Facing the Past

Jeff sees the sun shining brightly in the afternoon skies, birds chirping happily in treetops around him. It feels so good to be free again, Jeff thinks, inhaling the fresh southern air. He'd only been a couple of hours in the place, but it seemed like an eternity to Jeff. I need to make sure my wife and kids are alright, not that I can do anything to save them. The familiar sinking feeling returns. Maybe I can cut a deal with Bambini, so I won't have to do this anymore. He recalls his and Luigi's initial conversation. No chance of me pulling that off. Hopefully, I'll finish soon.

"This way," his lawyer instructs, motioning him across the lot.

Following Mancini to his car, Jeff climbs inside.

The lawyer looks over, grins, and says, "You played it off well, kid. You played it all off real well, like a pro."

"I'll do or say whatever it takes to keep Julie and the girls safe."

The lawyer smiles, nods, and says, "Wise choice, son, wise choice." Working with Bambini for years, he knows how cold and heartless the man can be.

Jeff figured the high-priced mouthpiece would drop him off at his house, but he took him to the park instead. Jeff glances at his lawyer, a curious expression on his face. "What am I doing here?

"Bambini told me to drop you off. He said he had a job for you to do. " Mr. Mancini explains, pulling up beside Luigi's GT.

No rest for the weary, Jeff thinks, forcing his exhausted body out of the car. "What am I going to do now?" he asks.

"You're going to be my backup."

A million scenarios play out in Jeff's mind as Luigi's words echos in his head. His face loses its natural bronze tone. His knees begin to weaken. His legs become shaky, threatening to give. On the verge of collapse, Jeff leans against the car. "A backup for what?" Jeff studders.

Luigi smiles. "You'll see." He likes to keep the newbies guessing to keep them on their toes.

Jeff pictures them holding up a bank. He gulps and says, "I... I don't think I'll do very well."

Luigi slaps him on the back, causing Jeff to fall forward. "You'll be fine."

"I… I don't know."

Luigi reaches for his phone, gives him a warning look, then says, "Boss's orders, and what he says goes."

Luigi's threat echoes in his head. Feeling defeated, Jeff sighs again. "What's my part in it?"

"Just stand there and look tough."

"That's it?"

"Yep."

"I think I can handle that."

Luigi reaches into his glove box and takes out a small, black piece. "This is for you."

Vivid images from childhood trauma replay in Jeff's mind as he eyes the gun.

His uncle strung out meth, storms into his childhood home, and demands money. Jeff's mom says she's had enough and refuses to pay. Pulling out a gun, the uncle threatens to shoot everyone if she doesn't give him some cash. Being the good mother she is, she runs over to protect her babies. The uncle shoots her in the leg and then tells her there will be more if she doesn't hand over the dough. The police show up and take the uncle down, losing two of their own in the bloody, eight-hour standoff. His mom miraculously survived but walked with a limp. Jeff to young to take care of himself at the time. was taken from her care. The tragic event is something Jeff will never forget.

Luigi holds the weapon further out. "Here, take it. You're going to need it for this next job."

Jeff fingertips the gun then studders, "I…I've never handled a gun before."

Rolling his eyes as he shakes his head, Luigi says, "I can tell." He snorts and adds, "Oh, for Christ's sake, It's not loaded. You'd probably kill yourself if it were. " He points to the side of the gun. "And the safety is on so that nothing can go wrong."

"Oh." Jeff carefully grips the handle.

Luigi rolls his eyes again."Pretend it's the toy gun you had as a kid. "

Jeff looks up.

"Let me guess. You never had a gun as a kid."

"Mom wouldn't allow it. She cut the guns off our toy soldiers too."

"You need to get a grip if we're going to pull this off, and if we don't, well, it's so long to your wife and kids."

Jeff gulps. "I... I'll be alright. in a minute."

Luigi stuffs a gun in his pocket. "Get in."

A horrid thought suddenly comes to mind as Jeff opens the door. He turns and asks, "You're not going to kill anyone, right?"

"We're just reminding him about a debt he owes."

"He …He won't shoot us, right?"

"He's too scared of what Bambini will do to try anything."

"What if he has company?"

"The guy keeps to himself except on the weekends when he's trying to hit it big at the tracks. Even then, he doesn't socialize with anyone."

"Oh."

"Do you have any more questions, or can we go?"

Jeff had a few more but thought it best not to ask. "No, I'm good."

"Get in," Luigi instructs, climbing into his car.

The two pull into a new subdivision a few minutes later. The project was started in 2019 by an out-of-state company, hoping to make it big, promising the town big things when they arrived. The mayor was hoping it'd get his small town on the map. Then the pandemic hit. The company went belly up soon after, leaving a lot of empty houses and undeveloped land.

Turning off the engine, Luigi looks over and says, "Remember to look tough and keep the gun pointed at him at all times."

Jeff nods. "Got it."

The two make their way across the yard. Luigi glances back to find Jeff ghostly pale. "Hope you're ready for this, newbie." He bursts through the door.

Startled, the homeowner grabs a fire poker from the hearth and darts into the hall.

"You better drop your weapon before you get hurt." Luigi orders, cocking his gun.

Seeing the two in the doorway, Mitch drops the metal rod. The weapon clanks across the tile floor. "Whatever you want, just... Just take it, alright?"

"You know why we're here, right?" Luigi asks.

Puzzled by the question, Mitch glances between the two. "You're... You're going to rob me?"

"No, you idiot. Bambini wants us to collect on a debt you owe."

"I... I told him I'd pay him next week."

"You've said that for the past two months."

"I...I haven't been able to come up with the cash."

"Guess I need to collect another way." Luigi presses his gun against Mitch's head.

"No, please, don't shoot me, please. I'm good for it, I swear."

"Then pay us what you owe."

"I…I don't have the cash now, but I can get some in a day or so."

Luigi drills the edge of the pistol deeper into his skull. "Bambini said I have to get it tonight or else."

"Here, take my watch. It's worth a lot of money." He pulls it off his wrist. "I have a painting that's worth a fortune." He points to the other room.

"What's in the safe?" Luigi asks.

The man nervously shifts his weight. "What safe? I don't have a safe?"

Shoving the man into the front room, Luigi pulls the artwork off the wall. "Open it."

"It's... It's empty."

Luigi shoves the gun against the man's head. "Open it, now."

Mitch fumbles with the combination. After a few attempts, the safe pops open.

Swinging the door back, Luigi glances inside. "Empty my ass."

"That's my life savings." Mitch protests.

"You better hope it's enough." Luigi hands him a bag. "Start filling."

"But I.. I."

"Do it, now."

Hearing a car pull up, Jeff runs to the window. With fear in his eyes, he turns and says, "It's the cops."