Read Online The Hedonist by A.L. Patterson - Free Book Online

you’re selling to,” Poppa Giordano pointed out, “But your customers will not be disappointed. You have my guarantee. They will be back to you which means you will be back to us.”
    “Then make sure you’re ready,” Shawn smirked.
    “Oh we will be!” the old man laughed, “We always are.”
    Poppa Giordano went back to tending to his work after the exchange. Carlucci escorted them back up the stairs. When they went through the kitchen Momma Giordano waved bye as they walked into the public serving area of the restaurant. Carlucci stopped them just as they were getting ready to exit the building.
    “One last thing,” Carlucci said. “As a ‘thank you’ for the business, I want to throw in a small gift.”
    He pulled out a small tin case and handed it to Shawn.
    “What’s in it?” Shawn asked.
    “Your girls asked about the plants. There’s a purple kush joint for each of you in there,” he said pointing to the tin case.
    “Thanks,” Shawn said as they shook hands.
    “You girls enjoy that,” Carlucci smiled as he slapped Lauren and Jessica on the rears.
    Carlucci disappeared into the restaurant as they got into Shawn’s car.
    “Never experienced anything like that,” Lauren said as they got back onto the road. The backpack was in her lap.
    “What about the beach?” Jessica asked.
    “You two still want to go to the beach?” Shawn asked.
    Jessica and Lauren said yes in unison.
    “Alright, we’ll stop at Tybee Island for the beach. But only because it’s 10 minutes away from here.”
    And sure enough, they arrived on the beach 10 minutes later after passing over a large bridge. Tybee Island was filled with hotels and bars on every corner. There were so many palm trees and tourists about that it reminded them of Miami.
    “This place is awesome,” Jessica said.
    “Yeah, I love it too,” Shawn told them. “Spent most of my college years here.”
    After searching for a parking spot for nearly twenty minutes, they were on the beach. Lauren and Jessica were roaming around in their bikinis getting along quite well. As they went off, Shawn purchased a fold out chair and an umbrella to set up in the sand. Then he went to the closest outdoor bar and ordered a cocktail. With the backpack held tightly around his arm, he took his drink and lied back under his umbrella.
    “This is a good life,” he said to himself before making a correction. “Nah… it’ll be the good life after I sell what’s in this bag and get my savings back.”
    He downed his drink and fell asleep in the fold-out chair.
    *
    *
    “Shawn, wake up, sleepy head!”
    His eyes opened while Lauren was slightly shaking him awake. He yawned.
    “How long have I been asleep?”
    “Like two hours, it’s five o’clock now,” Lauren said.
    “We got hungry so we got some hotdogs. Got one for you too,” Jessica said as she passed him a hotdog with relish on top.
    “Great,” Shawn said while blinking his eyes open. “Thanks.”
    He felt the backpack to make sure his items were still inside. Once he was sure they were, he took a bite of his hotdog. Jessica and Lauren helped him pack his umbrella and chair into his car as he continued to clutch the backpack.
    “Did you two have a good time?” Shawn asked as they took off in the car.
    “Yeah, it was awesome,” Lauren said.
    “Loved every minute of it,” Jessica agreed.
    “In fact,” Lauren continued, “We should do this every weekend.”
    *
     
    An hour later, they were driving back home along the scenic route and discussing everything that transpired from the great Italian desserts to the basement full of marijuana plants and large quantities of cocaine.
    “I’ve never seen bricks of blow like that before in my life,” Jessica said.
    “Me neither,” Lauren nodded.
    “So how are you gonna make your money back?” Jessica asked Shawn.
    “Well,” he thought for a moment. “I paid $30,000 for two kilos. The plan is for me to make back double.”
    “How so?” Lauren