"But I'm not a little kid anymore Vito," protested Marcus Gamboni. "I don't need to take a goddamned nap!"
"If I say you're gonna get some rest, you're gonna get some rest!" growled his brother in return. "I'm in charge of this operation, and you want to be fresh for tonight, don't cha? I have the alarm on my phone set for 4. So whether you actually fall asleep or not, lay down on that damn bed and rest a spell."
Marcus knew it was useless to argue with his older brother, especially when their father had put him in charge. So he kicked off his shoes, loosened his belt some to be a bit more comfortable, and then laid upon the bed within their room at the Moon Lake hotel.
At first he fought it, but soon Marcus found his eyes closing against his will and the younger Gamboni actually fell asleep.
MEANWHILE...
Peter Brooks was in his fifth period class for the day at Moon Lake High School, but his mind was on anything but English.
I wonder if Karen's met with whoever Leon Talbot picked to represent the werelions yet? Has she made a decision as to which were feline she wants to be? Has she taken the plunge and joined were society yet? Which feline did she decide upon? How does Karen look with fur? How does she look without it? Will she like me as whichever were feline she's gonna be? Is she even interested in me to begin with? Once she does become a were, do I even have a chance with her? Did I ever have a chance with her to begi—
"Mister Brooks," said the teacher, interrupting Peter's chain of thought.
"Yes ma'am?"
"Exactly what did Shakespeare mean when he had Hamlet ask, To be, or not to be? " she asked, thinking she had caught a student daydreaming.
"Whether it was better to continue living life as he knew it or to kill himself," replied Peter.
"And do you think Hamlet made the right choice?" the teacher asked.
"Yes because no problem, no matter how bad it might seem at the time, is only temporary in the end compared to the permanency of ending your own life," answered Peter.
"That's correct," said the teacher, as the end of period bell rang. "For tomorrow, read the rest Act 3 from Hamlet's soliloquy to the final scene, and be prepared to answer questions concerning it. Class dismissed."
Wherever you are right now Karen, I hope you're all right. My dad, the rest of the police and the FBI will get those Gambonis so they never trouble you or your family ever again, vowed Peter, as he got up to leave for his next class.
Karen Charleston cowered in fear as a sinister shadow loomed over her.
"You're mine now darling," said Marcus Gamboni as she tried to back away from him, but only got as far as the corner of the room.
Suddenly, both of them heard two shots ring out through the Charleston house.
Karen screamed and started crying uncontrollably as Marcus flashed her an evil looking smile. "You're the last of the Charlestons now, but soon you'll be Mrs. Marcus Gamboni," he vowed.
"NEVER!" she shouted, to which Marcus hauled off and hit her right in the face with his fist as hard and as fast as he could.
"That's for back talking to me!" he said, before hitting her again. "And that's for putting me through all the hell of trying to find you in the first place!"
Karen couldn't stop crying, even as blood oozed from her cut lip and the skin around her left eye started to swell and discolor.
"Shut the fuck up before I show you just how mad I really am," Marcus told her, before grabbing Karen by the hair and pulling her along like a reluctant dog on a leash to drag her to their getaway car. "You're mine now Mrs. Gamboni, from now till the end of time!"
And in a certain motel room within Moon Lake, a smile creeped across the face of Marcus Gamboni as he continued to snooze.
TO BE CONTINUED...