CHAPTER 16
The car pulled up to a warehouse that looked abandoned to those who knew nothing about it.
We got out of the car and went inside. The whole place was filled with men dressed in black suits, each with guns for protection.
"This way, boss!" Jesse, one of the youngest members of my group, beckoned to us, and we followed.
The horror that filled my being was so hard to swallow. I tried everything to process it. I've seen men die in every way possible, in ways I didn't even know were possible. But at that moment, I was standing at the most gruesome murder scene I've ever encountered in my life.
Shit, I tried to stop the horror from taking its place on my face, but I failed as Reginald noticed it.
In front of us lay human parts—dismembered limbs and every part that could be chopped or cut off. On the far left were the heads of the men that were killed, each placed with a glass of blood in front.
I clenched my fists.
"Any leads on who the fuck did this?" I shouted.
I had too many men in my group that I didn't know every one of them by name. A tall, thin guy with a very clean and healthy beard stepped forward. He wore a turban, so I suspected he was Indian.
"Boss, I found this ring just near the bodies!" he said, handing me the ring.
I took it and brought it to my nose. I took in its scent, and my eyes darkened immediately.
"Trejo!" I fumed.
I turned to the men and, at the top of my voice, shouted, "Search Las Vegas. Turn the city upside down in the process if you have to… Trejo fucking Moreno! Find him. Find that bastard and everyone associated with him… He messed with the wrong mafia!"
All the men got into the many cars at the warehouse and drove off, adhering to the orders.
We also got into the car, heading back to the hotel.
Trejo knew I was in the city; hence, he attacked to challenge me indirectly.
I just wondered if he knew that I was with the woman I love. Was she also one of his targets? I had to find out before things got too bloody.
"How sure are you that it's the Mexicans? It could be the Sicilians or the Germans for all we know!" Reginald spoke, looking directly into my eyes.
"The Germans aren't that foolish to mess with us, considering that they're on American soil because we let them. Our war with the Sicilians ended a long time ago, and they gave their word. To them, there's nothing more sacred than their word!" I handed him the ring, and Reginald stared stupidly at it, as if not getting anything I just said.
"Mothballs! It stinks of them. One person who smells like mothballs is Trejo!" I said, stating the obvious.
"Seriously? Mothballs, Christian?"
"The inside is engraved with a burning trident, fool—that's Trejo's logo!" I kissed my teeth as my brows furrowed at how dumb Reginald could be at times.
"However, my question is… why was Trejo there when he could send his men to do the dirty work?" Reginald asked, looking deep in thought.
"Soon enough, we'll find out!" I replied.
"Or somebody just dropped this there to sway us the wrong way, to start a war between us and make it look like we attacked first. This is a two-way thing, Christian!" he retorted wisely.
I nodded at him, the thought only crossing my mind that particular time he said it.
I brushed my thoughts back to the deceased members of my group.
"What about their families? Do they know?" I asked sadly.
"Yes, and luckily they all knew what line of work their husbands were in. Each family has been sent six million and moved to Eden!" Reginald explained to me so I didn't get more worked up.
Eden—a sanctuary built by my grandmother for the families of those who'd eventually lose their lives loyally by our side. The sanctuary mainly took women and children. Men were given opportunities at what they wanted to do with their lives. When the children grew and wanted a life of their own, they were also given opportunities.
Nobody was forced to do anything against their will; however, betrayal wasn't something I took lightly.
We reached the hotel, and I made my way to our room. I was sure Brenda was waiting for me.
After such a sight, the only thing that could get my mind off things and fill my being with a bit of light was undoubtedly her.
I smirked just thinking of how beautiful she is, how feisty, and the cherry on the cake was the fact that she was mine.
END OF FLASHBACK
I stretched my hand, hoping it would land on Brenda's waist. Instead, it was welcomed by an empty, cold space. I moved my hand to the left, to the right, and to the left again, thinking that Brenda had shifted far from me during the night. So I thought, but that illusion was clearing from my brain. My eyes fluttered open, and the bed was empty. I was the only one in it.
Slowly, I raised my upper body to look around the room. Maybe she was sitting somewhere—somewhere in the room!
"Brenda?" I called out.
Deafening reticence shot back at me.
She was gone. Brenda had gone back without me. It seemed too early for me; I was sure it wasn't 6 a.m. yet. I glanced at the clock on the wall, and my stomach tightened instantly. The saliva dried up in my throat, and I swallowed.
08:30!
Shit!
"Fuck me!" I groaned, realizing that Brenda had already boarded—and even landed.
I quickly got out of bed and dashed for the bathroom. I splashed water on my face and raked my fingers through my disheveled hair, trying to get it to look presentable.
After getting dressed, I dialed Brenda's number.
Straight to voicemail!
Dang, she was mad. She was angry—I knew that much.
The airport was tightly packed, but luckily, the next flight was at 10 a.m. I breathed a sigh of relief.