16. Luciano

Past

April 2009

I made it to Bruce's house with ease.

The man received me immediately, as if he had already been waiting for me, and I did not hesitate.

"Well, boy, let's park at the back of the property and you can settle in a small cabin he has on the outskirts of town, it's the best thing given the situation," he explained straight to the point after greeting us.

So, we did.

Half an hour later, I was in a small, wooden house that looked unkempt. In front of it, there was a more affluent truck, so I assumed it was the car he drove in his day-to-day life. There was no doubt in my mind that the red, beat-up van was the one that would leave me and I still felt good about it.

"Your grandfather sent something for you to settle in and paid the months' rent, but he made it clear that the rest is up to you..."

"In other words, the old man wants me to work..." I don't have a problem with it," I said confidently, and Bruce smiled.

"You're going to work in the shop, you'll clean, you'