The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 11 Sebastian's Tirade You finally wore the dress | bought for you, Cristos said. “And this hair, | like it.” fore | forget, my mom needs you to book an appointment for tomorrow afternoon at the lon you go to,” Joy said.

“She wants to go blonde too.” | “What the world needs right? Is another dumb blonde, Sebastian said unexpectedly, | gave him a dirty look.

What in the fuck...

“What's wrong with you?” Cristos asked Sebastian gruffly.

“| can’t believe you guys. She ghosted us for two week. Didn't answer our phone calls, not even a single text to inform us she’s okay. She spends our money to make herself beautiful and what thanks do we get huh?” He scoffed at us. “Now she makes one small message and you guys crunning. You two are so pathetic “About that, Sebastian, I'm so sorry. Cristos toldabout what you guys do and | freaked. If it's any consolation, | felt miserable these past two weeks,” Joy quickly explained. “I really missed you guys. | promise, I'll never do it again” “Well, Cristos and Xavier may forgive you so easily, but it will take more th just a short explanation before you and | can becfriends again,” Sebastian stood up and buttoned the guys have fun.” forms su You “Sebastian-" The smile on Joy's face when she entered Skybar was gone, replaced by panic, fear and rejection.

Sebastian raised his hand to stop Joy. “After helping you these past two years, | think | deserve better treatment.

All three of us do. Cristos... Xavier... have no problems with you nor do | care if you want to keep her as your friend.” And with that, he left.

Cristos and | were so shocked, we didn’t even stop him from leaving. What was wrong with him? “Joy, don’t worry about Sebastian. I'll talk to him. He's just really hurt you ignored him, that’s all,” | said, trying to cheer her up.

“He’s right, Xavier. | shouldnt have done that to a of you. I'm really sorry,” Joy said trying to fight the urge to cry.

“We know, sweetie. We'll handle this,” Cristos said looking atlike this wasn’t the reunion 2/5 CHAPTER 11 Sebastian's Tirade he had in mind.

| turned and saw Sebastian exiting Skybar with his arms around a girl. | mean if he wanted to go and f uck someone, he didn’t have to go and ruin our night.

“Let’s forget about Sebastian for now. Cristos and | will get to the bottom of this. Let's grab a drink.

Miraculously, it was a fun night even if it was just the three of us. After dropping Joy home, Cristos received a message from De Luca, Sebastian’s Capo..

“Xavier, somethings happening at Sin,” he toldwhile we walked back to our cars.

“De Luca's place? Don't f ucking tellSebastian went there instead of staying with us. D amn it!” | exclaimed, running my fingers through my hair. “Fine. Let’s go and pick him up. He is such an as shole!” Sebastian After using up all my strength to leave Joy and hopefully mend the bond between Cristos and Xavier, | picked up a brunette and her friends and went to Sin. | needed to drink heavily and it was the only place | could think of that would allowto drink until I passed out, knowing Capo De Luca and his crew would take care ofafter.

It was almost packed when | arrived. People were already dancing to trance, high on whatever party drug De Luca was offering. | offered the girls a drink, but they wanted something more thrilling. | told De Luca to have one of his dealers fulfill their requests, so they could leavethe f uck alone.

Fine, | did plan to reprimand Joy, but it cout so harshly. When | saw the rejection in her eyes, | almost caved, but I had to do it. Cristos and Xavier were already fighting over her. | didn’t want to be challenger number three.

“Woah. Domenico, slow down,” De Luca said, grabbing my shot glass before | could down it. “The night is still young and you are downing shots like there's no tomorrow. The only tI've seen you drink like this was when you found out Alicia was f ucking that t wat behind your back. What happened? Did Joy make her pick among the three of you?” “No. | just f ucking told her I didn’t want to be her friend anymore,” | said, shaking the tipsiness away.

3/5 CHAPTER 11 Sebastian's Tirade You what? How the f uck can you be such a coward?” De Luca asked.

“Watch it. | am still your boss.” | grabbed the shot glass from him and drank. “Cristos and Xavier are already fighting over her. | just took myself out of the picture. Anyway, she doesn’t love any one of us. She totally ghosted us when she was in New York and now that she’s here, she expects us to grovel at her feet.” “I heard about that from Ca ssandra,” De Luca said. | glanced at him. He's probably f ucking her. “Cristos told Joy about the organization. It’s a lot to absorb when supposedly her three bestfriends are suppose to be outstanding citizens. | actually commend Cristos for doing that. Now, we can formally make her a Soldier and start training her. She will make a great assassin.” “F uck you, De Luca. Just shut up about her joining the family and have your bartender getmore shots!” De Luca snapped his fingers at the bartender and gavemy space. | thought | was free to drink alone, when | heard familiar voices behind me..

“Where is he, De Luca?” Xavier shouted so he could be heard above the music.

“He's over there, De Luca answered. “Easy boys. He suffers from heartache.” He left the three of us, laughing so hard, it was his private little joke.

“Remindto shoot him tomorrow,” | said, raising a shot glass. Cristos forcibly took the glass and drank the shot instead.

“Enough, Sebastian.” He placed the shot glass on the bar and gestured to the bartender. “Water. My friend needs water.” “You hypocrite. You watched us argue over Joy when you are in love with her,” Xavier scolded me. “Then, you say those mean things to her, making her feel like everything is her f ucking fault.

“Xavier is right,” Cristos said. “What you said and did to Joy is downright selfish.” He took the water bottle, opened it and handed it to me. “You f ucking owe her an apology.” “F uck you. You can’t tellwhat to do,” | argued.

“You sound like a child, Sebastian,” Cristos said. “What were you planning to do? Avoid Joy forever then chere and drink yourself to death every f ucking night? She may not love us the way we love her, but at least we have her in our lives. Can’t we just accept that and live 4/5 28 Sat Mai 20 The Joy of Revenge.