Chapter 22

Before long, Larry stop laughing. As he's seeing me looking at him all confused. His eyes go wide in surprise seeing my reaction, asking, "wait? You don't know them, did you?" I'm nodding in silence while sipping my drink. And asking him with a tone filled with confusion, "are they famous?" Appalled, he's asking in a hurried tone, "err, are you new here?" Puzzled, I'm nodding, "yeah. In fact, this is the first time I ever gamble in a poker game." His body goes frozen in shock, stunned by the news coming out of my mouth.

Gobsmacked, Larry taking a deep breath. Trying to calm himself down while stroking his beard, muttering, "hot damn. A total noob won against a professional player. What a talent, I need to recruit him to our side." Suppressing his excitement, He's smiling while beating his tight, "well, that explain it. Anyway, why don't I introduce them to you?" Shaking my head, I'm replying while my eye rolling to the side, "nope. Not interested." His eyes go wide in shock, while looking at me with a strange expression, "what? You don't want, to hear a tip from me?"

Depressed, he slumped his shoulder in an exaggerated manner, "sigh. Such a shame." Shaking my head, looking at his antic. I'm asking with confusion in my voice, "why are you slacking off. And talking to me instead of working?" With a great indignation, he replies, "hey, I ain't slacking off!" Grinning, he's looking at me with anticipation, "I'm doing my job by trying, to recruit you!" Interested, I'm asking while coking an eyebrow, "oh? You want to recruit me, huh? So, do you mind if I ask what kind of job you're offering to me?"

Rubbing his arm in excitement, Larry patting my shoulder and say, "of course. You can ask me anything you wanted to know. I'm shocked, you know. When I heard you are going toe to toe. Against those professional gambler and won. So, from that, I knew you've got a great potential kid." Helpless, I'm shaking my head, finding him to be too talkative. Raising my hand, I ask, "stop. Can you please tell me in detail what kind of job you are offering?" he's laughing while scratching the back of his head to hide his embarrassment, "oh right. Sorry for blabbing away, gua-ha-ha-ha!"

Soon after, Larry stop laughing, seeing me responding with silence. Embarrassed, he's placing his hand in front of his mouth and pretending to cough, ahem. Anyway, your primary job is gambling under our direction as one of our Aces. As an ace, your first job is to take back our money from our customer that gotten too lucky. At the same time, you will gamble for us against our rival." Puzzled, I'm asking him while sipping my drink, "why do you need to gamble against the other gang?" Smiling, he's rubbing his beard, "well, it's complicated. As it's related to the history of mafia in the New England area."

Curious, I'm asking with intrigued, "oh? Can you tell me the history then?" Smiling, he's nodding with pride, "of course. It all happen years ago. As one of the prominent Godfather in Boston at that time. Getting fed up with the gang war happening all over the country. Because it's making the feds to step in to control the situation. So, afraid of the fed messing thing up here. He's gathering the other prominent families in New England. And built a council to oversee the dispute between gangs. By disallowing direct fight between them. While allowing them to resolve their conflict through gambling. Either through a game of chance. Or a death match between fighters from each gang."

Getting thirsty, Larry calls the bartender for some beer. While I'm digesting the story in silence. He's looking at me with a gaze filled anticipation while drinking his beer. Putting down the bottle, he asks, "so, I'm going to ask you once again. Would you like to join us?" With a troubled expression, I'm stroking my chin and think for a moment. Hmm, should I join them? Sighing, I'm shaking my head, "sorry. But let me think about it some more time." Nodding, he's letting out a sigh of regret, "ok, then. You can give it more thought. If you change your mind, you can talk to me about it."

Larry pulling out a business card from his suit. And placing it on the counter in front of me. Standing up, he's patting my shoulder, "anyway. I better go, I have a business to run." Before he goes, he's looking at me with a smile, saying, "consider my offer, okay? I have high hopes for you and I hope you have a good evening, goodbye." He's leaving me alone at the bar and walking toward the crowd. Grabbing the card, I'm taking a good look at it. There is a phone number and the name Larry Rosswelt written on the card. While on the other side is a rose symbol with the address of the bar.

Putting it inside my inventory, I'm finishing my drink with one big gulp and leave the casino. You know, I'm starting to liking that bitter tasting drink. Because it feels refreshing for my taste bud. Before going back, I'm exchanging the chip in the counter outside the hall. But, a guard stopping me when I'm driving my scooter outside the parking lot. As he's asking for the parking fee, speechless, I'm giving him $20. And step on the gas away from here. Arriving home, I'm finding the light is still on. Hmm, weird, if I remember right. I'm already turning off all the light when I'm gone. Parking my scooter in the shadowy part of the driveway.

I'm drawing my gun from the inventory, and opening the backyard door. As I'm entering my home from the back entrance with vigilance. Scanning around the kitchen, I'm finding nothing have changed since I left. Breathing a sigh of relief, I'm removing my shoes to dampen the sound of my step. And leaning to the wall near the kitchen entrance. Peeping into the living room, I'm seeing a man back sitting on the sofa. Watching the front door in silence. Not noticing my presence yet. Retracting my head, I'm taking a deep breath. While tightening my grip on the pistol.

Steeling my resolve, I'm approaching the man in silence. As I want to intimidate the man to leave this house. Reaching the sofa, I'm pointing my pistol to the back of the stranger. But before I can speak, the man springing into action. By grabbing my arm and throwing me to the ground. Then trapping me in an arm lock, removing my gun. Panicking, I'm struggling while shouting, "gah, unhand me thief!" I'm catching a glimpse of my attacker's face as I'm struggle against him. My body frozen in Shock, by what I see, asking, "wait? Is that you, uncle Nate?"

Astonished, uncle Nate taking a closer look at me, "Ray?" We're looking at each other in an awkward silence for a while. Before long, uncle Nate pretending to cough and let me go. After calming down, we're siting opposite each other at the dining table. Uncle Nate break the silence by asking with a frown, "why are you sneaking up on me, Ray?" I'm scratching the back of my head in embarrassment, "well. I thought you are a thief or a robber. So, I'm sneaking in from the back door. Intending to intimidate you by pointing the pistol on the back of your head." His eyes go wide in surprise, understanding what have happened.

Embarrassed, he's scratching the back of his head. While letting out an awkward laugh, "ohh, that's why, sorry for the misunderstanding, Ray." Ashamed, I'm shaking my head, "I am the one who needs to apologize. For jumping to conclusion, uncle." With a complex expression, he's pointing at the pistol on the table, asking, "anyway. Where did you get this gun, Ray?" Realizing the trouble I'm getting into if I'm not telling the truth. I'm telling him where I found the gun with ease, "oh that. I'm getting it from my father gun cabinet. He's giving me the keys for it, to use the gun inside in case of emergency."

Sighing, uncle Nate mutters while massaging his temple, "that man never change a bit, huh? Giving a teenager the key to a gun safe. I better report this to his wife about this." Curious, I'm looking at him and waiting for what he's going to say to me. Sighing, he's looking at me, with a serious expression, "anyway. You better put that thing where it belongs, Ray, you understand!" Shocked by his sudden shout, I'm standing up and giving him a salute, "yes sir!" Satisfied, he's nodding with a smile, "good."

Turning serious, uncle Nate glaring straight at me, "now what are you doing getting home so late, young man?" Panicking, I'm giving him an excuse, "I'm working part-time in the city at night." Narrowing his eye, he's looking at me with suspicion. Making me nervous, nodding, he says, "I'm going to take your word for it then." I'm breathing a sigh of relief while wiping a cold sweat. Standing up, he says, "anyway, you better take rest. It's already pretty late, and I need to get back home." Nodding, I reply with a smile, "oh, okay then. Good night, uncle Nate."

Smiling, he's standing up and walk to the front door. And he speaks before he's going, "oh yeah. You can come to us if you get into any trouble. And don't forget to put gun back, okay!" Annoyed, I'm rolling my eye and push him out the door, "okay-okay. Uncle, you told me about this a million times already." Laughing, he's scratching his hair and says, "alright, then I will stop talking. Anyway, goodbye Ray." He's waving my arm while walking away. Smiling, I'm waving my hand back, saying, "goodbye, uncle Nate." I'm start yawning after uncle Nate left. So, I'm deciding it's time to take a rest. Taking a warm bath, I'm changing my clothes and go to sleep.