If this story or any of my stories do not fit your style of fictional writing, and you are not interested in it and do not enjoy reading, there are other stories on the site you may be able to enjoy. If the grammatical errors are too much, stop reading and do something else, please no one is twisting your arm, and It would be best if you did not burn your brain cells. The others that enjoy my story, please let me know how you feel. Thank you
S/O 2 Kenji for editing
Leo woke up slowly, and took a deep breath. Leo felt slightly drugged, but it didn't feel like anything more than painkillers. He tried to sit up, but his head was spinning.
"Shh, hey, relax," Selen raised her hands, pushing him down gently. Feeling her warm hands on his chest, Leo relaxed his body and decided he wouldn't get far in this state. Only sensing a gentle purring rattles of the air current; he felt her close, as she gently rocked him until his eyes got sleepy.
Leo woke up again in the middle of the night. He woke up scared, sweating, and in pain. He tried to remember where he was and how he got there. Instinctively, he flexed his shoulder, and a spike of pain shot through his arm and torso. Touching his side, he remembered everything.
Leo was finishing his morning blunt, as he sat in the back seat of an SUV in the parking lot outside his home. He put the phone to his ear and grinned.
"What's up, Elvis?"
"So can you tell me why you're not at this meeting?" Elvis said, sounding genuinely confused. "Plus, why am I finding out just now?"
"I would have told you sooner, but she finally picked up my call yesterday." Leo spoke, "I sent you a text, what more do you need?"
"I'm not one of your sluts or employees. I'm your partner, a little more detail would be helpful," Elvis sounded morose.
"It was last minute."
"Sure how were you able to convince Nana G?
"I am smooth," Leo spoke confidently. "Plus, she would have forgiven me sooner or later, but I'm glad it didn't take her that long."
"Umm... strange she forgave you out of nowhere. What's her spending limit?" Elvis chuckled.
Leo was quiet for a moment before he spoke. "One hundred thousand."
"Umm...That's it? That's pretty low for Nana. Maybe she's losing her touch."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, plus she told me over tea that she was going to forgive you," Elvis said, trying to change the subject. "I just didn't think she would go for such a low number."
"How do you know this, E?"
"Unlike you, Leo, Grandma tells me everything, just like how I know that Bobby and Selen had a falling out."
"Oh," Leo's curiosity extended widely, as he relaxed in the seat. "What happened to the lovebirds? Did my wildcat realize I'm the bigger brother?" Leo laughed coldly.
"You would say that, but that's not the reason."
"Tell me, I'm dying to know."
"From what Grandma Gina told me, Selen has been avoiding him since he caught her."
"Caught her doing what?"
"She was planning on killing you?"
"Me, don't make me laugh Elvis," Leo laughed heartily. "Plus, if that was true, Selen wouldn't be alive. Grandma Gina would have killed her for sure."
Elvis laughed mischievously. "Okay, you're right, you got me there. I guess Bobby couldn't handle what you did and neither could Selen. Grandma had to step in, and I guess the issue got resolved, but Bobby has been sleeping at the club."
"How do you know all this information?"
"I still have brunch with grandma Gina."
"You two still do that? I figured you two would have stopped since..." Leo paused, as he felt the silent attack in his heart.
"Why would I stop going?" Elvis said sadly. "Maybe you can come to the next one."
"That shit's for girls, plus you know why I stopped it," Leo sounded rattled. "There's no point."
"The point is, Tanya would want you to stop being so miserable."
"Don't you even say that name again," Leo hissed at Elvis. "You don't know what the fuck she would have wanted."
"Leo, I don't think she would want you to be this tortured. She was my cousin; you don't think I know what you're going through?" Elvis' voice trembled with anger. The silence between them was stronger than usual. Leo sighed sadly, although talking about Tanya was crushingly painful, he didn't want to fight about her.
"Leo, Tanya wouldn't want you to be so angry."
"I know, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to snap at you about her." Leo breathed a sigh of relief. "It's just hard."
"Leo it's been seven years. It's hard for all of us. When will you be ready?"
"I will never be, so don't ask me again," Leo spoke, and sounded vaguely annoyed. "Unlike the rest of you who forgot about her."
"Wow. Really. I was asking a question. As much as I would like to continue this Hallmark moment, I gotta go. They are signaling me for the meeting," Elvis responded defensively. "How about you smoke some more. I've heard it's relaxing."
"It is relaxing," Leo said harshly.
"Doesn't sound like it? Anyways, hopefully, you have a better attitude with Nana Gina. I gotta go."
"E, call me afterwa--" before Leo could finish, Elvis ended the call. Leo felt intense after the conversation. Searching his tailored, navy suit jacket for his smoke case, he pulled out another blunt. Taking a drag from the bunt, Leo stared out the sunroof of the SUV. Leo continued to smoke his blunt. Leo knew his grandmother would be mad at him for smoking in the car, but he would allow her to shop for more things. He was sure if it was the smoke, but he thought about what Elvis had said, 'Why, did she settle for so low?' Before he could finish that thought, Leo heard the door click open.
"Sorry, grandma, about the--" Leo had his head facing towards the car door and looked up at Selen, looking shocked.
"I'm glad to see you again, kitten," Leo smiled. Selen looked just like the last time they saw each other. Her brown skin, brown eyes, full lips, curvy waist, and button-shaped nose had his heart thumping and mouth watering.
"I wish I could say the feeling is mutual," Selen said, spat out, still holding the door handle.
"Are you okay, Selen?" Ron asked, as he touched Selen's shoulder.
Selen smiled faintly. "Yes, thank you, Ron, for asking," Selen said, as she looked Ron in the eye. Ron was six feet tall and handsome, with a wide, easygoing face. Selen was happy that he was coming along, but she wasn't expecting to see Leo. When she was asked to go shopping, she thought it would be her, Gina and Ron, and not Leo.
Leo looked bewildered, as he sat there looking at Selen and Ron. Leo noticed her broad smile towards Ron and hated it. Leo cleared his throat and forced a smile. "Where the fuck is my grandma mother?" Leo barked at the both of them.
"I'm sorry, sir. I forget, sir. Here, Gina said to give this to you," Ron nervously said, while rummaging in his pocket, Ron pulled the note out, and handed it to Leo.
"Are you not tired of running? She wouldn't want this for you."
Leo looked puzzled, as if he were trying to figure something out. "Did you read this note?" Leo asked, squinting his eyes ever so faintly at the note.
"What?"
"Did I stutter?" Leo sarcastically expressed.
"No." Selen folded her arms as she sized Leo up harder. "I'm not a nosy type of person."
"Then what type of person are you, then?" Leo spoke, as he blew a large cloud of smoke in Selen's face.
Selen lifted her head and chin up, as she inhaled the blunt smoke and reposed herself in the seat. It had been such a long time she had one. Leo liked the imprint of her face on his mind, as she repositioned herself. Leo stared at her in silence, then, suddenly, he held out the blunt. Selen clutched her purse nervously, and held her breath as she reached for the blunt.
"Don't think this makes us friends, because I will shoot you."
"With those slow reflexes like that, I'll be okay," Leo laughed hoarsely. "Just a peace offering. Plus, I just wanted to know why you were here and not my grandma."
Selen looked puzzled for a moment. "She didn't explain anything in the note? What did it say?"
"I thought you said you weren't nosy?" Leo cooed.
Selen curled her lip contemptuously, and handed Leo back the blunt. She didn't say another word to him, as she turned her backside to him and stared out the window.
But, it was comforting for Leo, that he had her so rattled. Plus, he enjoyed this view better, he thought. As they sat in silence, the note replayed in his mind, with him trying desperately to figure out exactly why everyone thought he was miserable. Leo had no one to talk to, and he knew he couldn't talk to her since he had already pissed her off. The waft of blunt smoke flowed through the car, as it cruised to the location. He felt dazed and couldn't think straight.
"We are here Mr. Maglio," Ron announced.
Moments later, they arrived. Leo hopped out of the car first, not wanting Ron to hold the door open for Selen; Leo held the door open, instead. Selen looked at him coldly. Then suddenly, Selen smiled at Leo, and Leo realized that her smile was the same as his. Beneath the wide brim of her smile, it was enchanting.
"I got it from here, sir," Ron spoke, in a smooth voice pitched low. For a moment, Leo looked disappointed, as he stepped to the side to allow Ron to help Selen out of the car.
"Of course not," Leo mumbled in Italian. They all walked further up the sidewalk. Leo could felt the tension between him and Selen. Leo felt awkward about not knowing what to do or say, as they walked. He felt conflicted, walking.
"Leo, are you okay? I feel like your brain is about to explode."
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
