The Court Chronicles (A Blog Novella) - Part III, Chapter 23

Chapter 22

Sacrifice? What's this coward know about sacrifice? He left his daughter and her mother to fend for themselves and now wants to come back and play hero? He has no right to ask him what he's willing to sacrifice.

"With all due respect, sir, which is none, you have no right to ask me that question."

Jay was in mid bite when he heard Garrett say that to Vazquez and slowly pulled the fork from his mouth while swallowing his bite of mole covered pollo.

"What did you just say to me?" sternly asked Vazquez without taking his eyes off Garrett. If looks could kill, Vazquez' would be that alien weapon they used in District 9 that turned you into nothing but a red mist. Garrett wasn't intimidated one bit; he'd been running from this man for too long and had had enough.

"You heard me."

Vazquez lunged at Garrett and grabbed him by the collar. Garrett's plate and fork crashed to the living room floor, demolished. Jay jumped up and drew his gun from behind him which prompted all 5 of Vazquez' men to draw their weapons as well.

Garrett was as calm as he could be and looked Vazquez straight in is eyes, "I was eating that."

Vazquez chuckled at the cojones this kid had, "You're only alive because I haven't given the word."

"No, I'm alive because if you kill me, your daughter will not only not speak to you any more, but you'll be nothing but a failure in her eyes on top of that and you're too vain to let that happen."

Vazquez hated to admit it, but the kid was right. He has a chance, a slight one, but a chance nontheless to make things right with Veronica.

"John, what the hell are you doing?!?" Adrianna came out of the kitchen with refreshments and was greeted to 6 men pointing guns at eachother. It was like a scene out of a movie.

"Relax, Adrianna, me and the boy are just talking," assured Vazquez.

"Then why are you holding him by his collar?" Adrianna wasn't stupid.

"He just had a little trouble hearing me."

"¿Y eso?" Adrianna pointed to the broken plate of mole.

"Maybe he's full," Vazquez' gaze went back to being fixed on Garrett. Adrianna went back into the kitchen to get a mop and clean up the mess. "Tell your boy to put the gun away," Vazquez demanded.

"You're the one that has five pointed right back at us," said Garrett.

"Looks like we have ourselves a little situation here, fellas," chimed in Jay.

"Jay! Shut the hell up! I got this," shouted Garrett without breaking his gaze from Vazquez. "So what's it going to be, old man, you going to kill us or are we going to work something out for your daughter's sake?"

Just then Adrianna walks back into the room with a mop and a trash bag. She kneels down and starts picking up the broken pieces of glass. She is right in between Vazquez and Garrett and is starting to get on Vazquez' last nerve.

"Can you clean this later?" asked Vazquez.

Adrianna looks up at Vazquez, "You want to clean it?"

Silence.

"That's what I thought, keep it up and I'll show you how good I can clean house around here," Adrianna went back to cleaning up the mess. Vazquez waits until she is finished and leaves the living room.

Guns are still drawn and Vazquez still has Garrett by his shirt collar. "You're ruining my shirt and it wasn't cheap," says Garrett.

"I could give two shits about your shirt. Now apologize and I won't hurt you and your friend...too badly."

"If I didn't have any respect for Veronica's mother or her household, I would head butt you in the face right now," Garrett wasn't scared of this prick anymore.

BANG!

A shot rang out and the mirror on the living room wall shattered. One of Vazquez' men stood looking guilty.

Vazquez let go of Garrett's collar and walked over to his guy who let the shot go. He stood in his face for a good ten seconds without saying a word. Then--

SMACK!

Vazquez' swift back hand bitch slapped the man so hard that the man's eyes began to tear up. "Oh, you're going to cry now? Get him out of here!" demanded Vazquez.

"Actually you can all get out!" screamed Adrianna as she walked back into the living room. "I was sitting here quietly minding my own business when you animals showed up! Now get out! Now!"

"Adrianna, what about Veronica?" asked Vazquez.

"I've been fine up until now, John, I think I can handle this myself. You need to go."

Vazquez knew Adrianna was serious and didn't want to put her through anymore than he already had. "I'll send you another mirror, sorry," said Vazquez to Adrianna on his way out. "To be continued, Garrett," he said as he stepped out of the door.

Garrett and Jay were left with Adrianna in the living room. The silence was extremely awkward.

"I guess we should get going too," said Garrett and signaled for Jay to follow him out, but Adrianna stepped in front of him.

"Actually, I have something to show you," said Adrianna. She went into the bedroom and reappeared with a package and her cell phone. "A few days ago, Veronica sent me this text," she handed the phone to Garrett.

Mom, sent u a pkg don't open til Garrett arrives.

How the hell did Veronica know that he was going to be at her mother's house?

"Are you sure this was from her?" asked Garrett.

"It's from her number," said Adrianna.

"A few days ago?" asked Jay, "she had her cell taken away long before then."

"Then who sent me the text," asked Adrianna.

"More importantly," said Garrett. "What's in the package?"