Bruno rented out a fucking moving truck. I dont know how he managed to shell out that much and certainly hadnt expected the gesture, but nonetheless, I woke up at the ass crack of dawn to see the big guy outside in a rental. It was a little overboard to show up to Mas and say Im a goner, like this, but, well, if I were having second thoughts, Bruno gave no choice to back out now.
The drive there was dead silent. I think the big guy picked up on my nerves running haywire. Between that and the Soul-Sickness, it was clear Id been through hell.
But regardless of my physical state, the flashes of my Ma bawling her eyes out kept playing through my mind. It was a poison thatd set in deep and reached my heart. No matter what, there wasnt a chance shed forgive for how bad Id screwed up. How I continuously fucked up. She might lie and pretend she did, to try to pull back and prevent from leavingshed always been like that, always the one to sacrifice her life for the sake of her family. But I knew the state accepting that lie would leave her in. That was a heavy weight to bear. Even if I had a century, I could never prepare for this day, but ti has a way of making us do what we must, even if we dont want to.
The truck pulled up in front of the sa broken-down property Id called ho. I sighed as I looked at the door still hanging on its hinges. Shed at least covered the windows with cardboard.
Hey, gim a few minutes before ya co in and start hauling my shit, alright? I looked at Bruno. Even though he was my best friend, I wanted to keep him out of this drama. He deserved that much. He nodded, unrolling the truck window, and swiftly abused his Soul Ability to light a cigarette.
Soul Ability jealousy was a real pain. Every ti he did his little party trick, I felt keen envy. The heavens truly blessed so. I slamd the door and dragged my heels all the way to the house.
There wasnt a door, so I didnt need to dig for keys. Inside was still an absolute ss, though Mad cleaned the broken glass and piled in cornersa table missing a leg, only two of the four dining room chairs were left intact. When I swung through, I didnt take the ti to appreciate how fucked things were, how badly Id hurt them.
I heard Alex and Ma chattering in the living room. Unable to bring myself to say anything, I lingered near the entry. It took a bit to work up my courage, but eventually, I walked forward. Strange how placing five thousand chips down for a bet felt so easy, but this was torture.
Alex was on the ground with his legs crossed in the living room, arm in a sling. He must have gotten hit by Tristans Soul during the fight, and I never noticed. This was all because of . Id brought them into my mistakes, and even worse, the mont he saw , a light ca to his eyes. Luca! He said, tone filled with joy. , the bastard who dragged him into getting busted up since I refused to live a peaceful life like the rest of the people in this fucking city.
Ma was on the half-busted couch, tears already coming to her eyes. Oh, my son! Im sorry, I didnt an to
I threw a hand out to stop her and choked down my sadness. No, dont, I dont deserve it. Ya were right to say what ya saidAlex, Im sorry. Neither of ya deserves to have soone shitty like in your lives. I did the bare minimum to make so things rightand Im not done. taking that bastard down is the start; once I get more chips, Ill throw it down on furniture for you to replace what ya lost. As long as it takes, Ill pay ya back.
Stop it now! I was hurting; I didnt an to say what I said. I dont bla you. Ma drew back, shed started to rise to no doubt embrace , but my tone warned her.
Alex looked confused.
I hurt yall. Its been my choice not to go to school and stir up all this trouble; I lied and threw myself into risk after risk without thinking about what might co your way. I could sit here, let ya forgive , and bla Tristan all day long. But he aint the real reason ya got hurt, I am. I lowered my head. Ya were right Ma. I dont belong here because I aint the man I need to be to make sure shit like this wont happen again.
We forgive you. We're family, aren't we?" she asked with hurt in her voice.
"We'll always be family, but that aint a good enough reason to let hurt ya again. I'm moving out. I'll be fine, and I got friends to take care of now. There aint no reason to worry."
Ma gave Alex a worried look, and he sprang up and ran to . The kid threw his arms around my waist and started crying. I fought hard not to give in and join himfor sothing like this; I had to be strong for them. Ma's eye t mine, and she saw the resolve buried deep. I think part of her understood. She was, after all, the woman that married my father. This life led in an inevitable direction.
I ran my hand through Alex's hair before pushing him back to crouch. "Listen, ya can do much better than . Keep up your studies, find a nice job, and do good for yourself. I aint disappearing into the night like pops. I aint dying. But this is for the best; they grabbed ya because of . If I'm alone, there aint a risk of that happening. I know ya don't get itbut we're from two different worlds." There was a flash of anger in him.
"You're being dumb. You're no different than !" He cried out, desperate to wipe away the tears.
"I'm getting the rest of my shit that aint broken, then going. and Bruno will clean up the ss, too, so that ya can start out with a better foot. I aint got any chips right now to throw into replacing things, but if ya find an envelope tucked in your mailbox, it's . So use it. Because I aint like Roo trying to gift ya cash, I owe ya it, alright?"
I didn't wait for Ma to try to argue or for Alex to try to sway . With nothing else to say, I got Bruno to help start the easy part of this trip. Alex hid in his room as we piled what was left into the back of the orange moving truck. Bruno did most of the work as I struggled and took plenty of breaks. That injury ran deep.
It was no surprise that Tristan had told his goons to pay special attention to anything mine. They'd busted my bed, pissed on my clothes, and even spray painted a fuck you on the wall. He'd been a petty man, but the sobriety of soone's death has a unique way of calming your anger. Tristan would no longer gloat about what he'd done to since he now rested in a grave.
I'd already spent far too long in my life angry at the dead. Compared to my father, Tristan didn't matter a single bit.
Once we salvaged what we could from my room, Ma gave so simple directions on what she wanted to be tossed or cleaned. Though she acted numb, she'd accepted my decision. I wasn't a ten-year-old tied to her hip anymore. Neither of us would be happy living under the sa roof as I continued living my life as a cultivator.
After we'd stuffed the small rental truck with my crap, we swept the floors and left the place as well as we could. It felt terrible to leave things still broken, but I consoled myself with the fact that soon enough, I'd figure out a way to get chips and pay for the damages.
I gave Ma a last hug before we left, and she pulled back with cold eyes. "One last thing."
"Yeah?"
"Your uncle wants to speak to you. Told to tell you to stop by the night after you finally turned up. Since you've lost your phone, he hasn't been able to contact you.." She crossed her arms. "The mont you get another, I expect you to share your number with both of us."
Was Roo going to yell at for being dumb and causing all of this? Probably? But hey, I needed to face up to the results of my actions. No more would I be the dumb little kid throwing a rock at a window and running off after.
I'd be a man.
I nodded to her. "Tell him I'll be by a little after sunset." I turned to go.
"Luca. You Remind so much of him. Of your father. His damn arrogance, that pride is a curse that runs in this family. I swear to the Immortals. But if you're going to be stubborn and walk that sa path, then I have no choice but to pray for you. Stay safe, and don't forget that no matter what, you still have your family." She cracked a bit at the end, sniffling.
I didn't know what to say to that, so I accepted it and said a last goodbye. I hopped in the truck with complicated emotions and drove off to my new ho.
- - -
I expected Bruno to live in so place in Southside or Uptown since he said hed been living on his own for about a couple of years. Like , the man had never spent a single day working an honest job. Even if he had a side hustle of underground fighting, there was only so much you could make on brawling like that.
But he had an apartnt in Seaside. It strangely bothered to take an elevator and arrive in a goddamn apartnt with an ocean view. I stared out the window for a long mont and looked at a view that gave Roos apartnt a run for its money. From here, I could see the tourists swarming the beaches. Why the hell aint we ever been here before. Bruno, what the fuck? This is the sorta place Id expect so big-business dude to live in or so wealthy banker. Like Roo. I gestured to the granite counters and leather sofa overseeing a fireplace and television. How the fuck can ya afford this?
Bruno shifted around, giving a short laugh. No need to question it! Simply accept my offer. He gestured towards a spare room, door askew and showing a barren interior. As you can see, plenty of room. To be honest, I dont spend much ti here.
Too good to be true. I raised an eyebrow. Bruno, did ya just break into this place to throw so practical prank? I woulda expected Eve to pull this, but you?
Luca, this is where I live; now you do too. Now co, let us get your things up here. Well sort rent later,
Bruno, I aint seeing any sorta life where I can afford this, hell, even if I was slinging alchemy supplents, I doubt it.
Dont worry. Herepay what you can each month. Thats all I ask. Nothing more, nothing less.
This is crazy. I gazed at the flawless granite counters and shook my head. Did I die? Was this the afterlife?
Bruno helped haul the rest of my crap up to his apartnt. By that, I an Bruno carried most of my crap to his apartnt while I lifted sothing, then ran out of breath after a minute or two. Luckily it wasnt much. Id be sleeping on a mattress for so ti, which left a weird feeling in my gut. It was as if this place silently judged for being too poor to afford a bed fra or box spring.
Then he gave a tour of his apartnt building: a pool, workout facility, and even a lounge for tenants. Surreal to think Id live here, but despite all of my questions confirming I wasnt losing my mind, Bruno insisted it was all legit. If he didnt have the keys, Id have called bullshit. That and seeing his full na on the mail slotBruno Reichart, right there in bold white letters on a tal flap.
A bit fucked that Id ruined my Mas ho, then moved into a place fancier than shed lived her whole life. And that guilt sure did burn in my chest. But, well, Im not going to lie, I had no choice but to take what I could. Grateful didnt even begin to explain how I felt.
When I tried to press Bruno about how he even afforded this place or lived here, he evaded the question with so insane ntal gymnastics. He decided to turn it around on and asked why I thought he couldnt afford it.
When faced with the reply that he was a street rat in a gang, the crazy fuck tapped the side of his head and said Street Rat is just a ntality. He shot a wink like I understood the shit he just spewed.
I let it go. I was far too tired and overwheld by the situation to continue complaining or forcing an answer. I didnt want to portray any rudeness to him, and Id been lucky he let stay here. If he wanted to keep his secrets, he could. Not like I didnt have a few of my own, and Id respect it for now.
With the tour over, he gave a set of keys and so sort of a magnetic keycard to get into the apartnt building. He bid goodnightsaying he and Eve were going out to get trashed at so gig she was playing. He even went so far as to invite to join them after I finished with my uncle; I gave him a tentative acceptance, even though I knew full well Id slink back here to sleep after I got done talking to Roo. With that, I was on my own.
All I had to do was face Roo.
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