Read Online The Con by Justine Elvira - Free Book Online Page B

I'm already holding a twelve hundred dollar invoice
in my hands.
    "Do you mind telling me what this is?"
Taking the invoice out of the envelope, I hand her the sheet of
paper and her eyes scan over the bill.
    "This is for the exterior paint job that was
done a few weeks ago. This company is amazing at what they do. They
were able to take our ugly green siding and turn it into a
masterpiece. Don't you love the new colors?"
    "I don't love it twelve hundred dollars
worth." I drag a hand through my long brown hair. I'm dealing with
a lot of shit right now and I can't be dealing with her spending
problem as well. "Why didn't you just call Ky? He would have done
it at cost."
    "I don't know why you're complaining,
Jagger. It's not like you're broke. You have the money."
    My sister, with her jet-black pixie cut and
pale skin, has always been a pain in the ass, but her and her son
are the only family I have now and I love her. I never knew my mom,
but her and my dad had three children together–my sisters, Richie
and Charlie, and me. I was the baby of the family.
    Back then we probably sounded like a
traditional family on paper, but when my mom died my dad started
drinking. My sister, Richie, was a runaway, leaving the house when
I was only five. We never heard from her again. My dad died several
years later of liver and kidney failure, complications of his
excessive drinking, and by then I was ten and Charlie was a
pregnant teen.
    By the time she had Mason I was already
working the streets and learning from the best on how to swindle
some extra cash so we could eat and keep a roof over our heads. I
stopped going to school, although I never really went anyway. My
dad was supposed to homeschool me but most of the time he was too
drunk to teach me anything. When he died my sister said I was
already so far behind that if she registered me now it would raise
red flags. I probably would have been taken away from her and put
in foster care.
    "I know I have money, Charlie, but I won't
if you keep spending it the way you do. Jesus! I promised I would
always help take care of you and Mason and I've held true to my
promise, but you've got to help me out here, too. I don't want to
be hustling for the rest of my life. I'd like to save enough of a
cushion where I can eventually get out of the game."
    "I know, Jag."
    "Do you? Because the way you spend my money
I'll be working cons for the rest of my life."
    Charlie's still in her robe and pink fleece
pajama pants. She plays with the belt of her robe while looking
down at her feet like a child being scolded by their dad. The irony
is she's six years older than me.
    "I'm really sorry, bro. I promise to stop
spending. I'm grateful for all that you do for me and Mason and I
never want you to think I'm taking advantage of you."
    "That's all I–" I'm startled by the front
door to our trailer bursting open. Angelo struts in, looking around
like he owns the place. I'm not even sure if he's welcome in my
house after the way he's acted this past year.
    Angelo and I have been friends since we were
kids. Over the years I've brought him in on a few of the
opportunities that have presented themselves to me, mostly because
he needed to help support his family, too. I've taught the man most
of what he knows, but I forced him to work on his own. He needed to
learn to be self-sufficient. Then last year we had a falling out
after I worked a job he wanted and made sixty G's. He hasn't spoken
to me since, well, until last week.
    The asshole asked me to meet him over at
Damien's warehouse and I was cautious of it the entire drive
over.
    I should have trusted my instincts; they've
never stirred me wrong.
    Angelo had me meet him over at the warehouse
because he now works for Damien Marino. They partnered up several
months back and I've heard they do well.
    But I don't believe in partners.
    Those two morons called me over to Damien's
warehouse, between a car dealership and medical supply store,
because they needed me to