Page 132 of Forgotten Sacrifice

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“It’s a long story.”

Kat leaves, and I pace back and forth. Grabbing the jar, I dump the bills on the carpet, counting the money. Ninety-two dollars. That’s a dollar too much, and I don’t want to owe the mob ever again.

That’s my excuse as I reschedule my Uber.

My Uber pulls up to Vince’s house, and the first thing I notice is the for sale sign. “Wait here, please.”

I hurry to the front door to use my key, but there’s a new keypad lock. Peeking through the window, I see the house is empty.

Having a mini freak out, I return to the vehicle. “Take me to Al’s Sports Bar.”

“You sure about that? It’s a pretty rough bar.”

“Just drive,” I snap.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she mumbles.

We pull in front of Al’s, and I hop out to find a barricaded door and another for sale sign in the window.

Grabbing my phone, I go to call Vince, but his number’s been scrubbed from my phone.

“You okay?” My driver asks.

You don’t have to be okay all the time.

I’m not okay. Vince isn’t okay. This entire fucked up situation isn’t okay.

“Yeah,” I lie. “To the airport, please.”

Chapter

Forty-Nine

Vince

“Are you going to tell me what happened with you and Luna?” My brother asks as I get my covers and pillow situated on his couch.

“I’m no better than Uncle Joseph.” I aggressively punch my pillow to flatten it out.

“For the love of God, Vince, will you stop with that shit?”

“I was her guardian.”

“Did you fuck her when she was a minor?” my brother challenges.

“No! Of course not.”

“Were you grooming her as a prepubescent child?”

“I didn’t know her as a prepubescent child.”

“Exactly.” He crosses his arms. “What else you got?”

That I used her, like every other piece of shit in her life.

“She’s better off without me.”

Aldo throws his arms up in frustration. “What you’re doing is self-harm. No different than Luna cutting herself.”

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