Easter's Lilly by Judy Serrano Read Free Book Online

you sleeping with him, Lilly? Are you part of his harem now?”
    I was shocked and mortified that he assumed I would allow myself to be part of a string of women. “It’s not like that, dad.”
    “ Oh no!” he kept saying. “It’s worse than I thought.” He was still pacing. My mother got up from the couch and stood beside him.
    “ Do you love him?” she asked.
    “ He’s a skinny, little drug dealer, of course she doesn’t love him,” my father barked.
    “ I do love him, dad.” I moved slightly away from him. “I can’t help it, I need him.” My father continued to pace. If it were possible, steam would be coming out of his ears.
    “ I know this guy, Lil. He has a different girl every night. I know his friends personally. I have arrested all of them at least once but we can’t seem to catch John.”
    “ Maybe you’re wrong about him!” I shouted. “He’s with me now, dad. Only me.”
    “ Lilly, why are you being so naive? He sell drugs to kids.”
    I didn’t quite know how to win this one. Of course I was suspicious that he was involved in illegal activities. He wouldn’t have people watching me if he wasn’t. But I never asked and he never told. It was just kind of understood that I didn’t want to know. He carried a gun; that much I did know. He was the first person I had ever known to carry a gun that wasn’t a police officer.
    “ Have you noticed the Hispanic population growing around you?” he asked. “Roberto and Ray, just to name a few.”
    “ So what?” I asked.
    “ John’s superior is a Latino somewhere. We’re trying to find him. He’s having you protected for some reason, Lil. This means you have a purpose. I don’t like it.”
    “ Purpose?” I asked in surprise. “I don’t have anything they would want.”
    “ You are now his Achilles’ heel. They’ll keep you safe until they need leverage.” He said that last part very slowly as if to make his warning clear. I began to feel a little sick to my stomach. This was too much for me and my head was beginning to spin.
    “ Lilly, I may have to move you,” he said. Then there was a pounding on the door.
    “ Is he coming over here today?” he asked.
    “ It’s Easter.” I too was surprised. “He works on Easter at the restaurant. I’m not expecting anyone.”
    My dad reached for the doorknob and pulled the door open. It was Rudy. He had sweat dripping from his face and his hands were shaking. He pointed a gun at my father and said, “Sorry Mick. Wrong place, wrong time.” We heard a loud BANG! My father dropped to the floor and the vase behind me shattered. His icy blue eyes were blood red. My mother ran into the kitchen screaming. He turned and pointed the gun at me. “You should’ve picked me, Lilly. But they always go for John. It could’ve been different. I would’ve protected you.”
    I am sure I had that “deer in the headlights” look as he stood there pointing his gun at me. His sweat was covering the gun as his hands shook involuntarily. I began to think my relationship with Johnny might have been a mistake. How many times was I warned? Why did I continue to see him?
    “ At first you were just something new to play with. But then you became like an obsession and he couldn’t put you down. You’re now nothing more than a unnecessary distraction.” I bit my bottom lip as I watched him get ready to shoot me. “Goodbye Lilly.” Before I had a chance to move, I heard another loud BANG!
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
    Just One More Night
     
     
    I woke up in a hospital room and Johnny was sitting next to me holding my hand. The smell of antiseptic and old people tickled my nose causing me some nausea. Then I remembered. “My dad!” I shouted. “Oh my gosh, my dad!” Johnny jumped up as though I had awakened him.
    “ Your dad is fine. The bullet went right through his shoulder, that’s why the vase behind you shattered.”
    “ Was I shot?” I began to check my body for holes.
    “ No baby, you’re