I shut my computer down, head to my kitchen, grab my keys, and slip on my helmet. The ride down to the garage is quick, and when I open the access door, I find my bike undisturbed. I back out of my spot and speed off once I’m out of the garage and on the highway.
I weave in and out around cars, hitting speeds that tingle the dangerous part of my brain, which is trying to warn me to slow down, but I do it because this is when I feel most alive—teetering on the precipice of body bag and body high.
Luna’s face materializes in my mind, and my front wheel sputters for a moment, wobbling slightly. I quickly correct myself, letting go of my accelerator, and coasting off into the next exit, coming to a stop at the stoplight at the bottom of the exit. “Fuck, that could have been bad.” The light turns green, and this time I take off at a normal speed, being humbled so boldly back there.
The club's address is an abandoned building located near the train station. I pull around the back of the building and park next to the loading bay. I enter the empty building; the silence of the night and the nearby trains are the only sounds to be heard, that is, until I make my way down to the basement. The faintest sound of a bass could be heard the closer you get to the large green metal door. I raise my hand and knock four times; the slot slides open to reveal a set of eyes, and then quickly shuts.The click of several locks, and the door opens. A man in a black military-esque outfit greets me with an AK-47. “State your business.” The man says.
I raise my hands, “I’m here to see Alex. I’m his brother, Dante.”
“Stand down, Isaiah. I’ll take it from here.” A hand comes into view, placing it on the shoulder of the guard in front of me, and out steps Alex. “Long time no see, asshole.”
He looks the same as when we were kids, still has that baby face for being closer to forty. He’s the spitting image of his father, except for his tapered haircut and hazel eyes, which are courtesy of his mother. However, the cold distance in his eyes suggests that he has seen things that changed him over the years.
It’s been several years since I last saw Alex in person; our last meeting didn’t go well, seeing as I killed one of his investors for a fat check. Whatever, the fucker deserved it, and Alex made his money back another way, obviously. “I’ve been busy.”
Alex smiles, cocking his brow, clearly intrigued by that. “Come on, let's talk inside.”
I follow behind him as the guard shuts the door behind us, locking all fourteen locks.
I'm pretty sure that’s a fire safety issue, but I don’t think the Boston Cartel follows OSHA regulations, so I keep that thought to myself as we make our way through several other locked doors until the music of the underground club grows so loud it’s almost mind-numbing.
Alex turns around, opening the door, and strobe lights flood my vision. “Stay behind me, and stay away from the edge.” He shouts over the bass music.
I shield my eyes the best I can and walk behind him out onto this metal scaffolding. I look out over the edge, and hundreds of people are dancing and waving around rainbow neon lights. They grind on each other in a heaping, sweaty mess; the room is hot, and it reeks of sex in here.
We arrive at his office, and he opens the door, holding it open for me. I step in and am surprised to find a decent-sized desk on the opposite side of a rather grand-looking room. The entire look of the office has an Italian mobster feel, something you’d find in a hotel, while just outside the door, horney adults grind on each other in a drug-filled haze.
Alex shuts the door, and the room goes silent. “Gotta love soundproofing, the club is an abandoned subway tunnel, perfectly concealed from the surface world for my unsavory crowd,” he says as he walks up to me. Alex holds his arms open, “Give me a hug, you sorry son of a bitch.”
I’m surprised by this, but step into his embrace. Alex gives me a tight squeeze, patting my back firmly. “How’ve ya been?” I ask. Maybe he’s forgiven me for taking out his million-dollar contract?
“Business is booming, brother. Ican’t complain. Your little fuck up a couple of years ago has led to this, so I should be thanking you right now, but I don’t want to do that. Your head is already large; it won’t fit in your helmet anymore.” Alex steps past me, and I bite my cheek to keep from laughing. Alex will always be the annoying big brother, I guess. “Now what’s this emergency of yours?” He waves to the chair in front of his desk.
I take a seat in the chair, and Alex leans back in his, tucking his hands in the pockets of his costly suit pants. The Hassans always dressed to the nines, making a statement with their attire—one that lets you know they're dripping with wealth. “I need your help with something,” I say, looking him in the eye.
“Yeah, obviously, or you wouldn’t be here.”
I grit my teeth at his annoying older brother habits. “I need help finding someone.”
“Don’tyoudo that for a living?” Alex asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, but I think this may be crossing into your realm.” Alex stiffens; that catches his attention, prompting him to straighten up. “The girl I’m seeing, herapartment got broken into, she has cameras, and caught him waiting for her. He wasonlywaiting for her; he hadn’t stolen anything or looked through her belongings. He was just waiting. When she came home, he hid in her bathroom and then tried to kidnap her before she called me to help her, scaring him off. In myprofessionalopinion, someone tried to put a hit on her. I tried to look her up, but her identity is being concealed. The name she uses is not registered in the national database, which has led me to believe that she’s on the run already.”
“So you need me to do what?”
“Whoever she hired was damn good at their job, and they scrubbed her digital footprint. I can’t find a single thing about her to track down who may have sent the hit and deal with them myself. So, I’m coming to you to ask you if you could ask around and see if anyone has put a hit outrecently on someone who fits her description?”
“You’re asking me to do a dangerous thing, Dante.”Alex’s eyes were sincere, and he spoke softly. “Collecting intel could get my men killed, and I’m not in a position to fight anyone right now.”
“I know, and I promise it’s just for my benefit. I just–I can’t lose her, Alex, not like this.” I swallow hard, remembering my mother's bloodied face. “Please, I’m not asking for results right away, I just need answers. She’s safe for now.”
Alex stares at me, studying me. “Fine. Give me two weeks. I can’t have my men going around asking questions, especially if shedoeshave a hit on her. Be patient with me, and I’ll see what I can find.”
My body relaxes, and it feels as if a weight has lifted. “Thank you.” I rifle through my jacket pocket and hand him a paper on which I wrote Luna’s description.
“I get to meet her, though. Dad said that you called to reserve a table, and he was surprised to see you with a woman the other night at Charm.”
“You keeping tabs on me?” I joke.
