“Good.” Sergio said behind his thick mustache and coffee cup while holding his shotgun tight. Bette looked into her uncle’s steel eyes and saw something different in him. She always knew that in his younger days he was a man of different principles but she’d never encountered him before, until tonight.

Just then Bette’s attention was stolen by the sound of tires braking across loose rocks and car doors slamming shut. Toni came into the kitchen and simply said “Let’s go boys.”

The goons stood in front of their cars with their headlights on the house spreading a bright yellow light throughout the living room. Then Lisandro and the men stepped out onto the porch and separated into two groups spanning across the porch with their guns equally drawn down on the goons in front of the house. Sergio stepped out in front and Toni was right by his side when she said “Y’all got all of 5 seconds to get away from this house and off of my property.” As an exclamatory point Sergio cocked his shotgun and the sound made Bette jump a little bit. That’s when the goons parted and a man wearing a white shirt open and tank top underneath with black dress pants come forth and said “Not until you give me my bitch back.” he said as smoke left his mouth with each word.

“You know I’m not gonna do that Al. You might as well leave without me having to take this to the next level.”

“You’ve got my property in that house. If I have to, I’ll come in and get it.” he said while stepping forward. Sergio raised his gun and had it aimed right for the center of his chest. The intensity of the moment was unbearable. The electric look between the two men was almost palpable. The creaking of the screen door made Al break his stare down with Sergio’s barrel. He smiled as the figure came into the light and the deep shadows showed her figure and exposed her to his eyes and memory.

“My, my, my, little Josephine Porter?”

“Hello Al.” She said stepping off the porch past Toni and Sergio. Toni put her hand on Bette’s wrist to stop her. But Bette placed her hand on Toni’s to remove it, letting her know she was ok. Bette was released and she proceeded down the steps and came into full view for Alphonso.

“Oh don’t worry Toni, I could never hurt my first love.”

TBC………………………..