iol
rning, b
. Her mom, Barbara, was standing over the cramped kitchen counter in their sm
. What are you doi
g you lunch
ool anymore. I’ve gr
diately. She didn’t remember that her beautiful d
y. She felt bad about it and grabbed the brown paper
e way, what is Dylan doing in the house?
out from college,” Vio
shock like this was the fi
Ever since Barbara got diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last year, her memory and health had been deteriorating. Barbara stopped wo
for him,” Violet lied. She knew her mom wou
when Violet was thirteen years old. Her father wanted to expand his business, and he made a bad business deal with some powerful people in Italy. These people ended up bankrupting her father’s business. It got so bad that her father had to borrow money from so many people just so the family could stay afloat. In the end, Violet’s father had to sell their three-story home, all their cars and assets, and they
y at Fordham. Barbara was so happy for him and he promised that he’d get a good education so their family could go back to the way it was. Unfortunately, only two years later, Barbara’s health began to decline with Alzheimer's. Violet was still a senior in high school. Dylan
been around the house latel
ince last year, mom. He’s
d sweetly, but she knew she would have
g or check the post-its if you forget something,” Violet
r. Have fu
e you,
too, swe
was long, her face was pale, but her blue eyes were shining bright. If she had more time in the morning, she would’ve put on some make up, but there was no time for pleasa
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
ng downtown. After a ten minute ride later, she arrived at her stop and made her way to the coffee shop. And
s was a line she had spoken so many times in her life, it came out like a reflex. She didn’t even hav
let looked up from the register and saw a familiar face. It was a gi
ou’re… Nico
ook AP Calc
how are you?”
icole turned to the glass windows and waved at her friends s
and waved at the people outside. They
e, I didn’t know you w
turned her eyes back to the re
d latte
g righ
mell of freshly ground coffee and she found making coffees to be a therapeutic act. She’d prefer if people didn't talk to her wh
igh school’s already ov
es,” Violet re
bout college though. I
great school,
ot a full-ride scholarship
ea
ol! When are
going to
loud, people nearby tu
t down,” Violet
a full-ride schol
m New Jersey right now. My mom needs me,” she gave Nicole
Nicole pouted and sighed. “I don’t kn
at’ll be 3.50,” Violet put
change,” Nicole handed
nk y
itely back and turned her attention to the next cus
City Coffee, wha
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
ng around all day, but the day wasn’t over yet. She took a quick dinner break bef
e with as much work as she could. Not only that her mother needed money for treatment, but the Carvey fami
nce the 1980’s. The owner, Danny, was a good friend of Violet’s dad because they grew up together in high school. Danny felt bad about what h
ed up picking up that skill as well. Violet preferred working as a bartender than as a waitress. Sometimes the guys in the bar would get drunk and handsy and they’d put their hands on her miniskirt. That never sat well with her, especially
e money. Violet noticed that Dylan would sometimes do shady deals in the VIP section. He’d find girls or drugs for the VIP customers. One time he even got a guy a gun. Dy
saw Dylan walking out of the manager’s office in a suit and tie. Normally, her brother would only wear jeans
oming tonight,” Dylan played with his eye
eaned the bar,” Viol
and took out a ciga
tball guys? Or that rapper Ice-T?” Vi
athletes an
n wh
maf
but his expression was dead serious. He took a long drag of his cigar
fia?” sh
at only she could hear him. “They’re coming tonig
it was a folklore story. They were the biggest mobster group in New Jersey since the Luciano fam
life was mostly peaceful and idyllic. She spent all her days at school, working at the coffee shop, and she’d go to church on Sundays.
turned her head instantly. She noticed the atmosphere in the air shifted as this group of guys ent
d tattoos were peeking out of his expensive three-piece suit. Violet found herself gazing at this myster
let saw him in person, the devi
o Be Contin