City Culprits (Book 1)

by Brittany Nicole Allen

  “I’ve always loved you my daughter.” She said to the picture. She spoke in a soft gentle voice.

  The woman heard voices in the next room. She quickly closed the album and hid it back in its hiding place where no one could find it. Her husband had not even known it existed.

  Carlos Rivera was a very ruthless man. He was a tall 50 year old Hispanic man. Carlos’s body was covered with many tattoos on his arms, hands, chest, stomach, and neck. He had a dark black goatee and bald head. He dressed in black or white suits and fur coats. Sometimes he would wear them without a shirt, exposing his tattooed body. He worked out often, taking care of himself. He had killed many people to get what he wanted and was feared by outsiders. However, he took care of his men and his only weakness was his family. Carlos had made his way into the city. He had moved to a big luxury home on Utica’s West Side. He had it heavily guarded and fenced in. Camera’s filled the outside around the home.

  One of Carlos’s men walked over handing him something. He stared at it.

  “Esta es ella?”

  (This is her?)

  “Sí. Su nombre es Zamora.”

  (Yes. Her name is Zamora.)

  “Zamora. What a beautiful name.” He paused. “I will see you soon my daughter.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Nikkya was in the shower by the time Zamora had awakened in the morning. The bathroom in Zamora’s room had only a shower instead of a tub. It was 10:30 am. She wondered why her nephew hadn’t woke her up like he always did. She heard laughing from the living room. She slipped on her slippers from beside the bed and made her way into the living room.

  JT seen her. “Thought I would let you sleep in for once. I already gave him breakfast.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that.” She said kindly.

  “Sure. I made some coffee too.”

  Zamora had a look of surprise on her face. “What else can you do?” She joked.

  He just smiled back.

  Zamora poured some coffee for herself.

  “Morning Aunt Zamora.” Braydon said coloring in his book again.

  “Good morning bubba.”

  She sat down on the couch. Opposite of JT. He had the sports channel on.

  “So how was your sleep?” He asked her.

  “Slept like a baby.”

  “Good to hear.” He said.

  Nikkya finished up her shower and got dressed for the day. She came out in the living room brushing her wet hair.

  “Hey guys what’s up?” She greeted.

  “Did you use all the hot water?” Zamora asked knowing the answer.

  Nikkya paused in thought. “Probably.”

  “Figures.” She said sarcastically.

  Nikkya finished up her last night class. She put her smaller books in her book bag, carrying the heaviest in her hands. She said goodbye to a few of her friends still inside the room. She received a text from Zamora.

  “Did you leave yet?”

  “Test took longer. About to leave now.” She replied back.

  “Okay. Bring back my car safely.”

  “Always do. LOL.”

  Nikkya put her cell away.

  She made her way to the main doors, accidently bumping into a guy on the way out. Her book fell onto the floor. The papers inside the book fell out sliding across the floor.

  “Sorry.” Nikkya said to the person she bumped into.

  “Not a problem.” The guy spoke with an accent.

  “I like your accent.” She smiled at him.

  “Thank you. I am Jamarco.”

  “Nikkya.” She introduced herself.

  She bent over to pick up her things when someone else leaned down to help her.

  “Excuse my brother. He can be a bit clumsy.”

  Nikkya looked confused for a moment. She glanced at both of them.

  “You two look very much alike.” She observed.

  “That’s why we’re brothers. I am Deandre.” He said kindly, helping her gather up her things.

  Nikkya stood up. “Well nice to meet you both. I’ve never seen you around here.”

  “We thought we would come check out the night classes.” Jamarco told her.

  “Okay.” She smiled back.

  “So where are you from?”

  “I’m from here. Born and raised. What about you two?”

  “We are Jamaican but we were born and raised in Brooklyn. Our accent is a little different.” Jamarco answered.

  Nikkya thought for a moment about an earlier conversation at the restaurant about the Jamaican Posse. She wasn’t sure if they were a part of them but didn’t want to seem suspicious.

  She played it off. “I thought that’s what it sounded like.”

  Deandre quickly took notice of her changed facial expression but didn’t respond to it.

  “So do you live close by?” Jamarco asked her.

  “Yeah. I’m actually staying with a close friend of mine.”

  “So how many times do you come here?” Deandre asked her.

  “A couple nights a week.”

  “Well maybe we will see you around then huh?” Said Jamarco.

  “Yeah if we have a similar schedule. The office is down that way.” She pointed.

  “Thank you.” Jamarco smiled.

  “I really have to get going. I borrowed my friend’s car and she’ll start to wonder if something happened, if I don’t get back soon.” She tried not to sound nervous.

  “Sure. Not a problem.”

  They moved out of her way to let her leave the building. She watched them behind her from the glass doors.

  “Did she seem a little nervous to you?” Jamarco asked his brother.

  “I think she might have known who we are.”

  “That is going to be a problem. We might have to move this quicker than we thought. “

  Nikkya looked around before getting back into the car. She locked all the car doors and quickly buckled her seatbelt so she could leave.

  “What the hell was that about?” She asked herself.

  Que was asleep on his couch when his phone started buzzing from his pocket. He woke up to the vibration. He already missed the call by the time he was ready to answer it. It was Zamora. He called her back.

  “Zamora? What is the matter….what happened…..okay….don’t go anyplace. I will be right over.”

  Zamora and Nikkya sat on the couch beside each other. They were unsure of the events at the college. Someone knocked at the door.

  “Zamora! Open up. It’s Que.” He yelled.

  She got up to unlock the door and let him in.

  “Are you okay?” He asked.

  “I didn’t know who else to call.” She told him. She locked the door again.

  “You did the right thing.” He said glancing at Nikkya.

  “What happened?” He asked them both.

  Nikkya answered. “I didn’t really think anything of it at first until I realized they were Jamaican. I mean, I can’t really be sure that they’re a part of all this, I mean, you’re Jamaican, but I just wanted to be cautious.”

  “Did they tell you their names?” He ignored her remark about himself.

  She thought to herself. “I think they said Jamarco…and Deandre…they said they were brothers. They said they were from Brooklyn.” She said it more like a question.

  Que thought of what to say. “I’m not sure, but they might be part of the Jamaican Posse. Which means that they are stalking the both of you.”

  “Well that’s just great.” Zamora said annoyed. “Why the hell would they be stalking Nikkya? She has nothing to do with this.”

  “Because Nikkya is your best friend. She is like a sister to you. That means that they know your life and that they plan to use the ones closest to you.” He warned.

  “What the hell are we supposed to do?” Zamora asked him.

  “You need to be careful. If they know where to find Nikkya, than they are watching you. You need to watch yourselves.”

  “Nikkya has
nothing to do with this.”

  “She does now.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense.” Nikkya spoke.

  “The Jamaican Posse…has ways of getting what they want. I don’t know what they have planned, but if they are involving your friends and family…the both of you need to be careful. They are watching you.”

  “This is ridiculous.” Zamora sat herself on the couch, putting her hands over her face.

  Que sat beside her.

  “Zamora?”

  She looked at him. “What?”

  “They are not going to hurt you.”

  “How do you know that?” She wondered.

  “Because I don’t think that is their intentions. I will stay here for the night and make sure everything is okay, huh?”

  Zamora agreed. “Yeah. That sounds good.”

  “Okay good. I’m going to go out to my car and get a couple of things. I will be right back.”

  They walked over to the door together.

  “Lock the door behind me. I will knock 3 times when I am back at the door.” He told her.

  “Got it.” She replied.

  Que only went out to his car to make a quick phone call. He immediately called Tyson wanting to know what was going on.

  “What the hell are you doing? Why did Jamarco and Deandre go to the college but fail to take Nikkya? I thought that was the plan?” He asked confused.

  “This was the plan Que. I needed Nikkya to go back to Zamora and tell her what happened. I want to put fear in the both of them. I want them to be afraid and alert. Now they will be more cautious about what they do and where they go. I knew that Zamora would call you over to her home. Now you can keep an eye on them for good until we are ready to finish it.” Tyson told him.

  “I hope your plan works.”

  “Don’t worry about what we are doing. Just do your job, and watch the girls. They are your concern. Call me if there is something that I should know about.” Tyson hung up.

  Que sighed in annoyance like he was unsure of Tyson’s mindset.

  Three knocks were at the door. Que had returned. Nikkya had let him back inside the house.

  “Where is Zamora?” He asked her.

  “She went to lie down.” She said locking the door.

  “Good idea. I guess I will take the couch then.”

  Nikkya grabbed Que a blanket and pillow for the couch.

  “Thanks. You should go get some rest too. It’s getting late.”

  “Yeah. I think I will.” She said softly.

  “Are you okay Zamora?” Nikkya asked as she entered the bedroom.

  “Yeah. I’m fine. I’m just a little irritated.”

  “I’m sure that you are.”

  “I have nothing to do with my birth father and I have to be the one to pay for his mistakes. That isn’t fair.” She told her.

  Early the next morning, there were hard knocks at the door. Everyone woke up from the noise. Zamora and Nikkya came out from the bedroom.

  “Let me answer it. Stay behind the door.” He told them before opening it.

  Two middle aged Spanish men were outside the door. Others were parked outside in black vehicles.

  “Who the hell are you two?” Que asked them.

  “Does Zamora live here?” One of the men asked.

  “How about you answer my question first?”

  “We are here on behalf of Carlos Rivera…her father.”

  The door slowly opened all the way, revealing Zamora and Nikkya.

  “I’m Zamora.”

  “Hello Zamora. My name is Pito. This is Alex. We are distant cousins of your real father. He sent us here on behalf of your safety.”

  “How do we know that?” Que interrupted.

  “I’m sorry, who are you?” Pito asked annoyed.

  “This is Que and my best friend Nikkya. We’re a little on the edge as you can imagine.”

  “We can understand that.” Said Alex.

  “May we please come inside? It’s urgent that we speak.” Pito asked.

  “How do we know you’re who you say you are?” Zamora asked them.

  “Would you like confirmation?”

  “If you’re really who you say…then I want to speak to Carlos. I want to talk to my father before I go anywhere with you.”

  “He said you might say that.” Pito said pulling out his phone. He pulled Carlos up on video chat.

  “What’s going on?” Carlos answered.

  “Your daughter. Zamora. She wants to speak with you.”

  Pito handed Zamora the phone.

  She hesitantly turned it toward her face.

  “My god. You look just like your mother.” He said calmly.

  “So you’re my father. The famous Carlos Rivera.”

  “Yes I am.”

  “You sent for me?”

  “You’re in danger Zamora. There are very dangerous men looking for you. You need to go with my men. You and your nephew.”

  “My friend Nikkya is in danger now. She was threatened by the Jamaican Posse last night. I’m not going anywhere without her.” She told him.

  “Okay that’s fine. She may come with you. I will protect those closest to you.”

  “Are you in the city?”

  “Yes. Alex and Pito and the others outside will help you gather your belongings. You can’t stay there Zamora. My enemies will find you soon. I can keep you safe here.”

  “Now you want to decide to do that? After 25 years.”

  “I can explain that later. Please Zamora. I really need you to come here. I need you to trust me. Please mi amor.”

  “You don’t get to call me that.” She told him, remembering her adoptive father use to always call her that.

  “You’re right. I don’t. I don’t deserve your trust but I need you to really do that. My enemies are dangerous men. Please.” He begged.

  Zamora paused. “Okay. I’ll put my trust in you. Only because you’re my father.”

  “Thank you. Alex and Pito will help you out. I’ll see you soon my daughter. Your mother is waiting to meet you.”

  Zamora returned the phone to Pito. She let them inside.

  Que walked away momentarily in distress. He went into the bathroom, quickly calling Tyson. He kept his voice low.

  “Your plan back fired.”

  “What are you talking about?” Tyson asked confused.

  “Carlos Rivera’s men showed up at the door. Her father found her. They plan on bringing her, Nikkya and the boy back to him. There is nothing I can do to stop it.”

  “Why is Nikkya going?”

  “Because of the incident at the college with Deandre and Jamarco. She won’t go without her.”

  “That is going to be a problem. She can’t know about The Eye. ” He said angered.

  “You don’t say. What do you want me to do?”

  “Try to talk Zamora out of it. I don’t care how. If they go with him that is going to put a big wrench in all of this.”

  “I’ll give it my best shot, but I don’t know what good it’s going to do.”

  “Just do it. Otherwise we are going to have to figure something else out.” Tyson said before hanging up.

  Que took in a deep breath of annoyance. He left the bathroom to find all of them sitting in the living room talking.

  “We need to hurry Zamora. We need to get you back to your father’s place. It’s very secure.” Pito told her.

  “Take as much as you can now. We can come back for the rest another day.” Alex said.

  “We don’t have much. Mostly everything is still in boxes.” She told them.

  “Good. Then it will be easier later. We can come back another time without you and gather the rest of your things.” Said Pito.

  “Okay.” That was all she could say.

  “So will you be coming as well?” Pito asked Nikkya.

  “Yes. I guess that would be the smart thing to do. Now that I’ve been a target.” She responded in annoyance.

  “I’m sorry
, but you are someone close to Zamora and easier for them to get near. I’m guessing the plan was for them to use you to get to Zamora.”

  “Why not Braydon?” Zamora wondered.

  “Because he is a child. They don’t like dealing with that unless they have to.” Que interrupted.

  “How do you know that?” Alex asked.

  “Because I know how they think. Nikkya is a woman and easier to handle. Braydon is a child and Zamora keeps him too close. It’s not that simple.” He told him.

  “I see.” Said Alex. He seemed suspicious of Que.

  “Well we should get going. Do you need help with your things?” Pito asked Zamora.

  “No. We can handle it.” She told him.

  “I don’t have much here. Most of my things are at my own home.” Nikkya said.

  “We can handle that later.” Said Pito.

  “Good.” Said Nikkya.

  “Zamora can we talk for a moment?” Que asked her.

  “Sure.”

  “I’ll go check on Braydon.” Nikkya told Zamora.

  Zamora and Que went into the bedroom. She immediately began gathering her things together.

  Que shut the door.

  “Are you sure about this Zamora?”

  “I’m only doing this to keep Braydon safe. It’s not for me.”

  “I can keep him safe. You don’t even know these people.”

  “Carlos Rivera is my father. I have to trust that he can keep us safe.”

  “What if he can’t? What if the Jamaican Posse still finds a way to get what they want?”

  “I don’t know Que.” She stopped packing to face him. “This is the best option to keep Braydon and Nikkya safe. The ones closest to me have become targets and I don’t even know why. I need to know what the hell is going on. I need to know the truth about my father.”