Episode 2

Gael, commonly known as Tiger (narrating**)

Hey folks, let me introduce myself here, my name is Gael Henrique, but everyone calls me (Tiger), I'm 30 years old and I've lived a lot in this life, I'm light-skinned, with brown hair and eyes, I'm pretty well-built and have a lot of tattoos because I really like them. I took over the hill when I was 21, after my old man was killed in an ambush, naturally, I killed all those involved, got my revenge on everyone. I live with my mother, Mrs. Lidia, she's beyond words, and I have a brother named Gabriel who’s my deputy on the hill, everyone calls him Skinny 'cause he's always been slender, though nowadays he's put on some muscle. Then there’s my right-hand man, Popcorn.

They've been with me since I took over the hill, they're tight with me.

To this day, I've never been in a serious relationship because on this hill we only have girls throwing themselves at me, and sure, I get with them but I let it be known nothing more than sex is gonna happen with me, and I don't do kissing either, 'cause who knows where they've been with their mouth before coming to me.

If it were up to my mother, I would be married by now, she adores Carine, a girl from the hill who keeps sucking up to my mother; her mom is really good friends with mine, and for them, I'd have already been in a serious relationship. Not that the girl isn't pretty, 'cause she is, but she's just not my type, bro—the girl's way too forward. I've been with her a couple of times, and she acts as if she's my loyal girl; it's about time I clip her wings.

Picture of Gael, known as (Tiger) 👆

I wake up to my phone's alarm, get up early, take a quick shower, slip into some comfortable clothes but still stylish, slap on a cap, my sneakers, grab my rifle, sling it over my shoulder, and head out the door.

"Gael, you're skipping breakfast again?" My mother yells from the kitchen.

"I'm not hungry, I'll have breakfast later."

I hop on my bike and head to the checkpoint; today a drug shipment is arriving, and I want to check it myself. When I reach the checkpoint, I see a hot girl walking down the hill on foot.

"Hey," I greet Popcorn and the Kid, who are on the checkpoint.

"Hey boss," the Kid says.

"Up with the sun, huh?" Popcorn teases.

But I barely hear them, I'm distracted by the girl walking by with confidence, the sentinels at the checkpoint mess with her, throwing idiotic jokes, but she doesn't seem to care. I notice she shoots me a look, but she quickly looks away when she sees me staring and continues to the bus stop. Right then, the bus arrives and she hops on.

"Wipe that drool, it's dripping," Popcorn says, laughing and teasing me.

"Shut the hell up, what drool are you talking about?" I snap back, annoyed.

They laugh until I say, "Well, who is she? I've never seen her around here."

"No idea, but if I'm not mistaken, she works at Seu Mane’s," Popcorn responds.

"Her name’s Carol, lives with her grandma on Street 8," the Kid adds.

"You know this girl?" I ask.

"Yeah, and no disrespect boss, but she's never gonna give you a glance," he says, and it sounds almost like he's jealous.

"Kid, why the hell are you saying that?" I challenge him.

"Because I know the girl. She can't stand thugs, works two jobs to keep the roof over her head, and I've never seen her with any guy, not from here nor from the city. She only leaves home to work," he says.

"That's interesting," I remark.

The truck with the shipment arrives, and I go over to check it. Before long, it's already noon, I skipped lunch again, but my mother sends someone to deliver a meal to my brother and me.

I'm in my office counting a wad of cash when Skinny walks in.

"Is that door just decoration or what?" I snap, pissed off.

"Wow, someone's touchy. What, you need to get laid?" he suggests.

"Don't you work anymore, damn it? Where've you been till now?"

"I was with my sweetheart," he says, all smiles.

"Since when do you have a sweetheart, are you nuts?" I can't believe what he's telling me.

"Since yesterday, at the next party I'm gonna introduce her as my girl."

"Gone soft have you? Geez," I tease him, but he doesn't seem to care.

"I want you to investigate a girl for me, a certain Carol from Street 8, I want to know everything, down to the color of her panties," I demand seriously.

"Why do you need that?" he inquires, eyebrows raised.

"Just to clear some doubts," I say.

"I know the girl; she's a friend of my gal. Leave her be, as far as I know her life is just work," he cautions.

"Just do what I told you," I demand sternly.

"Alright, I'm on it," he says and leaves.

I spend the afternoon at the drug spot sorting out issues. Soon it's nearly seven o'clock, I leave for a quick shower and then off to Seu Manoel's bar. I can't miss the chance to see Carol again, this girl must have hit me with some strong magic for me to be thinking about her all day.

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