The Roadtrip

thirteen

"I would tell you to stay in the car but you won't listen so pay attention right now. I'm serious Maria. Listen carefully," He said. I nodded. "Keep your head down, don't speak unless spoken too. Don't ask any questions. And don't even think about running your mouth," He said. "Got it?" He asked. I nodded. "No, I need to hear you say it," He said. "I got it," I said.

He stared at my face for a moment. "Put these on," He said handing me his shades. I put them over my eyes. He gave me a once over, staring at my legs. "What?" I asked. "Nothing, just try not to catch too much attention," He said.

We exited the car and walked towards the laundromat. There was a women posted outside of the building. "Hey Shonda," Will called out. "Hey!" She waved back. I shot her a smile. Will opened the door stepping aside to let me in. It looked like a regular laundromat. A few people were scattered around doing their laundry.

Will led us to the front desk. I read the clerks name tag JoJo. "Hey, is Steve here?" Will asked. JoJo sat up, "Whose asking?" He asked. "I'm a friend of his, can you call him up here?" Will asked. JoJo nodded turned around and pulling out a bunch of keys. He picked out a key and unlocked the door beside him disappearing behind it.

A few moments passed and JoJo walked back through the door with another man. "Who sent you?" The other man spoke, it must have been Steve. "I'm a friend of Nick," Will spoke. Steve smiled, "Your Nick's boy? Why didn't you say so? Man, get down here, I think your uncle's about to loose it," He said. We walked around the front desk and towards the door. There were stairs leading downward, long stairs with a corner so you couldn't see the bottom. I followed Will as he started climbing downward. The sound of voices started to get louder as we traveled further down.

When we reached the bottom heavy cigar smoke filled my lungs. It was a concrete room painted black from top to bottom. About twenty men had been standing around a poker table watching a few play as they smoked their cigars. It was hot and sweaty, they were too busy discussing and watching the game to pay attention to us. Beer cans littered the floor and a single lamp hanging from the ceiling was the only source of light. I was almost too busy analyzing my surroundings to notice the piles of real cash littering the poker table.

"Look who we got here! Willy and his lil girlfriend!" Steve yelled out. Will tried to keep his composure. "Hey! I thought you were supposed to be here last week? What happened?" A man said standing up. "I got caught up," Will said. The man looked over at me and back at Will. "I can see that," He said. "Come and give your uncle Greg a hug," The man said outstretching his arms. He was a tall overweight man with a balding scalp. He was wearing a wife beater drenched in sweat, like most of the men in here. I was keeping my head down like I was told but I couldn't help looking around a little. I noticed a man sitting at the furthest end of the table. He had two bodyguards on either side of his seat. He must have been the leader. 

"How's my niece and nephew!" Another man jumped in. "Their fine Uncle Vinny," Will answered while hugging his other uncle. "I keep telling you that you should bring them down here, get in touch with this side of the family, let them know their roots," Uncle Greg spoke. "That'll never happen," Will spoke sternly. Uncle Greg burst into laughter, "Probably better if they don't huh?" He said smiling.

"Who's this? Come here legs, I don't bite," Uncle Vinny spoke. "She's not anyone, I just came for an exchange," Will spoke. "Oh? Not anyone? Well you know the rules William! If you aint claimed her she's free game. Come here sweetness, i'll let you sit on my lap, play a few rounds," Uncle Vinny spoke. I briefly made eye contact as he smiled at me with sweat dripping down his face. He was also older and overweight.

"Uncle Vin, just leave her alone. She's nobody. I only came for an exchange," He said. "Let the lady speak for herself, how you feelin' sweetness? Wanna hang out with the boys for a while?" He asked.