Accidental Mobster by M. M. Cox

trust you with anything! Anything at all! First the credit card, and now you’re getting Danny involved in your fights!”
    Vince slumps into a chair at the kitchen table. He seems tired and angry, but he shows little concern for his mother’s rage. He shoots me an evil smile. “Actually, Danny started fighting before I did.”
    â€œWhat? That’s ridiculous!” Ronnie spins to face me. “Tell me he’s lying!”
    I glare at Vince, who shrugs, as though this is a game. I feel like punching Vince in his split lip. Getting in trouble like this is a quick way to earn a ticket right back to Ridley, or worse, into the hands of Barb Kluwer.
    â€œI’m sorry, Missus Vigliotti. I don’t know if it makes any difference, but the other kid made the first move,” I offer weakly. “I was just defending myself.”
    Ronnie turns to Vince, who has taken the box of Cocoa Nuggets from the table and is using his grimy hand to scoop dry cereal into his mouth. I make a mental note to bypass the Cocoa Nuggets tomorrow morning. That is, if there is a tomorrow morning at the Vigliotti house for me.
    â€œYeah, the other kid moved first,” Vince answers, grinning at me. “Danny actually made a weak attempt to stop the fight before it started, but I’m pretty sure his only motivation for that was the hottie standing next to him.”
    Ronnie shakes her head in frustration, but I keep my eyes on Vince, trying to gauge his motivation. Vince’s tendency to joke is obvious. The problem is, I don’t know whether Vince is teasing his mother or trying to get me to take the blame. Vince and I certainly aren’t friends, but we fought on the same team today, and I guess I expect a degree of loyalty for facing off with strangers.
    â€œWell, that’s great—that’s just great!” Ronnie is still furious. “And the other kids, they look like you two?”
    â€œWorse.” Vince smirks. “Danny’s a champ. Although the beating he gave Tommy didn’t seem to keep that butt-head from being a snot-nosed brat to Joe Saviano.”
    Ronnie puts her hand immediately to her chest. “Tommy? Tommy Gallo?”
    Vince glares at her defiantly. “Yeah, Tommy was the one who started everything.”
    Ronnie is staring at him, but she no longer seems angry. She looks frightened.
    â€œVince, I told you not to provoke that boy. I told you to leave him alone! You know why!”
    I can’t help but feel I am missing information that would make Ronnie’s behavior make sense. Vince is no longer smirking; he angrily slams the Cocoa Nuggets on the table, causing crispy chocolate pieces to come flying out of the box.
    â€œI don’t care who he is—or who his father is!” Vince says loudly. “If he’s going to rush at me, fists flying, then I’m going to reply with some fist flying of my own. And Danny’s no different. He’s not going to sit there and allow Tommy to give him a bloody head for no reason. And I’m glad to have him on my side. It’s about time Tommy had some competition. The whole school is tired of his bullying.”
    Vince meets my eyes with a look of respect, and I can’t help but feel a little proud. Ronnie, however, is not as touched by Vince’s words. She steps forward and puts her hands on his shoulders, her eyes pleading as they look into his. “It’s not about being brave or even about self-defense, Vince. It’s about keeping you safe—keeping this family safe. Making sure your father doesn’t suffer for what happens among boys on the playground.”
    Vince shakes her off. “Playground? Seriously, Mom! Don’t say crap like that. And I don’t care! You hear me, I don’t care!”
    He flies from the room, and several seconds later the stairs are again treated to his pounding feet.
    Ronnie turns to me, her face pale. “Well,” she says,