on the nightstand?"

I read it over before hitting send.

From: X
"Yeah sure, whatever you want."

Typing my final response,
To: X
"Thanks again, you're the man"

From: X
"Tell me something I don't know."

I smirk to myself that pompous ass, shaking my head before I turn my phone off.

I keep walking, until I finally get to my bedroom door. Entering my room I lock my door first, I don't want anyone coming in to disturb me in the slightest.

Next I close the curtains, shut the lights off, and switch from jeans to sweats, not bothering to pick up my jeans splayed across the floor, for the sake of sleep.

I continue by slipping my shoes off and finally I lay back onto my bed...
It's still early, I read 9:00 A.M on my analog and grunt at the fact I wasn't just waking up now. But, instead at 6:00 AM.

It seems that yet even in the mornings something always has to be done....
Which is why I wasn't in bed this whole time.

After thinking about random things and staring at my ceiling it doesn't take long before I fall asleep.