CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Last Day Of 1999- Another Level
It was New Year’s Eve and my plans were basic, rooted in self-preservation.
I was gonna spend it solo with a bottle of red wine, some fat lines of heroin and a deep sleep full of sweet dreams.
In the days following Mundo’s departure I’d barely heard from Biz and Cabrón, even though he’d said they’d be taking care of me. Even though they’d both left a ton of shit in my apartment- stuff that would probably need tending to at some point.
But whatever- fuck it. I was not gonna be chasing anyone. At least not until my dope and money started looking shaky, and for the time being I was good on both fronts.
Around 7pm I heard someone calling up at my window.
“Eula! Yo! Euuuuula!”
Sighing, I walked over to the window. It was ‘Brón.
Now what?
I stuck my head out the window, looked down, frowned and brought my hands to my shoulders in a “Fuck you want?” gesture.
“C’mon, Eula,” Brón shouted, trying to sound cute, “throw your keys down!”
Against my better judgement, I threw down my keys.
As soon as he got upstairs, I made sure to peep what Cabrón was wearing. Nice outfit and fresh fade meant official advance man business. Grey sweats and a solid color t-shirt mean something with a lower profile.
‘Brón was simple like that- easy to figure out if you paid attention. This evening he was outfitted for something that obviously needed to be kept on the hush.
I mighta been a dope fiend but I was still on top of the semiotics of style.
I was truly not interested in whatever this man had to offer. Not tonight.
“Hey,” ‘Brón said by way of greeting. Always such a charmer with me, that Cabrón.
“Hi, ‘Brón, what you got going on? Want a beer?”
“Nah, gotta stay focused. But thanks,” he replied.
I dipped into the old, white fridge and pulled a beer out for myself. We stood across from each other, both leaning elbows on my breakfast bar.
I waited silently, chess boxing.
“Whatchoo getting into tonight? Big plans?” He casually clocked my t-shirt and pajama pants ensemble. “Wanna roll with me?” he asked.
“What are you getting into tonight, Cabrón?” I threw back at him.
‘Brón was a total asshole, but a secret little part of me liked fucking with him. He was such an odd mix of cagey and thick-headed. It was fun.
“I gotta take care of some Bolo-related shit. Gonna stop by PanStar first, then gotta take a little ride out to check on something. Wanna roll with me? I’ll give you five minutes to get ready,” he said, glancing at his Omega Seamaster watch.
“What’s PanStar,” I asked. I had zero idea what he was talking about. And I knew better than to ask him where he had to take a “little ride out” to.
‘Brón looked at me, a mixture of surprise and dawning understanding on his face.
“You don’t know about PanStar? For real?”
