Read The Cut (Spero Lucas) for Free Online Page B

speaking of Leo’s behind.
    “You were givin it a good inspection, huh?”
    “You can’t help but see it. It’s like a billboard.”
    “That’s all muscle back there,” said Leo. “That’s why I can’t wear those skinny Levi’s like you do. I got a man’s build.”
    “Your father used to tell me to buy you Lees,” said Eleni, looking at Leo. “And he’d say, get Levi’s for Spero.”
    “Lees had more room in the back,” said Spero helpfully. “To accommodate your manly build.”
    “In the front, too,” said Leo.
    “Stop it,” said Eleni. “More
salata
, Spero?”
    “Entaxi,”
said Spero, telling her that he was fine.
    They spoke a combination of Greek and English when they were home. It made their mother happy. Neither Spero nor Leo was Greek by blood, but, somewhat defiantly, they considered themselves to be honorary Greeks. Both were Orthodox, raised in the church. Of the four Lucas children, they were the ones who had attended Greek school, an after-public-school program, when they were young, which they loathed at the time but which paid off with dividends lateron. Both had played basketball in the Greek Orthodox Youth of America league as well. Spero had been a wrestler primarily but was a strong athlete and had held his own on the courts. Leo had been a standout point guard in high school, and in the church league he tore it up. He was thirty years old, and it had been twelve years since he had last played GOYA, but in the Baltimore-Washington corridor Greek guys of his generation, even those who had cursed him at one time, and a few who had muttered racial epithets under their breath at him, now spoke of
Mavro Leo
with reverence.
    “Your sister called me,” said Eleni.
    “Epitelos,”
said Spero. It meant, roughly, that it was about time.
    “What’d
she
want?” said Leo.
    “Just to catch up,” said Eleni, noticing the look between Leo and Spero. Irene, the eldest of the siblings, rarely called home and visited even less frequently. She had made her break from the family long ago and had not looked back. As for Dimitrius, their older brother, Eleni knew not to mention his name in front of her younger sons. Leo in particular had no love for his older brother, whom he simply called the Degenerate, and couldn’t forgive the stress he had put on their parents. Leo didn’t care about his whereabouts or how he was doing. Eleni, of course, had forgiven Dimitrius for everything and would have embraced him without reservation if he were to walk through the front door. She didn’t speak on Dimitrius to Spero and Leo, but he was still in her thoughts constantly, and she prayed for him every day.
    “What’s goin on with Irene?” said Spero, not much caring, appeasing his mother.
    “She just won a case. Some corporate thing.”
    “Big money,” said Leo.
    “I suppose.” Eleni had a sip of wine, looked at the glass, and killed what was left. “How’s work going, Leo?”
    “Good,” said Leo. “I got this class, all boys. I’m really enjoying it, and I think they are, too.” He looked at Spero. “You’re coming to visit, right?”
    “For career day?”
    “We don’t call it that. I bring in people who have had success, from different backgrounds, to show the boys their options. You got a story, man.”
    “I’ll come in if you want me to.” Spero pushed his plate away. “What are they reading in your class,
The Scarlet Letter
, somethin like that?”
    “We’re finishing up an Elmore Leonard,” said Leo.
    “Which one?”
    “
Unknown Man #89
.”
    “Good one.”
    “Hell, yeah.”
    “You can do that?”
    “I gotta clear it, but I can teach pretty much any book I want.”
    “You’re enjoying it,” said Eleni.
    “I am,” said Leo. “I found my calling.”
    “Better watch out for the big boss,” said Spero. “That superintendent gets a wild hair up her ass and you might be out on the street.”
    “She’s not gonna fire me, man,” said Leo. “I
do
my