Aftermath Read Online Free PDF Page B

“see, she is eager and oh so ready.”
    Alfonzo dropped his head mortifi ed . His cousin was a character, a goddamn mess, but he loved him. “Ah,” he blew, “Sal, you can stay one night. Uno noche, no mas. Tomorrow, you stay with your mom and me, comprende?”
    The boy’s head went up and down in excitement, “Sí, thanks dad!”
    “I’ll send someone over with your suitcase.” Then Alfonzo cautioned, “Sal, make sure to brush your teeth and keep the noise down. The woman just buried her husband. Respeta ella, tu sabé ?”
    “Okay, I will. I promise.”
    Alfonzo nudged his son’s chin with a fist, “Okay, hijo , I’ll s ee you tomorrow .”
    Sal turned to Giuseppe and spoke fluently in Italian, “Thanks Uncle Geo, you’re super cool. Word !”
    A fondness for the boy showed when Giuseppe responded testing the boy’s fluency in the language, “You are the son I do not have Salvatore. As long as I live I will treat you like my own. W ho taught you Italian ?”
    “ Uncle Vin ny. We talked all the time and he was really cool like you .”
    Giuseppe nodded , “Thanks young Alfonzo, now go say bye to your mama .” He said and watched the boy t ake off on command . Giuseppe’s eyes did not leave the child . The boy had him considering fatherhood, goddamn!
    Alfonzo e yeball ed Giuseppe the entire time during his reverie and asked, “What did you say to Sal and what ’s that about Vinny?”
    “None of your business. Improve on your Italian, your son understands and speaks as if he were born knowing the language. ” He gripped Alfonzo’s shoulder in passing , “ Do not be hard on him. He is not you, c azzo!”
    Alfonzo snarled at Giuseppe, “ I may not be fluent in Italian but I do know what cazzo mean s , you asshole !”
     
     
                                                      ****
     
     
    Soft music played in the background as Selange worked the lotion between her fingers . She inhaled the cinnamon aroma then rubbed the creamy substance over her legs and it absorbed in her skin making it supple to the touch. She reached for the cream and squeezed more into her hand, then worked it in her arms . She carefully avoid ed the gauze and frown ed , hop ing the wound didn’t leave a huge scar because she liked wearing sleeveless dresses. When she thought of how things could have turned out , she sobered and realized she was blessed to have survived . Her family was safe , thanks in part to Ari for taking out that gunman and saving her life. Selange was grateful to the woman, who would’ve thought when it came down to it; they ’d stand side by side to f ight?
    Wow, life’s something, isn’t it?
    She had second and third chances. Her parents must be in heaven pleading with God to spare her, why else was she given undeserved do-overs? She had to get it right, she had to !
    She didn’t tell Alfonzo she’d enrolled in grad school after passing the MAT when they were apart. It’s something she always wanted to do and now was a good time to start . There were changes coming. Big ones. Her charity was neglected long enough and it’s time she made it a huge success and help more youngsters by getting donations from Alfonzo’s wealthy associates and do ing something productive with it. Hell, she could send hundreds of inner city kids to college in a year . Crime was going to pay in a good way for a change. Having a happy life meant not living in fear and waiting for the worse to come. There weren’t any hidden cobwebs in the corner of her brain anymore . The tangled threads of indecision and doubt were removed and in the tragedy she ’d gained another crack at life. She came through hell and back , too many times . D eath had taken hold of her but something inside fought it and unleashed an ass-beating . It reaffirmed her passion s. On th is go round , life was going to be fun and exciting .
    Have f un …yeah…enjoy life with Alfonzo and your children .