18. Ariyan
ARIYAN
Leaving my helmet by the door, I walked into my empty apartment.
What a long day this was.
I went straight to the bathroom, taking off my wristwatch as I did and placing it down on the shelf right next to my colognes.
Then, I slowly stripped out of my clothes before getting inside the shower.
The water started running, and as I waited for it to get hot, I stood there, my mind as hollow as my soul.
After a few more seconds had passed, I walked under the steam, eyes closed, while the water washed down my face and body.
“It smells in here.”
“Who cares,” she said, not looking at me while scratching an old wound on her thigh. “Now, be a sweet boy and bring Mommy her cigarettes, okay?”
Looking at her petite figure sitting by the window, nearly disappearing between the mounds of garbage that had been piling up in here for weeks, I bit my lip.
I care, I thought, repulsed by the stench.
Sometimes, the smell got so bad I preferred to sleep outside, but not when it was raining, like it was today––
Something hit my head.
“What are you waiting for? I said bring me my smokes, you stupid kid!”
Looking down at the empty beer can she tossed at me, I picked it up and placed it on the counter, right by a half-eaten peach.
She loves those. But when I looked at it more closely, I noticed the little white worms crawling through it.
A shiver of disgust went through me, making me sick to my stomach, before I decided that staying out in the rain was a better solution than staying here.
That same repulsion struck me again, and without taking my eyes off the floor, I reached for the soap. But even as I scrubbed every inch of my body, I could still smell it, the stench of rotting flesh that seemed to be burned into my memory, and still feel the maggots crawling on my skin.
After getting out and drying myself, I tied the towel around my waist, leaving my hands free to apply my facial cream.
Good skin was no small matter and required great care.
The same went for my hair, which, from the looks of it, I’d need to dye again over the weekend.
I couldn’t stand my roots showing, even if they were light.
Still in nothing but the towel, I walked out to the living room, where I turned the TV on to the news.
With it playing in the background, filling the too-silent void, I went to make myself a cup of tea.
This time, I decided to try Blueberry Merlot.
But one sip of the hot brew was enough to tell me that Blueberry Merlot was not for me, my lips twitching before I even swallowed.
I poured the tea into the sink and watched it go down the drain when my phone rang.
Or one of my phones—the one I always had to answer, no matter when it rang.
Walking to my room, I quickly grabbed it.
“Hello?” I said, knowing I’d kept him waiting for too long.
“Where were you?”
“In my kitchen, making tea.”
“Were you?”
“Yes, sir.”
He clicked his tongue. “Why tea?”
“They say it’s good for your health, sir.”
He went silent for a few moments, during which I stared down at my bare feet. It would soon be getting colder, meaning I had to buy new socks—
“Did you handle it?” he asked.
“Of course.”
“And the money?”
“It’s all there.”
“Including what he refused to pay?”
“Of course, sir.”
“Good.”
I was hungry, too. I could fix myself something light to eat. A bowl of yogurt, maybe? If I wasn’t mistaken, I still had some of that nice Greek yogurt left.
“Is there anything that can lead back to Kallos?”
“Of course there isn’t,” I answered.
“I expect nothing less of you.”
Of course you do, or else I’d be long dead.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Is everything ready for our next event?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What about the goods? Are they worth anything?”
My jaw tightened at his question, and I clenched the phone harder.
“Of course, sir. Everything will be to your liking.” I did my best to keep my voice calm. I knew better than to let my emotions slip around him, as he was not one to tolerate disrespect. Every word, every breath, every look, all must be to his liking, or else—
“It better be, or there will be a price to pay.”
There always is.
“Of course, sir.”
“You say that, but tonight, you had to fix a mistake of yours. And that was not to my liking.” His voice didn’t waver, and yet I knew he was angry.
“It won’t happen again, sir.”
“Should I send over Alejandro?”
My eye twitched at the mention of his nephew, but knowing better, I said, “You should do what you think is right, sir.”
He huffed. “You always know what to say, don’t you, Ariyan?”
I pressed my lips together, my body fighting the shivers from hearing that name on his lips.
“Fine, I won’t send him just yet. But be sure not to make another mistake.”
It wasn’t my fault to begin with.
“Of course, sir.”
“Now, go to sleep, Ariyan. You’ve worked hard today.”
Bitterness clenched my mouth at the way he said those words, like praise, and I bit the inside of my cheek until I could taste blood.
“Thank you, sir.”
Only after he hung up did I dare to sigh.
His presence suffocated me even when he was an ocean away, and having to live with this man instructing my life was a punishment worse than death—a punishment I well deserved.
Every day, I regretted walking into this mess, and yet, a coward like me would still choose this over dying.
Because as someone who knew death all too well, I’d learned to fear it to my very core.
You’ll die an ugly, lonely death, just like the rest of us.
My body turned cold, goose bumps erupting across my skin, and I quickly closed my eyes, desperate to shake those words out of my memory when—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Snapping my eyes open, I stared at the door, a frown on my face, when another three knocks came, accompanied by the ringing of the doorbell.
Putting the phone down, I walked over to the door. Before reaching it, I grabbed my gun, which I’d left next to my helmet, fingers already moving to the trigger. Cautiously, I turned on the electronic peephole to check who was there, lips twitching in displeasure the second I saw the imbecile.
For God’s sake.
Quickly putting the gun away, in a place this man-child could never reach, I then opened the door to face him.
“What are you doing here?” I snarled, not at all in the mood to face him.
“The fuck you mean, what am I doing here?” His jaw twitched.
“I got you your food, you dumb fuck.” Before I could even ask, he held up a takeout bag that smelled of junk food.
“Wagyu double cheeseburger with truffle butter and a side of curly fries. I had to go to five different places to find this exact shit, you asshole.”
He shoved it into my hands and turned to walk away when I asked, “How did you get past the building’s security?”
Still clenching his jaw, he half glanced at me. “I waited until someone got out to sneak in.”
Rage inflamed me because it shouldn’t be that easy.
Unable to stay put for a second, he stretched his neck and peeked behind me, his eyes narrowing. “Changed your couch, huh?”
Disgusting dog.
Gritting my teeth, I looked down at the bag, then at him. The last thing I needed was to handle his nonsense now, but then again, maybe it wasn’t so bad after all, as messing with him did please me to a degree.
“Unfortunately, a dog pissed on it; therefore, I had no other option,” I said, grabbing the bag in one hand and peeking inside. Would you believe it? He really did find me a Wagyu double cheeseburger with truffle butter and a side of curly fries. Probably took him hours, considering I made it up.
As if I’d ever eat something so full of fat.
“Anyway, I’m out of here, you psycho—”
“Do you want a taste?”
“Huh?” A deep crease formed between his confused brows as he stared back at me.
Taking out the burger, I slowly pulled it out of its wrapper.
“I asked, do you want a taste?”
I dropped the takeout bag, the sound of it hitting the floor echoing around us as he continued to look at me. All of a sudden, I wasn’t sure what was more appetizing—the burger or this big, dumb man staring at me with eyes wide open and cheeks bright red.
SANTIAGO
Nacio
Where are you?
You said you’d be home early.
Santi???
Still at work.
It’s my fucking birthday.
I told you I’d be home as soon as I can.
You’re job sucks.
Your**
idgaf.
Just quit and come home.
Sure. Then who’ll pay the bills?
You?
…
I got the weekend off, so we’ll hang. K?
I’ll make asado.
Whatever.
Don’t be a brat.
Fine. But it better be the best asado of your fucking life.
You bet.
Tucking the phone in the back pocket of my jeans, I looked up at the door.
The smells coming from that damn cheeseburger made my mouth water, and I licked my lips, my stomach rumbling.
I’d just spent three hours looking for a place to buy this burger, and to think that after all this trouble, I wouldn’t even get to taste it.
Pissed off, I fisted my hand and knocked on the door, then waited a few seconds before doing it again.
Noticing there was also a doorbell, I rang it so the asshole would answer fast and I’d be able to get out of here.
To think he refused to give me a day off only to make me run errands for him.
That motherfucker. I should have spit in his burger. Wait, maybe I still could—
“What are you doing here?” he yapped in that annoying voice of his after opening the door.
Is this dude for real? What was I doing here? You sent me to buy you your goddamn food, asshole.