ten #2
I stare at Leo, waiting. “God you’re so fucking annoying. Fine. I pinched it. You happy?”
“You what?” My brows dip in confusion.
“I stole it for fucks sake,” Leo hisses, and my eyes widen. I look around to see if anyone heard us. If they had, they are acting none the wiser.
“What the fu… frick?” I correct myself, almost allowing a curse word to slip. I will not lower myself to that level. I may be dressed like Leo, but I refuse to act or speak like him.
“God you’re such a tight assed little priss.” My mouth falls open in offense. I can’t believe I actually was starting to trust this criminal. This reminds me of who Leo really is. A common thief with no empathy for anyone but himself.
“He could need that money for something. He could have a family. He could be using it to buy his daughter a bike for her birthday!” I whisper-shout, disappointment lacing my tone.
“Oh please, Callisto. Don’t be so naive. He was probably on his way to pay a hooker to peg him while he snorts blow off some dude's dick. If he does have a family, he ignores them as much as possible and buys their love with presents.
He’s not gonna miss the 253 bucks in cash that he had in his wallet. I didn’t think it would be worth it, and it barely was.”
Leo’s assumptions about the lawyer’s life hit a little too close to home for me, triggering memories of many nights eating dinner with no one but my nanny.
My dad bought me extravagant gifts for my birthday but neither him nor my mom ever sat down with me to have a game night like a normal family.
I shake my head, dislodging the thought.
“If it wasn’t worth it, then why did you do it?” I ask instead, curious.
“Because guys like that think they’re untouchable,” Leo answers, sticking the wallet into the inner pocket of his coat with a cold smile.
“And because he’s paying for our dinner tonight. He can use it as a tax write-off.”
Exactly how long has he been doing this?
It happened so quickly, I didn’t even see his hand reach into the man’s breast pocket.
I was watching the whole interaction and didn’t notice a thing. Leo’s a pro.
I shake my head as Leo sticks the wallet in the pocket of his army green jacket. When Leo realizes that I don't have more to say, we resume walking, I silently follow his steps. I still can’t believe I witnessed him picking some poor man’s pocket, but the things he said are racing through my mind.
I tend to think the best of people, especially if they are well-dressed and sophisticated, but what if he’s right?
How many people have I labeled as ‘good’ when they were horrible, because they adorned themselves in nice clothes?
How many of his dad’s lawyers cheated on their wives?
How many of them handled dirty money? I have never asked myself these questions, but the possible answers are scary.
How are those people any better than Leo and his friends?
I stay quiet as we walk a few more blocks, crossing the street twice. Leo glances between buildings as if looking for someone. Two men chat on the corner of the street, their bodies hidden in shadows from a nearby building.
One looks around, while he hands something to the taller one.
The taller man glances down at the item, then they clap hands obviously exchanging money.
That was a drug deal. Holy smokes, I witnessed a drug deal.
I nudge Leo, but he doesn’t break stride.
Great. We are blatantly walking into danger. Just perfect.
The taller man looks around, then walks off leaving the shorter one to shove his hand in his pocket, also glancing away from us. I gasp when Leo grabs the man by the shirt collar, pushing him in a darkened alleyway.
The man yells out in surprise, his body going with the momentum of Leo's as he is manhandled into the dark.
I glance around, but no one is paying them any attention, so I follow Leo, ducking into the alley.
I want to ask Leo what he thinks he is doing and to demand that he unhand the man, but Leo glares.
“Sully. How are ya buddy? Doing good? Uncle Peadar treating ya okay?”
The man asks, his voice quivering almost as much as his limbs.
He is about the same height as Leo, but Leo seems taller somehow, more menacing as he crowds closer to the man.
I stand back, unable to do anything but watch. I don't want to get shot.
“Cut the small talk, Critter,” Leo growls, and my cock twitches in my too tight pants. Leo releases the man but keeps his body close. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“What d'ya mean, Sully?” Critter stutters out, but even I can tell he knows exactly what Leo is referring to.
I’m curious as well. I have never seen Leo look so angry, not even when he tackled me to the ground after trying to escape.
His nostrils flare, and one hand is balled into a tight fist.
His posture is stiff, threatening, and I am so glad I’m not Critter right now.
“You know exactly what I mean you twitchy little fuck nut.” Leo pushes Critter hard, the thud his back makes when it hits the concrete wall behind him is louder than I had expected. I try to stop my eyebrows from hitting my beanie at the colorful language, but I am a bit surprised by the creativity.
Critter pales even more, his body shaking like a small dog in a purse. I open my mouth to intervene, not wanting Leo to hurt the man. He may be a lowlife, but he is still human, right? Leo must read my mind because he shoots me a death glare, somehow keeping one eye on me and one eye on Critter.
“I really don’t. I swear. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Critter’s voice is breathy, and I’m not sure if it’s from fear or from Leo literally knocking the air out of his lungs.
His breaths are coming out quickly, short and choppy, being released from his chapped lips in little huffs.
I am somewhat concerned for his health, even though Leo seems to be feeling the opposite.
“You’re a bad fucking dealer and an ever worse liar.” The words are forced through Leo’s gritted teeth. I stay in character, nodding my head to what Leo said, acting like the criminal I am supposed to be.
“Fuck you, Sully. You think you're so much better than me since rubbin’ elbows with the boss man,” Critter spits.
Leo's fist is in the air. It connects with the man’s nose, almost in slow motion.
Critter howls in pain, hands immediately flying up to grab his now bleeding nose.
I try my best to keep my face neutral as the blood pours out of Critter’s nose, dripping down his chin and onto his shirt.
His hands are already covered in the sticky red substance, and his eyes are watering.
“What the fuck did you say to me?” Leo asks, his tone laced with venom. Something uncomfortable twists low in my stomach. It wasn’t the violence. It’s the certainty with which Leo carries himself. He fills up every available inch of the alleyway like he owns it.
“Okay… okay… I lost some of the goods...” Critter says, quickly changing his tone.
“You know I hate being lied to,” Leo continues, as if I am not having an existential crisis.
“You know better than to fucking lie to me. Now. I’m only going to ask one more time, and you should really think about your answer. I know how difficult this must be for you since the hamster on your wheel died years ago from an OD. What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“I swear it was just a little. I swear. A tiny bit.”
Critter holds his bloody hand up in the air, as if swearing an oath.
I am so confused. A little of what? Critter's nose is already swollen, blood still trickling out.
I kind of want to throw up. I have never seen that much blood, and now I’m getting a crash course in it.
“A tiny bit? Critter, are you fucking kidding me? We gave you enough snow to bring back five G’s, but you only brought back one. I know you have a hard time processing math in that shriveled up raisin you call a brain, so I’m gonna help you out. It. Doesn’t. Add. Up. So, tell me, shit prick,
where did the other four thousand worth of snow go? Hmm?”
Leo has gotten closer to Critter, his stance somehow even more intimidating.
“I don’t know.” Blood coats Critter’s teeth, coming out in his spit as he sputters the words. My stomach rolls at the sight, but Leo is unflinching.
“Critter, I swear to God that if you say those words one more time, I will nail your dick to a flagpole and start singing the Star Spangled Banner.”
At Leo’s threat, I giggle. Horrified, I immediately choke it back.
I have no idea what has come over me. I wasn't expecting Leo to say that.
I clap my hand over my mouth, looking up to find Leo staring at me with a bemused smile.
“What’s his problem?” Critter glares at me. I drop my hand, opening my mouth to stutter out a reply.