“Our age, for starters.” “Our age?”He repeated. “Yes, you are six years older than me.” “What else?” “Well… your family.” “I told you when we first started this thing that I would keep you safe. Haven't I?” he asked, looking her into her eyes. “Yes. You have kept me safe, but how long can you keep doing it? I don’t know if I could live with myself knowing the man I’m with works in a life of crime.” “What else?” “Your lifestyle. I’m not used to all this money and wealth. You would definitely get tired of me making blunders.” He rolled hi

The goon moved, and she saw him. Mr. Monzoon was an old, portly man no more than 5’7, sitting behind a large mahogany desk, in a red velvet wingback chair. He reminded her of a mob boss.  The room stunk of expensive cigar smoke. She saw him roll one in his mouth.  “Come in. Gino, Move. The guest of honor has finally arrived.” “Mr. Monzoon.” He greeted him. Mr. Monzoon stood and shook Geo's extended hand. “And who is this doll face?” He asked as he looked Carolina up and down. “This is Carolina,” Geo explained. “A pleasure to meet you.” Mr. Monzoon directed his attention to her.

Usually, when she went to large parties like this, she felt like she was floating in a sea of people, but not tonight. His strong hand was like a grounding stone. She saw someone across the room waving. She focused her vision and realized it was Silk. She smiled and was about to wave when she remembered his reaction to her having a relationship with her. She turned to him and then pointed.  Geo saw her and his father and nodded. He knew he had said some harsh things about his father's wife, but he still wanted to be hospitable. It was a party, after all. She trailed behind them as they crossed the large room. When they reached his dad and Silk, his dad hugged and congratulated him while Silk gave a slight smile and a timid wave to him. “Hi, Silk.” Carolina Greeted her. Knowing it would probably ruffle his fe

“Oh, yea?” “Yea. You lit up on the dance floor. I didn’t even know you could dance so well. Now I feel like an asshole for always breaking your mother’s balls about her making you take all those dance lessons as a kid.” He lightly chuckled at his father’s remark. “Thanks, Pop. I like her. She is very special to me. In fact, tonight, after this sham of a party, we are leaving for a nice long vacation together.” “Vacation? Where are you going? And why wasn’t I consulted on this, son?” “Because I didn’t think I had to tell you my every move, Pop. It's a vacation, not a hostile takeover.” “I know, but son do you think taking a vacation right now is in our-your best interest?”

He was pulled off of Lorenzo by two of Monzoon's guys. Lorenzo stood up and spit blood. Geo was still on the ground kneeling. Tired. Feeling defeated by his past and the inevitable trajectory of his life in crime.  "You piece of shit !" Lorenzo pulled out a gun, took the safety off, and pulled the trigger.  Geo knew his life was over. He closed his eyes when he heard the trigger click and heard a collective gasp from the crowd as the gun went off. He heard a large thud and smelled Carolina's perfume.  He opened his eyes to Silk's scream and he saw her then. Carolina was lying in front of him on her stomach. A small pool of blood was slowly forming underneath her. He rolled her over gently.  She moaned