Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
“Why would he keep stuff like that up there?”
“Because no one in South End messes with Benny. Anybody intending on robbing the penthouse, would have to be ready for war. Benny doesn’t play fair. Something is missing in his head. His penthouse is probably the safest place on earth. And who would think that a man with all of these resources would be hiding things deep in the hood of a small city?”
“That makes sense.”
“In fact, you’re the only person I know that would go up against him like this. He has ears everywhere. He may not know you bought the building now, but he’ll find out by this evening. Let’s just hope we’re on a plane somewhere and out of sight, when he figures it out.”
I laughed. “No. I’ve got a better idea.”
“What?”
I turned on my phone. “After we get what we need, I’ll hold a press conference. Chase Stone’s redevelopment of South End.”
“No, now you’re just poking the dragon.”
“He has Jasmine. Maybe the dragon needs to be stabbed.”
“You’re babysitting your emotions. Let them go.”
I searched for more cognac and realized I’d left the bottle at the condo. My words had become slurred, but I still needed more. “I’m not babysitting anything.”
“With Benny, you need to think smart. Getting mad and bold won’t do shit, but get you killed. Just follow me. Keep the buyout a secret. Let him find out on his own. Give us a head start.”
“Us?”
“This is my daughter. Where you go, I go. If you leave the country, then I’ll follow.”
“That wasn’t the plan.”
“I’m coming, whether you decide to put me in my place or not. Anywhere you go to find my daughter, I will.”
“Then I’m going to need more cognac.”
Grinning, she winked again. “Make that two bottles please.”
In no time, we entered South End.
Christ.
When I’d met Jasmine, she stayed with Vivian in a small town called Knightson, ten minutes outside of Oshane City. It was so small it only had two stop lights. Lots of hippies walked the streets, holding baskets of fresh fruit and radiating the scent of weed. The rest were middle class families who commuted to their jobs in the city.
Knightson provided an easy and relaxed living compared to the fast-paced life of Oshane City. No one bothered anyone, and if they did it was to help in some way.
One couldn’t get lost in a place like this. With one quick look, I was confident the driver would do an immediate U-turn.
Dark clouds hovered above. Cracks dotted the pavement. Ragged weeds grew between the gaps. Shattered glass covered the ground. Broken fences outlined homes that could only be compared to shacks—the wood appeared worn, windows barred, doors hung slanted on tattered hinges, and even ceilings sank at the edges.
Was it some illusion? There was no way people actually lived like this. Animals slept in better cages.
Where sharp things didn’t lay, trash did—crumpled cigarette packs and wrinkled foil with bones sticking out of them. Styrofoam containers rolled in the wind. Several yellow-stained diapers piled the beginning of an alley like the city designated the space for Pampers disposal. Where hope could’ve grown, drugs stifled the faith. Dirty, young kids hung on the corner. Some wore no shirts, even though a small chill hung in the morning air.
Where are their mothers and fathers? Why are they out so early?
I rolled the window down. A burned-food stench filled the car. Maybe someone had over-cooked a meal. Two kids sat next to a table. A for sale sign leaned against the front. Tons of knick knacks lay on top. Mainly socks.
“You probably should put your window back up,” Sophia offered. “They don’t like strangers.”
A few older men and women sat in chairs in front of opened doorways. They didn’t seem to be up to no good. Rage radiated from them as they glared at the car. But, it could’ve been who sat in the vehicle—Sophia or me. I doubt they appreciated a rich man coming through to flaunt his worth, and from what I’d heard from Jasmine, her family had made a menacing name in these streets with blood and violence.
I rolled the window back up. “Do you miss this place?”
“Is that a trick question?”
“Just wondering.”
“Would you miss it here?”
“No, but my kids didn’t run this area.”
“That’s what Jasmine told you, that we controlled the block?”
“Something like that.”
“My sons did some things, but they’re all good boys. We’re out of here now, so there’s no need to bring the past back up.”
“That’s fair.”
A few people eyed Sophia’s town car, and then quickly turned away as if understanding who rode inside and not wanting to gain the woman’s attention.
Maybe I’m imagining this, but everyone looks like they’re afraid of this car. I am pretty drunk.
Farther down the road, five huge guys stood up and glared at us. The temperature rose in the car. Sophia laughed and brushed something off her shoulder.