I tip my chin to Alexander as he lets me out half an hour latter, a vanilla folder tucked safely underneath my arm, I know the contents hold three pieces of paper, the only paper trail that will soon be cooking in a fire place once I'm done. I have till midnight for this hit to be taken care of. More then enough time. The pay for this hit is amazing, must be some rival for Pablo who disrespected or threated him. I shrug to myself not caring. the elevator holds three other bodies without faces when I step in, two women and a short scrawny man. I keep my head down, taking my dark sunglasses out the pocket of my coat, tilting my head away from them. the less people who see and remember my face coming and going from the office the better.
The day has taken a pleasant degree, I can feel the start of spring teasing the back of my neck as I stalk to my car, speeding out of the parking garage and onto the busy Saturday morning traffic. aiming out of downtown Houston, I ease back, relaxing, no longer in a rush. Slinging my jacket into the other seat, blaring the music almost obnoxiously with the windows rolled down, I don't think about the task ahead, just let my mind go blank as I drive to the house. The forty minute drive passes by easily, pulling into the brand new uptown neighborhoods. Filled with upper-class families, not yet rich, but money to spare. The grand two stories houses with perfectly trimmed oak trees and rose gardens, along with perfectly trimmed children riding mopeds and bikes to and from other houses, porches filled with lazy parents swinging aimissly on porch swings, sipping their late morning coffee, waving to the other houses. I grimace, feeling the familiar string in my chest, almost envy. Almost.
Parking on the side of the street in front of a nice red break two story house with barn looking white shutters and door, even a freaking welcome mat laying in front of the door, the two car drive way filled with two black SUV, plain, meant to not draw attention, unlike my baby who I will not be taking on the hit. I don't bother to ring the doorbell, walking in to the I knew would be unlike door. I hear them before I see them. My eyes doing a quick sweep of the room. A dinning table to my left, stairs straight ahead leading to the second story, I can see the bar to the kitchen down the short hall, the TV blaring in the living room to the right of the kitchen. Everything so open and bright. but I don't see them.
Setting my keys in the glass bowl next to the front door, kicking my shoes off and tossing them next to the pile of their shoes, slowly I tiptoe down the hall. Peaking around the corner, I see their heads, one fair and one a light brown, both staring intently to the show blaring threw the surround-sound. Walking like a ghost I stand behind the couch, crouching low so my face rests between theirs. Taking in a silent breath I let its out in a loud scream. They jump out of the pants screaming in their high pitch screams. "Jace!" Chase scolds, throwing a pillow at my face, dogging I grab Katarina. She giggles as I tickle her variously.
"No more! no more!" She howls, grabbing at my neck as if to choke me. Laughter bubbles out of my mouth as I set her down. "No more Bubba!" She screams as I move to tickle her again. I smile fondly at her use of her odd nickname for me.
"Okay! Okay!" I yell as they attack, jumping on my back, Chase grabbing at my ankles. I go down easily, Kat tickling my neck and stomach, not ticklish I fake a high pitch giggle like hers, she goes down in hysterical.
"What are you three doing!" Their mother Olivia scolds softly, a beautiful smile spreading easily on her lips, Kat is going to inherent her mothers beauty hands down. they already look so similar, with long fair hair that lays straight and shinny over they naturally tan skin, both with big wide heavily lashes pool blue eyes, rosebud mouths spreading over wide grins, easy to smile and breath taking. Chase got his fathers light brown hair and dark brown eyes, big with curly eye lashes that almost look feminine, his sharp cheek bones under his mothers tan skin like Kat, but his mouth is always set in a hesitate smile, always analyzing something. Nice wit for a twelve year old. I pick up Kat, small and light for an eight year old, turning to face her mother all curves, even after three kids she looked like a God damn Victoria Secrets model.
"Good morning Olivia." I greet her with a soft kiss on her cheek, this is probably the only woman, and I mean only that I don't curse, drink, act out around. The only woman I listen to and follow directions. Not that I would ever admit it. But she has my respect. Putting up with Victor for years, married finally after having Chase when she was eighteen and he was twenty three and deep in the Family. She is startling bright for someone who dropped out of her second year in college, little gets past her, so I doubt she doesn't know about the Family, or what her husband and father of her three kids does besides being Pablo's right hand man, organizing his affairs and traveling, banking for an assistant. Standing up straighter I bounce Kat in my arms as she messes with my hair.
"Bubba will you take us to the pool! please....." She begs in my ear as her mother goes to the kitchen, cooking like an angel. My stomach growls having missed dinner for liquor at the club and some uh excises with Angeline Beckers, and an apple for breakfast. Olivia hears my stomach and laughs underneath her breath.
"Sit." she commands, going over to the glass table, five chairs and a baby stool next to it. Red glass plates and cups already set. I smile. She knew I was coming.
"I'll see." I smile down at Kat as I sit her next to me. She smiles up at me, grabbing her glass with both hands, sipping her strawberry milk. I flinch, this kid was addicted to her milk, last summer I took a trip to France with her family, Olivia and Victor went sight seeing so I watched the kids, and if she didn't get her milk at every meal all shit broke loss. Now even at my apartment I always make sure that when the kids come over, there is a gallon of white, chocolate, and strawberry milk in my fridge.
"Here you go." Olivia pans out hot homemade French toast, topped with powder sugar and slices of banana and blue berries fresh from some farmer's market. Mouth watering I dig in, on seconds before she even sits down. "Victor!" she hollers out the screen door into the giant backyard filled with all kinds of the kid's crap, swings, slides, play houses, balls, toy cars, barbies etc.. I stiffen, remembering why I was here. and sadly, it wasn't to eat French toast and hang out with the kids.
"Coming!" He hollers back, probably in the shed, where our 'work' gets conducted.
"Are you working today mijo?" Olivia asks sweetly, taking a small bite of her heavenly food.
"Yeah, but I can hang out for a little Liva." I fight a smile at her sweet Colombian accent on Mijo.
"Great. I was wondering if you would go to the pool with us this afternoon. My girlfriend is bringing her family as well. her daughter is about your age, maybe a little younger, so you wont be bored..." she shrugs like she didn't care either way. groaning I lean back and look at her.
"Not another hook up, I don't need to be introduced to girls by my own aunt!" I scowl, she raises her eyebrow and drop my head in defeat.
"Well, the girls your bring around are skanks, so might as well meet a nice girl who doesn't spared her legs with a shot of vodka." I snap up and grin. My beautiful aunt sure had a way of saying things.
"Not one shot of Vodka Liva, I only go for the girls who can handle three, and if they open their legs then....well..." she hits me on the side of my head with her fork.
"Do not talk like that around the children!" Laughing I finish my food. there was no winning.
"Thought I smelled you boy." I look up at Victor, a sort of Uncle, saving my life when I was seven. He towers over most men, light brown hair and deep dark brown eyes that make me twitch when they stare at me for to long, dark skin from working in the sun for many years, and a deep thoughtful shadow almost always casted over his face.
"Hey." I cock my head at him as he slaps me on the back, I hold back a shout of pain as it stings from a little to much force.
"Pablo give you the mail?" I nod, shoving a mouthful of French toast before standing and going to the fallen envelope that laid half under the couch from the tickle fight earlier, handing it to him, he nods, a frown on his face. "Making you work on Saturday huh?" I shrug not caring, money was money.
"Well you tell Pablo no work on Sunday. You have Church." I smile, nodding, even Pablo couldn't over rule Liva.
"Hmmm...." I glance at Victor, he's studying the papers, eating as he reads. "Well deliver this after the pool party." shocked I look up at Liva, she smiles.
"A party!" I thought it was just two families going to the neighborhood pool.
"Victor!" she scolds, Victor looks up surprised to have done something wrong. "Yes, it Emilia's twelfth birthday. she's Freda's little girl. And you're coming. Your swim suite is up stairs, go change." sighing I go. Taking the steps two at a time, passing Gabriel's bedroom. the little eleventh mouth old is playing in his play pin, walking over I kiss the top of his warm head, his blonde hair slightly cruelled, his startling dark blue eyes meet mine. I flinch, those eyes are almost unwavering. Finding the guest bedroom, small with a white single mattress, white sheets, pillows, curtains, with a dark dresser and a small plasma hanging over the dresser makes up the room. sighing I dig around for the swim trunks I left last weekend. finding them folded and washed along with a few shirts, shorts, pants and shoes I keep over in case I crash here. Pulling on the plain black trunks I change into a black wife beater, leaving my jacket and clothes on the bed. tucking my rosemary underneath my shirt, letting it rest against my chest I walk down stairs, hugging the wall as Chase and Kat race upstairs to change.
"You look good, except your hair! Mijo you'll never get a girl with that hair." Liva scolds, smoothing my hair down from its messing tangles, smiling smugly I think about the naked Angeline Beckers in my bed last night and allow her to smooth my hair back. An hour later we roll out in the unmarked black SUV, the kids in swimsuits, sunscreen, with various pool toys. Victor loads the cooler in back, meeting my gaze.
"When we get back, we'll talk." I nod solemnly. Admiring this man almost as much as Pablo. He has a family, friends, and even carpools Chase's soccer team and Kat's cheerleaders around on the weekdays. He is part of the neighborhood watch, a Family man, while he still in thick and Pablo's right hand man in the 'Family'. I let my thoughts wonder as Selena Gomez's songs echoes threw the speakers, Kat's lovely voice singing along, Chase rolling his eyes, and Liva talking merrily on the phone with her friend with the daughter, telling her all about me. No one notices Victor. His sorrowful eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. Those dark brown eyes unnearvering like Gabe's wide dark blue ones next to me in his careseat. Perplexed by the sorrow, I look out the window. But I can still feel the eyes on me. Sorrow and regret....