Chapter 9
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<▪▪Amateurs▪▪>
Alexander's POV.
"What do you mean you cannot find him, William?" I hissed angrily, twirling my office chair so that I was facing the view of the city through the huge glass wall behind my desk as I clutched my phone harder to my ear.
"We went to every possible place he would-"
"His mustang-" I added angrily but got interrupted.
"It was parked under the woman's house- Audrey, sir." He replied monotone as I clenched my left fist and took a deep breath.
"You know what happens if you don't find him?" I threatened.
"Sir, we are workin-"
"I'll kill you. I'll kill you all!" I growled and hung up.
I got up furiously and slammed the phone on my office table. How dare he? How dare he leave? And where on Earth did he go?
I lit a cigar, inhaled deeply, then exhaled, coughing vigorously. I needed to stop smoking sometime- I thought. It was apparent that I was getting really sick over the time.
My head snapped at two light taps on my office's door. I stared at the door for a while, then sighed.
"Please come in." I then said calmly, regaining my composure, before returning to my desk and sitting on my leather chair.
Philips walked in, past the long meeting table, to stand right in the middle of the office, arms by his side. He looked clean in his navy blue suit and white-specked, combed hair.
I liked a man who took care of his appearance.
"Yes, Philips. What do you have for me?" I drawled bringing the cigar back to my mouth as I let my gaze travel along his length.
"Not good news." He said quickly as I noticed him take a deep, shaky breath. I shook my head, satisfied.
"Today is bad news day?" I raised my eyebrows, studied him under my heavy gaze and he dare not answer.
"Sir, there are no accessible records on that girl. The Sam girl-" I inhaled sharply at his confession before glaring at him.
"I gave you her name and university. Why, bless you, couldn't you find a thing about her?" I pressed, feigning composure.
"I'm trying. We all are." He said slowly and I got up. I approached him and he dare not flinch. He was standing like a plank of wood. Lifeless, a push away from falling.
"Well you aren't trying hard enough," I said, patting his cheeks twice. "Tell me, Philips. Do you know what's going to happen to you if you don't find that girl? Or do you need me to go on about the boring theatrics of what will happen?"
He shook his head subtly and I smiled.
Although I hated to admit it, I did feel lost without Julius- who could've easily helped if it weren't for his stubbornness that appeared out of nowhere. I wondered if that girl- Audrey- was behind it. I was quite certain that he was stronger than a heartbreak.
I didn't raise my son to be pathetic. I didn't raise him to be lured and seduced by women and pathetic emotion like love.
Yet. Yet, he acted like it.
"Well, I didn't expect you to know," I continued, pursing my lips. "You will be fired and jailed for life. I have all the records against you. Let me not remind you, also, that if that happened 'unfortunately', you won't be seeing your kids again whose mother 'unfortunately' died. Then, your kids will be bullied about how they have no mother and a criminal for father for the rest of their lives. What do you say? A bright future- is it not?"
His crinkled eyes widened and I smiled satisfied. I lived on implanting fear in people's heart. And whenever I wished, I'd water those seeds and see them sprout and grow.
"Find her. Find her. That's easier." I smirked and backed away from him.
"Now, get out. And I don't want to see your beautiful face unless you have something about her or my pathetic excuse of a son. And I'd better see your face again soon. Cause I tend to miss you." I scoffed and laughed at my own joke before returning to my desk.
Before sitting down, I heard the office's door 'click' close and smiled to myself.
Time to call my son. Not Julius, no.
But Augustus.
He'd better pick up.
---
Julius's POV.
I woke up with a jerk, hitting my left arm accidentally with the tub. I winced involuntarily and pushed myself up and out of the freezing water.
I miraculously slept. Without any nightmares. Or dreams for all that mattered. And I preferred dreamless sleep. Because in a dream one couldn't be in control of anything. Not his thoughts. Not himself. And to me, control is all that mattered.
I took a quick shower, wrapped a towel around myself, got out of the bathroom and checked the time. It was 1 a.m.
I got dressed in what I wore before and made a mental note that I'd need to buy some more outfits especially if I'd be staying here for a while.
It was clear that this wasn't going to be as easy as I expected. People here had emotion beyond my comprehension. They took their time to think, to let unnegotiable facts 'sink in', to cry and make a big deal out of it. So it was going to take time. And I knew that if I had to disguise properly, I'd need to act like them. I'd need to show care and help others. Both as pathetic as they sound.
I wrapped my jade green scarf around my neck and headed outdoors. I felt like going to the bar because I felt empty. I felt like I got nothing else to do, but that. Because I didn't have anyone or anything to occupy my mind except for Father, Audrey and Sam. Only this damned cycle.
And it was unpleasant, having to think about them twenty-four seven. It was even more preferable if I forgot for a while, or pretended to forget.
I took a taxi that drove me to a nearby fancy bar into which I entered. Used to the smell of alcohol and sweat, I made my way through the sweaty bodies that were pressed against each other, making sure my left arm didn't get smacked into somebody.
I took a seat at the bar, ordered four margaritas, lit a cigarette and inhaled.
"Superkings." A voice said from next to me. "Nice choice, mate."
I turned to the source of the voice to find a guy, no older than nineteen talking to me. He had deep-blue eyes, platinum-blond hair, and pale skin. His eyebrows thick, making his face look fierce and handsome in the dim lighting of the bar.
I smirked. "Want one?"
"Yes, please." He smiled widely and I almost rolled my eyes. I was in no mood whatsoever to engage in a conversation with an apparent amateur.
So I quickly took a cigarette from my cigarette box and handed it to him.
He raised the cigarette a bit then mouthed 'thanks' before placing it between his teeth and lighting it up. I turned away, but he continued talking.
Well, I could punch him in the face and tell him that I wasn't the kind to converse with. But that might include blowing my cover. Or I could be nice. And I didn't know how to be nice. But I had to try.
"You know," he exhaled smoke as I narrowed my eyes on him. "Back in school, we took how dangerous those little boys are on our lungs." He paused to draw another cigarette breath. "But they are so so precious."
I chuckled nervously. That was supposed to be a normal response when someone tried to be funny.
"It's sad," I added dramatically. People loved drama here. "When did you start smoking?" I asked, drawing in a breath myself.
"Nineteen."
I nodded not saying anything.
"You?" He said, looking at me with curious eyes and raised eyebrows.
"Seventeen." I said remembering how Father convinced me that smoking made one 'look' like a man and 'feel' like one.
The four margarita shots were then placed in front of me.
"Can I have some?" He asked almost instantly and I raised my eyebrows with an easy smile.
Amateurs fell under two types for me. Amateurs-amateurs and amateurs-matures. The former weren't to be alarmed or worried about. The latter, however, are very dangerous, because they feign immaturity, to get what they wanted.
"Yes, sure. Help yourself." I studied him more as he took one and gulped it down. He then looked at me making a horrid face which made me smile.
"So? What's your name my friend?" he asked and I thought. Which name should I give him?
He sure seemed like a harmless amateur. But it was dark in the bar. I couldn't read his body language properly and I was taught that it was better being safe than sorry.
"My name's Romeo. Yours?" I replied.
"My name's Augustus. Which I know is a horrible name. But it was my dad's choice." He said casually, drawing a breath from the cigarette.
"It's a nice name." I complimented randomly. Oh, people liked compliments too. A lot, apparently. I remembered that from occasionally flipping through the TV channels.
"Nice name my smooth arse! It's an ancient name, mate," he shook his head and hair. "I wanted to be called something new like Dean or-or Matthew or something."
I raised my eyebrows with a smile and he shook his head.
"You don't look like you're from around here." He said, narrowing his eyes on me and I nodded, feeling my back for my gun.
Just to locate it. In case.
"I'm not." I retorted solidly.
"Ha! Knew it! How old are you, though?" His questions were irrelevant and I questioned my need for a gun. He was clearly not following any plan or strategic scheme.
I decided that I was just being insensibly paranoid about Father. Anyone around me could be one of his men.
"Guess," I said gulping down a shot.
"Twenty-three?"
I chuckled. "I'm twenty-five. Close one though. You?"
You might think that giving my age was stupid. But in fact, it was quite the opposite. I was young. And people almost always underestimated me. Watching them do that was fun.
"I am twenty!" He was too enthusiastic so I smiled. Maybe it was something that made him happy.
"You look pretty young," I commented.
"That's cause I rejuvenate my skin every day." He said in a feminine voice pointing at himself. I thought he was drunk. Augustus.
I snorted, shaking my head with an involuntary smile
"I wa-" He started, but was cut off by his phone ringing.
He took out his phone and suddenly looked serious. I eyed at him curiously. His demeanour seemed to change completely after receiving this call.
"Is everything okay?" I feigned concern.
He nodded slowly. "Yes, mate. Don't worry 'bout it. I just gotta take this call though."
I nodded slowly as I watched him get up and made his way outside the bar. I sighed, killed my cigarette, got up and went outside the bar a little while after Augustus left. I realized that being at the bar was quite boring and exhausting.
Augustus was nowhere to be seen. I shrugged and looked at the darkness of the night. A silly part of me hoped that I'd feel a pistol at the back of my head. Then I'd turn to find a masked woman with very beautiful eyes. She'd tell me to raise my hands and turn around. I'd do that. Then I'd see her finger arrangement on the pistol, then my heart would melt. She'd then take off the mask and kiss me. She'd then punch me and scold me for not talking to her when she was away for almost 'three weeks, Caesar!'.
I hoped that to happen so much. So so much...that its impossibility brought tears to my eyes, killing me a little on the inside.
I missed her dearly.
I used my good hand to wipe away the tears. Tears that seemed so foreign, but welcome to my eyes. I then walked across the empty streets to nowhere in particular.
I remember feeling tired from walking aimlessly before I took a cab that I found miraculously at three in the morning to head back to the motel.
***
A/N: More and more twists are to come. Just wait for it ;)
Lots of love <3
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
<▪▪Amateurs▪▪>
Alexander's POV.
"What do you mean you cannot find him, William?" I hissed angrily, twirling my office chair so that I was facing the view of the city through the huge glass wall behind my desk as I clutched my phone harder to my ear.
"We went to every possible place he would-"
"His mustang-" I added angrily but got interrupted.
"It was parked under the woman's house- Audrey, sir." He replied monotone as I clenched my left fist and took a deep breath.
"You know what happens if you don't find him?" I threatened.
"Sir, we are workin-"
"I'll kill you. I'll kill you all!" I growled and hung up.
I got up furiously and slammed the phone on my office table. How dare he? How dare he leave? And where on Earth did he go?
I lit a cigar, inhaled deeply, then exhaled, coughing vigorously. I needed to stop smoking sometime- I thought. It was apparent that I was getting really sick over the time.
My head snapped at two light taps on my office's door. I stared at the door for a while, then sighed.
"Please come in." I then said calmly, regaining my composure, before returning to my desk and sitting on my leather chair.
Philips walked in, past the long meeting table, to stand right in the middle of the office, arms by his side. He looked clean in his navy blue suit and white-specked, combed hair.
I liked a man who took care of his appearance.
"Yes, Philips. What do you have for me?" I drawled bringing the cigar back to my mouth as I let my gaze travel along his length.
"Not good news." He said quickly as I noticed him take a deep, shaky breath. I shook my head, satisfied.
"Today is bad news day?" I raised my eyebrows, studied him under my heavy gaze and he dare not answer.
"Sir, there are no accessible records on that girl. The Sam girl-" I inhaled sharply at his confession before glaring at him.
"I gave you her name and university. Why, bless you, couldn't you find a thing about her?" I pressed, feigning composure.
"I'm trying. We all are." He said slowly and I got up. I approached him and he dare not flinch. He was standing like a plank of wood. Lifeless, a push away from falling.
"Well you aren't trying hard enough," I said, patting his cheeks twice. "Tell me, Philips. Do you know what's going to happen to you if you don't find that girl? Or do you need me to go on about the boring theatrics of what will happen?"
He shook his head subtly and I smiled.
Although I hated to admit it, I did feel lost without Julius- who could've easily helped if it weren't for his stubbornness that appeared out of nowhere. I wondered if that girl- Audrey- was behind it. I was quite certain that he was stronger than a heartbreak.
I didn't raise my son to be pathetic. I didn't raise him to be lured and seduced by women and pathetic emotion like love.
Yet. Yet, he acted like it.
"Well, I didn't expect you to know," I continued, pursing my lips. "You will be fired and jailed for life. I have all the records against you. Let me not remind you, also, that if that happened 'unfortunately', you won't be seeing your kids again whose mother 'unfortunately' died. Then, your kids will be bullied about how they have no mother and a criminal for father for the rest of their lives. What do you say? A bright future- is it not?"
His crinkled eyes widened and I smiled satisfied. I lived on implanting fear in people's heart. And whenever I wished, I'd water those seeds and see them sprout and grow.
"Find her. Find her. That's easier." I smirked and backed away from him.
"Now, get out. And I don't want to see your beautiful face unless you have something about her or my pathetic excuse of a son. And I'd better see your face again soon. Cause I tend to miss you." I scoffed and laughed at my own joke before returning to my desk.
Before sitting down, I heard the office's door 'click' close and smiled to myself.
Time to call my son. Not Julius, no.
But Augustus.
He'd better pick up.
---
Julius's POV.
I woke up with a jerk, hitting my left arm accidentally with the tub. I winced involuntarily and pushed myself up and out of the freezing water.
I miraculously slept. Without any nightmares. Or dreams for all that mattered. And I preferred dreamless sleep. Because in a dream one couldn't be in control of anything. Not his thoughts. Not himself. And to me, control is all that mattered.
I took a quick shower, wrapped a towel around myself, got out of the bathroom and checked the time. It was 1 a.m.
I got dressed in what I wore before and made a mental note that I'd need to buy some more outfits especially if I'd be staying here for a while.
It was clear that this wasn't going to be as easy as I expected. People here had emotion beyond my comprehension. They took their time to think, to let unnegotiable facts 'sink in', to cry and make a big deal out of it. So it was going to take time. And I knew that if I had to disguise properly, I'd need to act like them. I'd need to show care and help others. Both as pathetic as they sound.
I wrapped my jade green scarf around my neck and headed outdoors. I felt like going to the bar because I felt empty. I felt like I got nothing else to do, but that. Because I didn't have anyone or anything to occupy my mind except for Father, Audrey and Sam. Only this damned cycle.
And it was unpleasant, having to think about them twenty-four seven. It was even more preferable if I forgot for a while, or pretended to forget.
I took a taxi that drove me to a nearby fancy bar into which I entered. Used to the smell of alcohol and sweat, I made my way through the sweaty bodies that were pressed against each other, making sure my left arm didn't get smacked into somebody.
I took a seat at the bar, ordered four margaritas, lit a cigarette and inhaled.
"Superkings." A voice said from next to me. "Nice choice, mate."
I turned to the source of the voice to find a guy, no older than nineteen talking to me. He had deep-blue eyes, platinum-blond hair, and pale skin. His eyebrows thick, making his face look fierce and handsome in the dim lighting of the bar.
I smirked. "Want one?"
"Yes, please." He smiled widely and I almost rolled my eyes. I was in no mood whatsoever to engage in a conversation with an apparent amateur.
So I quickly took a cigarette from my cigarette box and handed it to him.
He raised the cigarette a bit then mouthed 'thanks' before placing it between his teeth and lighting it up. I turned away, but he continued talking.
Well, I could punch him in the face and tell him that I wasn't the kind to converse with. But that might include blowing my cover. Or I could be nice. And I didn't know how to be nice. But I had to try.
"You know," he exhaled smoke as I narrowed my eyes on him. "Back in school, we took how dangerous those little boys are on our lungs." He paused to draw another cigarette breath. "But they are so so precious."
I chuckled nervously. That was supposed to be a normal response when someone tried to be funny.
"It's sad," I added dramatically. People loved drama here. "When did you start smoking?" I asked, drawing in a breath myself.
"Nineteen."
I nodded not saying anything.
"You?" He said, looking at me with curious eyes and raised eyebrows.
"Seventeen." I said remembering how Father convinced me that smoking made one 'look' like a man and 'feel' like one.
The four margarita shots were then placed in front of me.
"Can I have some?" He asked almost instantly and I raised my eyebrows with an easy smile.
Amateurs fell under two types for me. Amateurs-amateurs and amateurs-matures. The former weren't to be alarmed or worried about. The latter, however, are very dangerous, because they feign immaturity, to get what they wanted.
"Yes, sure. Help yourself." I studied him more as he took one and gulped it down. He then looked at me making a horrid face which made me smile.
"So? What's your name my friend?" he asked and I thought. Which name should I give him?
He sure seemed like a harmless amateur. But it was dark in the bar. I couldn't read his body language properly and I was taught that it was better being safe than sorry.
"My name's Romeo. Yours?" I replied.
"My name's Augustus. Which I know is a horrible name. But it was my dad's choice." He said casually, drawing a breath from the cigarette.
"It's a nice name." I complimented randomly. Oh, people liked compliments too. A lot, apparently. I remembered that from occasionally flipping through the TV channels.
"Nice name my smooth arse! It's an ancient name, mate," he shook his head and hair. "I wanted to be called something new like Dean or-or Matthew or something."
I raised my eyebrows with a smile and he shook his head.
"You don't look like you're from around here." He said, narrowing his eyes on me and I nodded, feeling my back for my gun.
Just to locate it. In case.
"I'm not." I retorted solidly.
"Ha! Knew it! How old are you, though?" His questions were irrelevant and I questioned my need for a gun. He was clearly not following any plan or strategic scheme.
I decided that I was just being insensibly paranoid about Father. Anyone around me could be one of his men.
"Guess," I said gulping down a shot.
"Twenty-three?"
I chuckled. "I'm twenty-five. Close one though. You?"
You might think that giving my age was stupid. But in fact, it was quite the opposite. I was young. And people almost always underestimated me. Watching them do that was fun.
"I am twenty!" He was too enthusiastic so I smiled. Maybe it was something that made him happy.
"You look pretty young," I commented.
"That's cause I rejuvenate my skin every day." He said in a feminine voice pointing at himself. I thought he was drunk. Augustus.
I snorted, shaking my head with an involuntary smile
"I wa-" He started, but was cut off by his phone ringing.
He took out his phone and suddenly looked serious. I eyed at him curiously. His demeanour seemed to change completely after receiving this call.
"Is everything okay?" I feigned concern.
He nodded slowly. "Yes, mate. Don't worry 'bout it. I just gotta take this call though."
I nodded slowly as I watched him get up and made his way outside the bar. I sighed, killed my cigarette, got up and went outside the bar a little while after Augustus left. I realized that being at the bar was quite boring and exhausting.
Augustus was nowhere to be seen. I shrugged and looked at the darkness of the night. A silly part of me hoped that I'd feel a pistol at the back of my head. Then I'd turn to find a masked woman with very beautiful eyes. She'd tell me to raise my hands and turn around. I'd do that. Then I'd see her finger arrangement on the pistol, then my heart would melt. She'd then take off the mask and kiss me. She'd then punch me and scold me for not talking to her when she was away for almost 'three weeks, Caesar!'.
I hoped that to happen so much. So so much...that its impossibility brought tears to my eyes, killing me a little on the inside.
I missed her dearly.
I used my good hand to wipe away the tears. Tears that seemed so foreign, but welcome to my eyes. I then walked across the empty streets to nowhere in particular.
I remember feeling tired from walking aimlessly before I took a cab that I found miraculously at three in the morning to head back to the motel.
***
A/N: More and more twists are to come. Just wait for it ;)
Lots of love <3
AmateursAlexander's POV."What do you mean you cannot find him, William?" I hissed angrily, twirling my office chair so that I was facing the view of the city through the huge glass wall behind my desk as I clutched my phone harder to my ear."We went to every possible place he would-""His mustang-" I added angrily but got interrupted."It was parked under the woman's house- Audrey, sir." He replied monotone as I clenched my left fist and took a deep breath."You know what happens if you don't find him?" I threatened."Sir, we are workin-""I'll kill you. I'll kill you all!" I growled and hung up.I got up furiously and slammed the phone on my office table. How dare he? How dare he leave? And where on Earth did he go?I lit a cigar, inhaled deeply, then exhaled, coughing vigorously. I needed to stop smoking sometime- I thought. It was apparent that I was getting really sick over the time.My head snapped at two light taps on my office's door. I stared at the door for a while, then sighed."Please come in." I then said calmly, regaining my composure, before returning to my desk and sitting on my leather chair.Philips walked in, past the long meeting table, to stand right in the middle of the office, arms by his side. He looked clean in his navy blue suit and white-specked, combed hair.I liked a man who took care of his appearance."Yes, Philips. What do you have for me?" I drawled bringing the cigar back to my mouth as I let my gaze travel along his length."Not good news." He said quickly as I noticed him take a deep, shaky breath. I shook my head, satisfied."Today is bad news day?" I raised my eyebrows, studied him under my heavy gaze and he dare not answer."Sir, there are no accessible records on that girl. The Sam girl-" I inhaled sharply at his confession before glaring at him."I gave you her name and university. Why, bless you, couldn't you find a thing about her?" I pressed, feigning composure."I'm trying. We all are." He said slowly and I got up. I approached him and he dare not flinch. He was standing like a plank of wood. Lifeless, a push away from falling."Well you aren't trying hard enough," I said, patting his cheeks twice. "Tell me, Philips. Do you know what's going to happen to you if you don't find that girl? Or do you need me to go on about the boring theatrics of what will happen?"He shook his head subtly and I smiled.Although I hated to admit it, I did feel lost without Julius- who could've easily helped if it weren't for his stubbornness that appeared out of nowhere. I wondered if that girl- Audrey- was behind it. I was quite certain that he was stronger than a heartbreak.I didn't raise my son to be pathetic. I didn't raise him to be lured and seduced by women and pathetic emotion like love.Yet. Yet, he acted like it."Well, I didn't expect you to know," I continued, pursing my lips. "You will be fired and jailed for life. I have all the records against you. Let me not remind you, also, that if that happened 'unfortunately', you won't be seeing your kids again whose mother 'unfortunately' died. Then, your kids will be bullied about how they have no mother and a criminal for father for the rest of their lives. What do you say? A bright future- is it not?"His crinkled eyes widened and I smiled satisfied. I lived on implanting fear in people's heart. And whenever I wished, I'd water those seeds and see them sprout and grow."Find her. Find her. That's easier." I smirked and backed away from him."Now, get out. And I don't want to see your beautiful face unless you have something about her or my pathetic excuse of a son. And I'd better see your face again soon. Cause I tend to miss you." I scoffed and laughed at my own joke before returning to my desk.Before sitting down, I heard the office's door 'click' close and smiled to myself.Time to call my son. Not Julius, no.But Augustus.He'd better pick up.---Julius's POV.I woke up with a jerk, hitting my left arm accidentally with the tub. I winced involuntarily and pushed myself up and out of the freezing water.I miraculously slept. Without any nightmares. Or dreams for all that mattered. And I preferred dreamless sleep. Because in a dream one couldn't be in control of anything. Not his thoughts. Not himself. And to me, control is all that mattered.I took a quick shower, wrapped a towel around myself, got out of the bathroom and checked the time. It was 1 a.m.I got dressed in what I wore before and made a mental note that I'd need to buy some more outfits especially if I'd be staying here for a while.It was clear that this wasn't going to be as easy as I expected. People here had emotion beyond my comprehension. They took their time to think, to let unnegotiable facts 'sink in', to cry and make a big deal out of it. So it was going to take time. And I knew that if I had to disguise properly, I'd need to act like them. I'd need to show care and help others. Both as pathetic as they sound.I wrapped my jade green scarf around my neck and headed outdoors. I felt like going to the bar because I felt empty. I felt like I got nothing else to do, but that. Because I didn't have anyone or anything to occupy my mind except for Father, Audrey and Sam. Only this damned cycle.And it was unpleasant, having to think about them twenty-four seven. It was even more preferable if I forgot for a while, or pretended to forget.I took a taxi that drove me to a nearby fancy bar into which I entered. Used to the smell of alcohol and sweat, I made my way through the sweaty bodies that were pressed against each other, making sure my left arm didn't get smacked into somebody.I took a seat at the bar, ordered four margaritas, lit a cigarette and inhaled."Superkings." A voice said from next to me. "Nice choice, mate."I turned to the source of the voice to find a guy, no older than nineteen talking to me. He had deep-blue eyes, platinum-blond hair, and pale skin. His eyebrows thick, making his face look fierce and handsome in the dim lighting of the bar.I smirked. "Want one?""Yes, please." He smiled widely and I almost rolled my eyes. I was in no mood whatsoever to engage in a conversation with an apparent amateur.So I quickly took a cigarette from my cigarette box and handed it to him.He raised the cigarette a bit then mouthed 'thanks' before placing it between his teeth and lighting it up. I turned away, but he continued talking.Well, I could punch him in the face and tell him that I wasn't the kind to converse with. But that might include blowing my cover. Or I could be nice. And I didn't know how to be nice. But I had to try."You know," he exhaled smoke as I narrowed my eyes on him. "Back in school, we took how dangerous those little boys are on our lungs." He paused to draw another cigarette breath. "But they are so so precious."I chuckled nervously. That was supposed to be a normal response when someone tried to be funny."It's sad," I added dramatically. People loved drama here. "When did you start smoking?" I asked, drawing in a breath myself."Nineteen."I nodded not saying anything."You?" He said, looking at me with curious eyes and raised eyebrows."Seventeen." I said remembering how Father convinced me that smoking made one 'look' like a man and 'feel' like one.The four margarita shots were then placed in front of me."Can I have some?" He asked almost instantly and I raised my eyebrows with an easy smile.Amateurs fell under two types for me. Amateurs-amateurs and amateurs-matures. The former weren't to be alarmed or worried about. The latter, however, are very dangerous, because they feign immaturity, to get what they wanted."Yes, sure. Help yourself." I studied him more as he took one and gulped it down. He then looked at me making a horrid face which made me smile."So? What's your name my friend?" he asked and I thought. Which name should I give him?He sure seemed like a harmless amateur. But it was dark in the bar. I couldn't read his body language properly and I was taught that it was better being safe than sorry."My name's Romeo. Yours?" I replied."My name's Augustus. Which I know is a horrible name. But it was my dad's choice." He said casually, drawing a breath from the cigarette."It's a nice name." I complimented randomly. Oh, people liked compliments too. A lot, apparently. I remembered that from occasionally flipping through the TV channels."Nice name my smooth arse! It's an ancient name, mate," he shook his head and hair. "I wanted to be called something new like Dean or-or Matthew or something."I raised my eyebrows with a smile and he shook his head."You don't look like you're from around here." He said, narrowing his eyes on me and I nodded, feeling my back for my gun.Just to locate it. In case."I'm not." I retorted solidly."Ha! Knew it! How old are you, though?" His questions were irrelevant and I questioned my need for a gun. He was clearly not following any plan or strategic scheme.I decided that I was just being insensibly paranoid about Father. Anyone around me could be one of his men."Guess," I said gulping down a shot."Twenty-three?"I chuckled. "I'm twenty-five. Close one though. You?"You might think that giving my age was stupid. But in fact, it was quite the opposite. I was young. And people almost always underestimated me. Watching them do that was fun."I am twenty!" He was too enthusiastic so I smiled. Maybe it was something that made him happy."You look pretty young," I commented."That's cause I rejuvenate my skin every day." He said in a feminine voice pointing at himself. I thought he was drunk. Augustus.I snorted, shaking my head with an involuntary smile"I wa-" He started, but was cut off by his phone ringing.He took out his phone and suddenly looked serious. I eyed at him curiously. His demeanour seemed to change completely after receiving this call."Is everything okay?" I feigned concern.He nodded slowly. "Yes, mate. Don't worry 'bout it. I just gotta take this call though."I nodded slowly as I watched him get up and made his way outside the bar. I sighed, killed my cigarette, got up and went outside the bar a little while after Augustus left. I realized that being at the bar was quite boring and exhausting.Augustus was nowhere to be seen. I shrugged and looked at the darkness of the night. A silly part of me hoped that I'd feel a pistol at the back of my head. Then I'd turn to find a masked woman with very beautiful eyes. She'd tell me to raise my hands and turn around. I'd do that. Then I'd see her finger arrangement on the pistol, then my heart would melt. She'd then take off the mask and kiss me. She'd then punch me and scold me for not talking to her when she was away for almost 'three weeks, Caesar!'.I hoped that to happen so much. So so much...that its impossibility brought tears to my eyes, killing me a little on the inside.I missed her dearly.I used my good hand to wipe away the tears. Tears that seemed so foreign, but welcome to my eyes. I then walked across the empty streets to nowhere in particular.I remember feeling tired from walking aimlessly before I took a cab that I found miraculously at three in the morning to head back to the motel.***A/N: More and more twists are to come. Just wait for it ;Lots of love 3
