Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 109178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
“Please!” A strange emotion came over him, much like a sense of loss.
“Your grandfather is waiting for you to let—”
“Grandpa’s terroristic attacks on this family? This is what couldn’t wait? This is why you texted me two hours ago?”
“I’ve waited long enough. I need to know what you plan to do. I figured you’d be home and besides, you’re a night owl.”
“The only calls or texts I want at two in the mornin’ are for money or sex, and since you’re my father and have been told by your own father that I can’t have another dime, I can rest assured you ain’t callin’ for either one of those damn options.”
“You were at his house, even though he’s all but disowned you. I know things are going to get worse if you drag this out. The family is talking about it.”
“I don’t give a crap what the family is talking about! The family collectively kisses Grandpa’s ass, like he’s the second coming of Jesus!”
“I’m trying to talk to you.”
“Well, now you’ve talked to me. Is there anything else? I have to go.”
“Yes, there’s somethin’ else, boy! You’ve not answered him. This is serious! I love you and don’t want to see you hurt, Lenny. What you don’t understand is that this is for your own good. You work long hours and get peanuts. If you at least take him up on this, you’d be able to negotiate your schedule and make more money than you’ve ever dreamed of. All of the stuff you wanna do, the cars you wish for, the gym you want to own, the homes you want… it would be at your fingertips. You’d be set.”
“Like I told an old friend tonight, and now I’m tellin’ you, money isn’t everything. My life isn’t easy, but Grandpa is not the type of person I’m willing to sell my soul for.”
Dad was quiet for a bit. All he could hear was the man blowing out smoke from his cigarette. Then, the sounds of him gulping down something strong and wet. “Lennox, I understand, okay?” His voice was clearer now as he tried to control himself, no doubt, and avoid saying anything to tip over the apple cart. “Yes, my father is a difficult person at times, but he loves this family, Lenny. You can’t deny that. He’s leaving behind a legacy. That’s why he’s bein’ so stern. You’re letting your stubbornness control your rationality.”
“The only control I see right about now is how your corrupt father is trying to control me like he controls you. Nah, I’m good.” His phone flashed with a text message from Nadia right at that moment: I hope you made it home safely. He was never really safe, but he appreciated her checking on him all the same.
“Lenny, you and I don’t want it to be like this. But it is. A part of me would love for you to be able to just do whatever you want, throw caution to the wind, but that’s not how life works. You’ve been hand-selected, chosen to help run an entire department of your grandfather’s empire. The zoo.”
“He wants me and several of my cousins to run it together. None of us are interested.”
“I’m not interested in a lotta shit I have to do, Lenny. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to get done. Money aside, do you know what all of this really means?”
“It means that your fear of him outweighed your love for me, and my mother.”
Silence.
“…That’s not fair, Lennox. I love ya… both of ya. What happened—that’s not my fault.” His voice cracked.
That’s why Dad drank late at night now. He’d get shit-faced at least a few times a week in the comfort of his big ass, empty house. Running from memories. Running from guilt. He drowned in the recollections by sinking into a pint of something. A cold can. A tepid wine glass. He drifted to the bottom of his aquatic memories, lying low with the broken bones of dreams long gone. Only, he never fully died from drowning. He’d just lose his breath as his ocean of a father’s wrath swallowed him, the dark world closing in around him. Squeezing him to death.
“Lenny, you don’t know all the details. You didn’t get to see all the times I stood up to him but lived to pay the price!” A knot formed in his stomach. “I tried to keep you away from this when you and Silva were children, but when my father sets his eyes on someone and wants them, he does everything he can to get them.”
“I’m not some object on a shelf. I’m your son! Somebody from my generation had to finally tell him no. I and a few more of my cousins are the only ones who’ve said enough is enough.”