Page 85 of Flawed

I'm smoking way too much weed these days. I used to smoke a joint a day. Now, I'm up to three or four. It's the only thing that keeps me calm. I can't deal with the horrors of my life without it.

Anytime I think I've seen the worst of the Abruzzos' terror, I get to witness something else. Sometimes, I have no choice but to take part. Those situations have made me wonder if there's any good part left in my soul.

Angelo caves, inquiring, "Okay, what's going on? You said you had something to discuss with me?"

My adrenaline spikes. I blurt out, "I'm killing him tonight."

Angelo stares at me. It's not the first time I've stated I'm about to kill Jacopo. Every time I do, something stops me from succeeding. But not tonight. Tonight, I'm ending this.

Angelo crosses his arms. "How?"

I answer, "It's Jacopo's birthday. He's celebrating in his VIP suite at the sex club."

"You know the rules at the club," Angelo warns.

I hold my hands in the air. "I know. But no one will know it was me."

"How are you going to pull that off?" he asks.

I take a mouthful of water, swallow it, then reply, "I need Dante or Gianni to pull the hallway and bathroom footage when they see him go there."

Angelo scratches his head and then goes to the window, staring out into his large yard. The sex club is the only place where all the families agreed to have peace. They all have their own suites and stay away from each other, but there are strict rules. Neutral bouncers run the place and make sure everyone adheres to those rules. But some things, like doing business in the club, happen behind their backs. They know it but can't prove it, so as long as there is peace between families, they let things slide.

And anything and everything goes in the sex club.

Angelo paces the room. He doesn't ever approve plans to break rules in the club. He prefers to avoid the consequences. Not having access to the club jeopardizes business getting done. One thing Angelo doesn't like is disruptions.

"I need to get this over with," I stress, trying not to sound like a beggar but feeling desperate.

I need to end this.

He continues to stay silent.

"Angelo, it's time. I have to get this done. It's the perfect way to do it. He'll be intoxicated, and the bathroom is the perfect place as long as the cameras are pulled."

Angelo grinds his molars and shakes his head. "I don't know, Luca. If you get caught, it puts our entire family at risk."

"I'm not getting caught," I insist.

"Nothing is guaranteed," he declares.

"Where else are we going to do it? How many more years do I have to spend in this shitty life, doing horrible things and waiting to kill that motherfucker?" I explode.

Angelo steps closer, lowering his voice. "I've asked you if you needed to get out."

I glance at the ceiling, taking several breaths. I pin my gaze on him, reiterating, "I'm not done until I kill him. It's not over yet."

Minutes of Angelo assessing me pass. Neither of us speaks.

I finally can't take it anymore. I blurt out, "I can get it done tonight. Have Dante or Gianni pull the footage."

Angelo finally submits to my request. He points at me. "I'll do it, but if anything goes wrong, your ass is on the line, Luca."

"That's fine. Nothing's going wrong this time," I declare with more determination than ever.

"Don't make me regret this," Angelo warns.

"You won't," I claim, then leave. I drive to my condo and go directly to my penthouse. I shower and select a pair of dark designer jeans, a form-fitting black T-shirt, and a sport coat.

---