Rise of a drug lord

Life just always has a way of biting me in the ass. I just got fired for a stupid misunderstanding. A man was causing havoc in the building. I decided to intervene. He was hitting his driver and no grown man should be treated like that, no one should actually be treated like that. I was fired because apparently, I disrespected him. I didn't even get paid this month. Slowly with an aching heart, I made my way back home, getting home I see my mum pleading with the house owner, he was dragging her, touching her in an unpleasant way.

"Get off my mum, What's your deal," I said.

"I want you, your mum, your siblings every one of you out of my Goddamn house, if you don't I'll call the cops reporting you for trespassing"

I became pale instantly, I couldn't even pay him, I had just lost my job so I really had nothing on me.

"Please give us a week, if I don't pay within a week you can kick us out" I pleaded.

"A week it is, if my money isn't ready you wouldn't like what I'll do. There is a way you could pay me though" he said, eyeing my mother he had the stupidest smirk on his face.

I knew I couldn't react so I clenched my fist together.

"You know where to find me," he said

I really wish I could wipe the stupid smirk off his face.

I made my way to my mum embracing her into a hug, I also had to calm my sister down.

We were once a happy family, till my Dad decided to ruin everything, He ran away with another lady, and he claimed he never loved my mum. It started with him coming home late, drinking and all, he and my mum would get into terrible fights, one time he almost hit her, and I had to butt in.

My mum tries her best to provide for us, I mean she was for a year, and everything took a drastic turn on the day of the accident.

A drunken driver hit her car, and she was left in critical condition, we spent all of our savings covering hospital bills, we also had to move out of our old apartment because we couldn't afford it again, I had to drop out of school to assist, I couldn't let her go through all this alone.

We made our way back into the house, our things were scattered all over the house, I picked them up, arranged them, and put them in their proper position.

My mum was still crying, I went to meet her trying my best to be strong for her.

"Hey mum, it's fine don't beat yourself up, we always survive we would get through this, I got fired but I'll look for a new job as soon as possible I promise"

"You shouldn't be going through this, you are young, you should be out there exploring, I've failed you as a mother." She said

"Don't say that mum, you are the best, things will eventually get better."

I dragged my little sister Emma to me.

"So tell me about your day."

"Well, nothing really happened, just the usual".

"I want to hear the usual"

"So Andy was being rude to the teacher and got detention, Cindy made fun of me because of my worn-out shoes but I ignored her, I'm used to it at this point"

"I'll get you new shoes soon, you don't need to worry," I said, planting a kiss on her forehead.

"Really, thank you, you're the best"

Morning came and I got up very early. I had to look for a job. Time was ticking. We couldn't be left on the cold streets, so I checked various places. It's either they already had enough staff or I wasn't what they were looking for.

I was already running out of luck and getting tired, so I decided to check on more places. When I got there I was asked what I could do, I informed them I could do anything.

I was taken to who I think was their boss

" Hey there champ, I heard you were looking for a job?"

I stammered a little but, composed myself

"Yes sir, I am". " Are you sure you can do anything?"

"Yes sir I am", "Okay then you can start now"

"Thank you so much, sir."

I realized I didn't even ask what the job was, but at this point, I didn't care.

I was told to follow Andrew the man who just employed me, he lead me to an illegal gambling ring, and instantly I knew what I was in for, his voice pushed me out of my thoughts

"Our bartender just quit, you'll be filling his spot."

"Thank you so much for this, I won't let you down"

I started working immediately and I was surprised with the amount of tips left for me.

It was finally time to close, I made my way to Andrew, I was going to hand over the tips I got to him

"Hey Andrew, so I made about 300 dollars on the drinks today and I got a tip of 100 dollars."

"That's great, I'm impressed, you can keep the tip. Take it as a welcome bonus"

I was left in shock, this is exactly what I needed to pay the bills.

" Thank you so much". " You're welcome."

I made my way back home, before I stepped into the house, I made my way to Ben. I knocked on his door and in no time I got a response

"Come in". I handed him the money.

" This is what we owe you"." Nice doing business with you, tell your mum I said hi"

I ignored him, making my way back home.

"I'm home," I said my words echoing.

" Welcome home mi amor," My mum said, kissing my cheek. I told her I got a new job. I had to lie about what it was because I knew she wouldn't approve of it. I also told her I sorted out the bill.

"How did you do it, Justin I know you don't have money, please hope you are not doing anything illegal?"

" No mama, I told my boss what was going on and he decided to help, although I'll pay him back later"

"Okay mi amor, I know you are hungry, your food is on the table," she said

"Thank you, Mum", after eating I freshened up, and after a while I got on my bed and drifted off to bed

"What a day," I said to myself before sleeping.

I woke up groggily, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Another day, another struggle. I glanced at the clock and realized I had overslept. I hurriedly got out of bed and quickly got dressed, trying not to wake my mom and siblings.

As I made my way to the kitchen, I could hear my mom's soft snores coming from her room. She had been ill for a while now, unable to work or provide for us. I silently made breakfast for my siblings, trying to be as quiet as possible.

"Morning, Emma," I said as I placed a plate of pancakes in front of my little sister.

"Morning, Justin," she replied, smiling at me with her toothy grin.

"Hey, Andy," I said to my younger brother who was already sitting at the table, his face buried in his phone.

"Meh, morning," he mumbled without looking up.

I quickly ate my own breakfast and checked the time. I had to leave soon if I wanted to catch the bus and get to work on time.

"I'm heading out, guys. Make sure you finish your breakfast and get ready for school," I told them.

"Okay, Justin. Good luck with your day," Emma said cheerfully.

"Thanks, Em. Take care of Mom for me, okay?" I said, tousling her hair before grabbing my bag and heading out the door.

The morning air was crisp as I made my way to the bus stop. I kept replaying yesterday's events in my mind, trying to figure out how to make more money to pay off our debts. My job as a bartender was helping, but it wasn't enough. I needed something more.

As I arrived at the bar, Andrew, my boss, was already there, setting up for the day.

"Morning, Justin. Ready for another day of pouring drinks?" he asked with a smirk.

"You know it, Andrew. Gotta pay the bills somehow," I replied, mustering a smile.

The day went by in a blur of mixing cocktails and serving customers. I tried to be friendly and engage in small talk, hoping for better tips. The customers seemed to appreciate my efforts, and the tips were slightly better than usual.

Finally, it was closing time. Andrew called me over to the counter.

"Not bad, Justin. You're really starting to get the hang of this," he said, counting the cash from the register.

"Thanks, Andrew. I'm doing my best," I replied, trying to hide my exhaustion.

"I can see that. Here, take this," he said, handing me a wad of cash. "Consider it a bonus for your hard work."

I was taken aback by his generosity. It was more than I expected.

"Wow, thank you so much, Andrew. This will really help."

"No problem, kid. Just keep up the good work. You're a valuable asset to this place."

I thanked him once again and made my way home, clutching the cash tightly in my pocket. I couldn't wait to put it to good use.

On the way home, Emma's ridiculous worn-out shoes just crossed my mind and my hands involuntary reached out to my pocket, engulfing the cash I had as a tip today. It was the best time to fulfill my promise so I made my way to a shoe shop directly.

"This one is cheaper than the one you are holding in your hand right now." The shopkeeper's voice got my attention.

"Yes, but I like this one! Exactly, I want to buy this one for my Emma."

"Okay, sir! Kindly confirm the size then!" I walked behind him to the counter.

Grabbing the shoe bag and heading way home, an excited smirk covered my lips, I knew Emma has always been loving these shoes whenever she walked by this shop but she never speak of it since she is mature enough to not speak out of her wishes ever.

As I entered the house, I found my mom sitting in her usual spot on the couch, a tired smile on her face. She looked up as I walked in.

"Justin, you're back. How was your day?" she asked, her voice weak but filled with concern. "What is this in your hands?" She asked.

"Hey, Mom. It was a busy day, but I managed." I said, giving her a gentle hug.

"This is for Emma! Her worn-out shoes have always been putting her to be ridiculed, so I bought a new one for her, as I promised her." I retorted. "How are you, mum!?"

"I'm hanging in there, sweetheart. I am really for the shoes and for both of you. It's not your duty but you are doing it wisely, I am proud of you. Did anything interesting happen at work today?"

I hesitated for a moment, knowing I had to keep my secret from her. I couldn't let her worry or disapprove of my choice.

"Just the usual, Mom. Nothing out of the ordinary," I replied, forcing a smile.

She nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of exhaustion and gratitude.

"Well, as long as you're safe and doing your best, that's all that matters to me," she said, her voice filled with motherly love.

I hugged her a little tighter, knowing that I was doing what I had to do to take care of her and my siblings.

"Thanks, Mom. I'll always do whatever it takes to make sure we're okay," I whispered, my determination shining through.

"Hey, Emma! Where have you been? How are you, dear?"

"Hey, Justin! I am better today, I was just doing my homework, I was in my room!"

"Look, what I bought for you? There is something inside this box."

"What is this?" She grabbed the bag immediately, with excitement overloaded.

"Ah! New shoes! This is so beautiful!" She cried out happily. "You know, I love these shoes, it has been my favorite always"

"Are you happy? Did you like it?"

"Indeed! You are the best brother ever!"

"I am glad I made you happy!"

Days turned into weeks as I worked at the bar, trying to keep up with the demands of long hours and late nights. One evening, as I was wiping down the counter, a guy around my age approached me.

"Hey, man. I've noticed you working here for a while now. You seem pretty cool," he said, leaning against the bar.

"I'm Mike, by the way," he introduced himself, extending his hand.

"Justin," I replied, shaking his hand.

Mike turned out to be a regular at the bar, and we struck up a conversation during my breaks.

"You know, Justin, life shouldn't be all about work. There are other ways to make money," Mike said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Curiosity piqued, I asked, "What do you mean?"

Mike leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "I've got a side hustle that can bring in some serious cash. Something that can change your life."

My interest was piqued, but caution tugged at me. "What kind of side hustle are we talking about?"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small baggie filled with white powder.

"Cocaine," he whispered, holding it up to the dim streetlight.

My heart raced, and my mind was filled with conflicting thoughts. I knew the risks, the danger of getting caught, but the weight of our financial struggles pushed me towards desperation.

"I can't do this, Mike. It's too risky," I stammered, trying to resist the temptation.

Mike shrugged, a sly smile forming on his face.

"Suit yourself, Justin. But just think about it. It's easy money, and we could really turn things around for ourselves and your family," he said, emphasizing the last part.

His words lingered in my mind, tempting me with the promise of a way out. The financial burden weighed heavily on my shoulders, and I began to see selling drugs as a possible solution.

Days turned into weeks, and the desperation grew. Finally, I sought out Mike at the bar one night, my voice filled with resignation.

"Alright, Mike. I'm in," I said, my voice steady but filled with a mix of determination and regret.

A triumphant grin spread across his face.

"That's what I like to hear, Justin. Together, we'll make things right."

Under Mike's guidance, I entered the world of drug distribution. It was a dark path I never thought I'd take, but desperation had led me there. I used my position at the bar to make connections and discreetly sell drugs.

"Bye! See you tomorrow!" Andrew greeted me.

"See ya! Thanks, Andrew!" I spoke gratefully on one late night, as I walked home after a particularly long shift, I caught sight of an old man sitting on a bench. There was something familiar about him. As I got closer, I recognized him readily.

"Mr. Thompson!" I called out, a smile forming on my face.

The old man looked up, his eyes widening with surprise. "Justin? Is that really you?"

I nodded, excited to see a familiar face. "Yes, it's me! How have you been?"

Mr. Thompson chuckled, his wrinkles deepening. "Oh, you know, getting by. How about you? How's your job going?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to share. But the warmth in Mr. Thompson's eyes encouraged me to open up.

"Well, Mr. Thompson, things have taken an unexpected turn. I lost my job as a guard but got a new one and I am happy with that!"

"You can file a case against your father, he deserves it!" He resolutely spoke.

"It is useless. We don't have space in his heart and you know very well, I am not used to fighting for the things that I don't own."

"You should be going to college instead of going for a job!" He added.

"But I don't want to let my mother struggle alone. I'm working at the bar, and also I've found myself involved in some other... opportunities," I admitted, choosing my words carefully.

He raised an eyebrow, his curiosity evident. "Bar? And opportunities, you say?"

I took a deep breath. "Yes, I've been involved in some side business. It's not something I'm proud of, but I'm doing what I can to support my family."

Mr. Thompson's gaze softened, and he placed a hand on my shoulder. "Justin, I understand the struggles you face. But remember, there's always a choice. You have the power to shape your own path."

His words struck a chord within me, stirring a mix of emotions. I nodded, grateful for his wisdom.

"I know, Mr. Thompson. I'm trying my best to navigate through it all. I just hope I can find a way to provide for my family without compromising my values."

Mr. Thompson smiled warmly. "I have faith in you, Justin. Sometimes, life presents us with unexpected challenges, but it's how we face them that defines us. Keep pushing forward, and remember that there's always a light at the end of the tunnel."

"Thanks, Mr. Thompson! Did you meet him?" I asked.

"No, I didn't! Nobody knows where has your father gone but the lady with him was not a casual woman. Your father, wherever Mr. Tony Morretti is, is involved in the lion's share of her work. There is much to be expected from him, after all, he was a drug addict and all that!"

"It's late Mr. Thompson, don't worry about others instead take care of yourself."

I made my home via the dark alleys, thinking about the circumstances of being a drug addict.

"This world is the game of brilliant minds and I am already in love with this game, my honey!" These words keep wandering in my mind whenever I think about my father, and multiple questions linger around me. The only thing I know in this dialogue is ... His honey, Miss Rosalinda or you can say Mrs. Tony Moretti.

"I am home!" I called aloud and was greeted warmly by my sweet little family I am always happy with.