by Kenya Wright
“I appreciate that.”
“Unfortunately, you don’t have any kids, but I want you to try and understand where I’m coming from.” She walked behind me and placed her hands on my shoulders. “Imagine that the woman in that bed is not Eden, but your daughter.”
“Okay.”
“You love her something fierce. You would kill anyone that touched her.” Her grip on my shoulder tightened. “And some man breaks into her home. He stalks her. He has a reputation and none of it is good. What would you do, Jean-Pierre?”
“I would kill him.”
“Exactly.” She left my shoulders and walked in front of me. “However, I can’t kill you.”
“No, you can’t.”
Engines sounded off in the distance. Tires screeched outside. Loud voices rose.
Shotgun hurried over to the window. “Damn it. His men are here.”
Celina kept her view on me. “Go back to France.”
I rose and straightened my jacket. “That’s not an option, Celina, but I’m glad that we had this conversation. It’s helping me understand the situation better.”
Shotgun glanced back to Celina. “There’s about twenty fucking cars out here that just showed up. They’re probably with Frenchie. Wrap this shit up, Celina.”
She didn’t appear moved at all. Her scowl stayed on me. “There are other women in Belladonna.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“I have the best brothel in the city.” She placed her hand into her pocket and pulled out a black card. “I advise you to come to my place of business. Sample everything there. Say your name and you’ll be treated like a king.”
“You would do that for me?” I took the card from her.
“I would. You can have any woman or even group of women you want.” She stepped closer to me. “But, understand this, Jean-Pierre. You will not have Eden. There will never be a moment where you can even share the same space that she breathes in.”
I placed her card in my pocket. “You’ve given me a lot to consider.”
She looked me up and down. “You’re a gorgeous young man. With your life, I’m surprised no one has cut your face up yet.”
“They’ve cut me. They just missed my face.”
“Well, I won’t miss your face.” She frowned. “Trust me on that. I’ll start with your left eye and then slice your right. I’ll save the nose for last because it’s so pointy and it’ll serve as a sort of direction for the rest of the cuts.”
Not many women made me blink.
This one did.
I smiled. “I think I’m going to enjoy being part of your family.”
She scoffed. “Your ego is something else.”
The cop grabbed our attention. “Celina let’s go. They’re outside the car, not shooting, but—”
“We’re going.” She rolled her eyes and took her coat from him. “Jeremiah, you’re holding a shotgun. Try not to piss yourselves while looking at the big, bad gangsters.”
“You just understand that we’re good now,” Shotgun mumbled as he opened the door. “I don’t owe you anymore favors.”
“I’ll decide that.” She walked through.
I followed them out, intrigued by Eden’s aunt.
How do I fight her? How do I take down an enemy that I’m supposed to be impressing?
Giorgio, Rafael, and Louis stood on the cabin’s porch and watched Celina walk away.
Rafael came to me. “Who’s that?”
“Our little enemy,” I said.
Louis shook his head. “I know her. That’s Eden’s aunt.”
“Exactly.” I headed to my limo. “Her aunt is a little protective.”
“A little is a fucking understatement.” Rafael walked over with me. “And Eden doesn’t know?”
“I doubt it.”
“This makes things difficult,” Rafael said.
“I know. We can’t kill her aunt, and it doesn’t look like she’s going to warm to me.”
Rafael snorted. “She wasn’t a fan of you breaking into her niece’s apartment and watching her sleep?”
“No, and she had cameras in Eden’s place.” I headed to the limo as it pulled up.
Rafael walked on my side. “So, now what?”
I took the card out of my pocket and gave it to him. “We go to the Candy Shop.”
“Hmmm. A brothel?”
“The aunt’s brothel.”
“I really love this mission.” Rafael sniffed the card. “It gets better and better.”
Chapter 22
The Candy Shop
Three Years Ago
Jean-Pierre
We’d been in The Candy Shop for an hour.
Not much had happened.
Security took their time, checking us for weapons. Celina arrived at the door as an uncomfortable-welcoming host. She followed us the rest of the time, staying several feet back.
Currently, we sat in the Sugar Lounge.
This space expanded seventy feet by seventy in a large square. High ceilings rose no more than twenty-five feet or so. Although well-kept, the building had to be more than a hundred years old and had been used for everything, one time or another.
Louis had gathered a report on the property. I didn’t know what information I would need to battle Celina, but all information mattered.
A hundred years ago, the Candy Shop’s building had started out as a factory. The second level windows showed that history. They were large and numerous enough to illuminate an industrial operation back when Belladonna was only five stories tall. Later, an Italian family bought the property and turned it into a big fashion department store. It was the first of its kind.
For a long time the building had been an opera house. That was where Candy Shop exuded its excellence. There’d been whole operas played beginning to end through loudspeakers placed high on the walls.
Then, management shifted to sex. And the building served as some form of a brothel since the 1950s. Many hands passed ownership and management, but none thought to make the place anything else.
These walls have seen a lot of sex.
Information on Celina had been low. Giorgio had left my side today to head the task. All we knew was that Celina had been a low-end prostitute right in this building. The few people who’d been around for Celina’s hooker days, rushed away when any of my men asked them questions. Apparently, that was a secret she wanted to keep.
How did you get the money to own this place? Was it your Russian connection?
From all angles of her taxes, paperwork, and our people walking the streets, she owned the Candy Shop on her own. No one else had any say in the operations or money, but her. Other brothels in the Red Light District had gangs or criminal organizations backing them. All except hers, had to pay collections to somebody at the end of the month.
How did you get the Russians to storm down my birthplace, but not launder money through your brothel?
I looked around.
Celina stood next to the bar with two other women. One was a blonde. The other was tall with long black hair to her waist. She looked to be from an Asian descent.
Every few minutes, they glanced at Rafael and my table and talked quietly to each other.
The bar was a sharp triangle about eight feet on each side. In this room, deemed the Sugar Lounge, the bar was more of a focal point. None of the men had entered to buy drinks. All watched the nude women dancing on stage.
Except me.
My attention remained on Celina and the tall Asian woman. Celina appeared nervous and annoyed with my presence. Surely, she hadn’t bet on my taking up her offer. The whole time, she had her arms folded tight across her chest.
I scanned the rest of the space.
Rafael and I hadn’t been in the other sections of The Candy Shop yet. We’d planned to explore every inch. My focus remained on Celina’s business and resources. Rafael’s attention centered on the women.
Rafael leaned his head my way. “How many women do you
want me to flip for you?”
“At least five. It’s a nice round number.”
“Is it? It’s not even.”
“Just work with five.”
“I would rather fuck and flip ten. It’s a nice bountiful number.”
I eyed him. “We never said you would fuck them.”
“How else will I get the women to turn on Celina?”
“Money.”
“Celina has money. What I have to give them is something that Celina can’t. And that’s my big—”
“I have a good grasp of your plan.”
Rafael laughed.
Louis entered the lounge, walked up to our table, and sat down. “I reserved the entire fourth floor for us.”
I smiled. “Did Celina have a problem with that?”
“She didn’t jump up and down or clap, but she seemed a little relieved. Maybe, she thinks she can get your attention away from Eden by dangling women in front of you.”
“That’s what I was hoping for, Louis.” I directed my attention back to the bar. Celina’s and my gaze met. Neither of us presented the anger that I was sure we both felt. I lifted my glass and gave a cheers to her. She formed her mouth into the fakest smile and nodded back.
Rafael leaned my way again. “I hope we can all exist in one building without killing each other.”
“The foundation seems sturdy enough.” I’d been assessing every brick since I walked in.
No plan existed in my mind yet. I just knew that the only way to get to Eden was to slip by Celina. If this person in my way was anybody else, he or she would’ve been dead. But this was Eden’s aunt. I couldn’t put one finger on her, if it caused harm or disrespect.
I’ll have to tread lightly from now on.
Celina tilted toward the Asian woman and then strolled away. When she left the lounge, I looked at the woman that remained. She smiled at me.
“Rafael.” I gestured to her, but without making a huge show of it. “Flip her first. So far, she looks like she’s the closest to Celina.”
Louis joined the conversation. “I can find out as much information as possible.”
“Do it,” I said. “If she has a problem, fix it, then let me know.”
“You think she has problems?”
“She looks like a city girl. They always have problems.”
My mother feared cities and believed that danger lurked on every crowded corner. My dad disagreed. He thought the city would be a good education. A great way to turn me into a man. I went with him to Paris on many trips. It was how I’d begun trafficking drugs for him. Later, he brought Rafael along. Our fathers were brothers. They held the same sickness in them. The craving for violence, and ways to make fast money.
Watching the Asian woman at the bar, I noticed the pain in her eyes. The type city-living brought. No matter what country, the vileness of the city clung to the unlucky. Her gaze looked tired, like she didn’t get much sleep.
I grabbed Louis’s attention. “Find out what wakes her up in the middle of the night.”
Rafael rolled his eyes. “We’re back on the nightmares?”
“That’s the only way to truly beat someone.” I rose from the table. “Just focus on the women, Rafael. I’ll concentrate on everything else.”
I left the Sugar Lounge and headed for the exit. There hadn’t been much time to think since the cops had ruined my breakfast, and Celina had revealed herself to me.
Everything had changed.
I couldn’t use the force I’d yearned for.
New plan.
Outside, the moon glowed in the sky, despite the blurry view from the storm. Gray clouds illuminated shades of gloom above the city. The Red Light District’s traffic thumped and banged through potholes on the street. Rain fell in a pitter-patter pattern. Not a storm. Just enough to get a quick walk in. A chill rode the air. Men rushed by with scarves hiding their faces. Everyone gripped large umbrellas.
Walk or hang about?
Irritated, I searched around for anything that interested me. A strip club sat right across the street. A red light glowed in the window. I’d been told by many that one could get a perfect steak there.
I’m not hungry enough, and I’ve seen enough naked women for the night.
I kept my hands in my pockets and strolled forward.
More brothels and strip clubs outlined each block. It was clear that even in the bad weather, the sex business boomed.
I passed two blocks and realized that someone was following me. Perhaps they lingered in the shadows. Maybe there were several. But my journey through the rainy district was definitely being monitored.
After the third block, a black car drove by slowly.
I looked at it.
Two men sat in the front. The passenger guy scowled at me.
They rode on for a few feet, and then parked a block away. The driver didn’t even strive for precision as he rammed the right tire hard against the curb. The lights remained on, and they both left the car.
We have more surprises today?
Both wore long black coats and held baseball bats in their hands.
Really? Bats? There are so many things out here to hurt each other with. Why bring bats?
Others moved around on the sidewalk, getting from here to there. No one paid attention to the men coming my way, but me.
More of Celina’s men or is this now Eden’s cousins coming to beat me up? Getting to her has become a serious task.
As they stepped closer, the men slipped the bats under their coats. A good distance stood between us. They had ten yards of sidewalk, then the cross walk, and another ten more yards. They walked with ease. Huge. Confident. Ready to use those bats.
I kept a neutral expression as I increased my pace, wanting to get to the crosswalk first. Thankfully, they reached the crosswalk, after me.
I stood on the opposite curb.
The stop light flashed green, making us all pause. Cars zipped by.
They watched me from the other side.
I studied them.
If I was casting an action movie, I would’ve hired them. They looked the part. Tall and heavy. Padded with muscle. The bats stayed hidden under their coats. They probably gripped them around the meat of the wood and kept them upright under the lining.
I checked the traffic light. It went to yellow. A few cars passed. Then the light changed to red. The men walked over. Others crossed too. I remained where I was.
They approached.
Which one is the boss of you two?
The first guy to speak, represented the dominant half of a partnership. When it came to a moment like this where it was two of them against my one, I liked to knock Mr. Authority out first.
I edged back, attempting to give them a sense of security.
Right in front of me, they stepped up on the curb and glared. Only two feet lay between us.
The guy on the left spoke first. A heavy Russian accent rode his words. “We would like to talk to you somewhere in private.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Celina would like you to stay away from her niece.”
“I understood the message this morning.”
“She doesn’t think you did. It appears you had somebody bully Eden’s date this evening. He never showed up.”
Good. He ran off.
I gave a sad smile. “Sounds like they weren’t compatible. That has nothing to do with me.”
“We still think it would be a good idea for us to talk.” He opened his coat and exposed the bat as if the gesture was supposed to trigger fear in my heart. Had they not heard about me? Was Celina really prepared to battle?
The traffic light changed to green.
Cars sped by behind them.
“I’ll talk,” I said. “But just with one of you.”
Before Mr. Authority responded, I lifted my leg and kicked him into traffic. He screamed as his body slammed into an oncoming car. Vehicles screeched. A woman shrieked.
And his shocked par
tner glanced over his shoulder right as the battered body hit the pavement. By now the bat was out in plain sight and chaos had begun.
I kept my hands in my pockets.
Giorgio appeared and got to my side. “Sorry it took me so long.”
“I knew you were close by, and I had things under control.”
Shocked, Mr. Authority’s partner gripped the bat, turned to us, and scanned the space behind me. I had no idea what he saw, but I was sure it was several of my men, armed and glaring back at him.
“So, let’s talk.” I gestured to the right. “There’s an alley over there.”
He growled, “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Why not?” I pointed to him. “You’ve got your bat. You should be fine.”
I left.
Giorgio snarled behind me, “Let’s go, Bat Man. Now.”
Sirens blared off in the distance. Someone had probably called an ambulance for his friend. Several had their phones out. My men grabbed a few and pushed people along.
The rest of us, along with Bat Man, walked into the alley. It sat between a brothel and a restaurant. The fragrance of boiling shellfish filled the area. Two cats meowed near dented trash cans. In this space, the tall buildings blocked the rain from entering the alley. Still, steam rose from the kitchen vents, stuffing the cramped space with an airy fog.
I avoided a puddle and pushed further into the alley. The crunch of my steps echoed off the wet brick.
“This should be fine.” I stopped and turned to him. “What’s your name?”
“You don’t need to know my name.”
My men stood shoulder to shoulder behind him, creating a scary silhouette against the light coming from the streets.
The guy held his bat to the side. “You need all these guys to keep you safe?”
“I don’t need them. They’re here for you.” I took my jacket off and handed it to Giorgio. “At times I make a mess. The clean-up tends to be extensive.”
“They’re here for me?” he snorted.
“Who do you work for?” I walked up to him. “It’s not Celina.”
“You don’t want to know the name.”
I undid the cuffs of my shirt and took my time rolling up the sleeves. “I don’t like asking questions twice.”
“If you didn’t have your men here, I would show you how much I care about that.”
