“Hold on… Start from the top. When did Shanti take over the Syndicate? I’m confused, so Consuelo not in charge anymore?” I asked scratching my head.

“Oh, Consuelo’s still in charge. It’s like I said, he’s sick and doesn’t have the energy to stay on top of all this shit. Shanti didn’t officially ‘take over’, she’s just running the show on his behalf. She got him all whipped… I guess when she started fucking around with him, he let her call some of the shots.”

This don’t make no fucking sense… Consuelo was never after her, then why hire me? Why involve me? She knew since the beginning my father was involved with the stolen money but she didn’t know his role in it all. So she needed me to figure that part out for them. I’m guessing she figured out the hard way no matter how Douglas died, his access to the investment died with him. I’m also guessing Consuelo wasn’t counting on the other members of the Syndicate to catch on to his plans so fast. He had to have a leak, a mole, someone who was telling all the secrets… He wasn’t counting them trying to take me out either. Anything to make sure he didn’t get back on the throne. That makes Sean and I the last two holding the gold key to this money kingdom. Sean… He popped in my head curious about his well being. I hope the Syndicate…

Charlie quickly popped up from behind touching me on my shoulder, knocking out of my train of thought. “We can’t stay here for long. Bernard will be back and with a whole lot more men this time.” I turned and looked back at Priest as he sat still lay back in his chair. He knew they couldn’t touch him… It was Charlie and I who had to leave.

I stared back at him giving Priest the same blank look. He took a deep breath and said, “You know when your dad and I were in grade school, we used to pretend like when on adventures. Even throughout high school sometimes we’d joke about being like Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer and shit. We had to read it for class so sometimes would tell the girls our lives were something similar. Trying to impressed them of course, but it never worked. Although there was a lot of racist shit in that book, we told ourselves we could make up our own adventures.” Priest shook his head and smiled. I could see the passion and the pain as he told the story.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn… I turned my head deep in thought as Priest was still reminiscing the past. That damn book is in my office! The only book out of place because it’s surrounded by thick research books and binders. My father was very strict about not throwing away books. He was truly a book lover which is why it would have taken me a long time to figure out which one was his favorite. There are boxes of all kinds of books stacked to the top in the storage room. I don’t know why I held on to that book in particular but now I’m glad I did. Coincidence? I couldn’t even tell you anymore… I needed to get back to my office. I dashed towards the door but stopped before leaving. I turned around and said, “Thank you…” Priest grinned and nodded as he watched me leave his office.

Charlie drove us quickly across town. There wasn’t much traffic on the road so the trip was quick. When we arrived, I looked up at my abandoned office feeling little sad. Walking up the stairs and unlocking the door felt so surreal to me. Hopefully when all of this is over, I can redeem my business and bring it back to life better then before. I didn’t bother with the lights and darted straight down the hall to my office. With Charlie close behind I slowly closed the door behind him. He stood still by the door watching me go through the books on my bookshelf. He was scratching his head confused, “So you going to fill me on what you’re doing? Or looking for?”

“The key to the damn money kingdom!” I replied. Good answer… I thought so anyway. He looked at me even more confused. “My dad wrote down what I need to know in order to gain access to the investment Douglas created. The information we’ve been looking for so this shit can finally be over.” I stood up and turned around after I pulled the little paperback book from the shelf. I waved it around geeked to see what was hidden inside. I remember my dad telling me he took his best notes in some of his favorite books. Why? I couldn’t tell you. I guess he thought no one would know they were there. Unless they opened and read the book of course. His special notes of his thoughts and ideas of that day. No one would have ever thought to open the book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to find the codes to the investment.

Piecing these clues together has made me miss my parents so much. This case intertwines around what happened to them and how their deaths affected others. What Shanti doesn’t know how much I’ve already figured out. She doesn’t know I’m coming for her… I could tell from the very beginning her story had too many red flags but I went with it anyway. I wanted to see where the rabbit hole would take me. My distrust and thirst to bring down the Freeside Police Department was always in front of my mind. Shanti will not win this… Bitch ass Chief Bernard will not win this either, the Syndicate can go fuck themselves!

A stream of tears started falling from eyes. The pain and excitement was hitting me all at once. Finally, I put this whole mess to rest. Finally I learned the truth, even though it was in a shitty way. The rabbit hole was coming to an end… or was it? Charlie walked over to me and wiped my wet cheek with his finger, “Are you ok?” I nodded my head yes as he caressed my jaw line. “You kicked ass back there at the diner. You blew a hole right through that guy’s chest! For the record, I’m glad you didn’t take out Priest. I know you wanted to for lying about what happened to your dad, but you did the right thing.”

I closed my eyes from his soft touch on my face. “I was never going to kill him, I’m not a murderer. As for that guy well, he had it coming. I wasn’t going to let them take me or let them hurt you. Out of all of this, you stuck by me no matter how crazy things got.”

He shook his head from side to side laughing at me, “Man you have some trust issues, rightfully so… I told you I crossed the line the night of the party. I wasn’t going to give you to Consuelo. He doesn’t deserve the throne or your help to keep it.” Charlie got closer to me as I leaned against my desk. His hands moved down to my waist side then around my lower back. His kiss on my lips was soft and gently making a shiver go through my body. I leaned in for another, wrapping my arms around his neck. It was relieving to have someone to lean on, someone to turn to when shit goes down… I wanted this, no I needed this so I went along for the ride.

Our kissing became intense as we started removing our clothes. I took the bottom of Charlie’s T-shirt and pulled it up and over his head. His military dog tags fell down to the middle of his bare muscular chest. I bit my lower lip admiring his physique as I raised my arms while he slipped off my shirt. The shades were closed over the windows plus I had the mirror reflective tint, no one could see us inside. I pulled down the rest of my clothes to my ankles and kicked them to the side. Charlie did the same although his jeans were already hanging off his ass.

He picked me up from my thighs and gently placed me on top of the edge of my desk. I leaned back a little as he leaned in with me slowly kissed me on my neck and chest. I let out a soft moan as Charlie began. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he rocked his hips against mine. I have never had sex in my office before! There was something about Charlie that made me feel wild. He made me feel free… I gently pushed him up to turn around facing my desk. That turned him on bad! He let out a small but sexy laugh and said, “Ok…”. Charlie softly placed his hand my back pushing me down to lean more forward. Gripping my thighs with both hands, he entered in full force making me grip the side of my desk. On my god!

By the time we were finished, we ended up on the floor trying to catch our breaths. We laid on some blankets I had tucked away in my coat closet. Both panting while wrapped around one another. Charlie slowly kissed me all over my body which was covered in sweat. It didn’t bother him, instead I think he took as an compliment. He slowly caressed my thighs and hips up to my breast and neck. We laid there for awhile before enjoying one another for a second time.

Luckily for us, the refrigerator in the break was stocked with water and light snacks. We decided to stay there in my office that night. Together looking over the notes and instructions my dad left for me to find. We stayed up all night until the morning hours before ultimately passing out. In the morning, I got up from the under the blanket bed I made last night and noticed Charlie was gone. He left a note on my desk saying, ‘be back with breakfast’. I got up and quickly got dressed then went downstairs to check my mail. It had been awhile since Amber was able to come back to grab it. As I was leaving out the main door, someone hit me from behind.

***

I awoke from a hard jerk when the truck came to a stop. When I opened my eyes, I saw nothing but darkness. I had to blink a few times before I realized there was a black sack over my head. It smelled stale like old cigar smoke or like shit to me. I tried my best not to panic, I had to focus and keep my composure. I’ve had enough of these fucking assholes. The truck sat still for a while and I could hear voices talking beside me and up front. I tried hard to see through the little tiny holes that gave me a little breathing air but nothing… What the hell was going on? Who are they and where’s Charlie? He’s going to freak out when he notices I’m not there. The last thing I remember was locking up my office then lights out. Whatever is going on, they want me alive… I had two guesses to who they were taking me to.

“Aw Puto! Watch where you’re going! You almost hit that bus, you idiot!” screamed the passenger riding shotgun at the driver.

I lifted my hand to touch the back of my head but was stopped by the metal rings, handcuffs again… I didn’t feel them right away until I moved. With both hands I managed to rub the lump swelling in the back of my head from where one of them hit me. “I didn’t see the bus, jeez calm down! It came out of nowhere! I swear…” shouted the driver screaming back at the front passenger.

“You didn’t see the bus? How? I saw it a mile away! Just pay attention and get us there in one piece…”

The men up front continued to argue. Some in Spanish, the rest in English. The Syndicate sent the Latin Folks to get me? Didn’t know I was that special to them… Before they went around the bus, it announced the route it was taken. I heard, ‘Route 9 2nd Street towards Downtown’. That means we’re not that far from my office and I was only out for a short period of time. Good, I think.

The ride to where ever the hell we were going became quiet. All I could hear were the clicking noises of the blinker as the driver made a left then right twice. The truck started to slow down and come a stop. I could hear the driver jerked the gear selector upwards into park. I felt like this was my moment to speak up, “You know guys, all of this was very unnecessary. I would have came willing without being hit over the head and stuffed into a truck blinded and handcuffed.” I turned my head to the right even though I couldn’t see the person sitting next to me. “Kidnapping is a federal offense by the way…”

The henchmen sitting to my right shoveled me back into the person on my left. The guy to my left slowly pushed me back to the center. The truck doors opened to my right and the henchmen grabbed me by the handcuffs pulling me out on to the ground. “Shut up and don’t say another word.”

Jeez at least the first time I got kidnapped he was nice about it. “I was just saying, it’s not worth…” Before I could finish the same henchmen gave me a gut-wrenching punch to the stomach. It made me drop to my knees in agony. “Cheap shot asshole…” I said kneeling down holding myself. “It’s cool, I’m sure you’re a fucking nobody anyway!”

Still unable to see anything I heard one of them push his henchmen away from me. “The boss said unharmed. We’re here anyway. Let’s finish what we were told to do so we can get the fuck on, ok?” I couldn’t see the nod of agreement but it was obvious. One of them grabbed me by the arm and guided all of us inside somewhere. A building, I guess.

Immediately my nerves became harder and harder to control. What the real fuck was going on? Most importantly, how am I going to get out of this? I started dragging my feet and trying to listen out for anyone else who might hear me if I screamed. I heard nothing but footsteps and echoes surrounding me… It had to be dark inside because I couldn’t see absolutely nothing but pitch-black darkness. At least when we were outside, I could see daylight through the tiny holes. I had to base everything off the sound of echoes. The shuffling of their feet and how close together everyone sound. The guy grabbed my arm tight as he was guided me through hallways. He turned left then right… The hallways seemed to be not that long. As we continued to walk, I began to smell a strong scent of chlorine. That’s it, my natural flight or fight was kicking in. We had to be close to a pool… What the fuck for?

The overwhelming smell of chlorine burned my nostrils as I began to fight Shotgun back. He dragged me to a chair and forced me to sit down. Instead of opening my handcuffs and attach them to the chair, he added another pair to them. I felt he didn’t want to risk opening my cuffs and letting me getting away. If I had the chance, blind and all, I would take it. I screamed at them, “You don’t have to do this! At least tell me why I’m here!” My echoes bounced off the empty walls and no one answered me. I wasn’t going out like no bitch!

A few moments later, I could hear footsteps walking towards me. The stride and clicking sounds of heels to me there was no doubt in my opinion, a woman was approaching. She walked in my direction in a steady pace. The clicking sounds became louder as she approached. When she got closer, she stopped in right in front of me causing a whiff of air to brush past me. Immediately I recognized the scent, this bitch…

I felt the sack over my head loosen and slowly was pulled of my head. My eyes took a few minutes to adjust to the light plus I didn’t have my glasses. I’m sure they’re outside my office door since that’s where they snapped me. I blinked a few times again trying to focus on the woman’s face. I knew it…

I squinted my eyes and said, “You…”

Shanti got closer which made me look up all the way. She almost touched my knees then she knelt down and got in my face, “Me…”

“What the fuck Shanti?! You could have just called or something. This is the second fucking time I’ve been kidnapped on some bullshit!” I screamed. My words echoed like crazy in the pool room. “Let me out of this damn chair, tied up and shit.

“Let her out the chair…” A voice came from me that I didn’t recognize at first. He walked around my chair gently touching the top of my shoulder. It was Shanti’s little brother, Chad Edwards. He was the very last person I’d expected to see. Honestly, I was a bit surprised.

Shanti giggled as Chad joined her side, “You know how much of a wild card she is! Besides, now that we have Sean Wayne we don’t need her anymore. I told your men to grab both of them but they said Charlie wasn’t there.” She shrugged her shoulders, “Oh well, we’ll catch up to him later. He’s not important.” Shanti walked up to me then started pushing on my forehead. “You and your lover boy practically handed Sean right to us. His backstabbing, ungrateful ass disappeared off the grid when Bernard got him released. I was not expecting him to go find you right away. I mean after all you were the one who put in prison! The nerve of that guy! Anyway, now we know how to access the investment account my father created. I know that only you and Sean can access it. Well, I need one of you.”

“Don’t be hasty Shanti. We don’t have to kill her.” Chad casually said as he walked over to me and knelt down.

“And why the hell not? Cause you have some thing for her? Let that shit go already Chad she doesn’t want you!” Shanti snapped back. “She’s smashing Charlie boy remember?” Shanti clearly was rubbing that in his face.

“I can easily say the same thing about you! At least Ally knew I had a thing for her.” He turned his attention back to me and smiled. I watched as Chad slowly started running his hand up my thigh. “She still doesn’t know about the night we shared in New York.” He whispered so only I could hear. Were they fighting over me? This shit was getting creepier by the moment.

The night we shared? You mean the super drunken ass one night stand that was a complete mistake? “That was a long time ago, Chad. What the hell is going on?”

Chad stood to his feet shaking his head, “Well, there’s a lot going on. For starters, we have to finish what Consuelo could not. Too bad he’s not feeling too well, is he Shanti?” He laughed in a sinister way. “That old man won’t last throughout the week from the poison she’s been giving him. I was trying to be settle this time unlike those two bastards my father created.”

My eyes widened when I heard his comment, “It was you… Those kids, you killed them. You blew up Ernesto’s house killing him and his mother. Why not the girl’s house too? What that was too much?”

Chad stood up and slammed his fist on the arm rest of the chair. I closed my eyes and flinched by his quick moments I thought he was going to hit me, “Those fucking bastards didn’t deserve a thing! They were created from my father’s cheating whoring ass! All the bad shit he put our mother through!” He took a deep breath trying to regain his composure.

Shanti walked up beside her brother and said, “I told you it wasn’t me. I could care less about those kids as long as they didn’t get any inheritance. Which was it easy taking from them since they didn’t even know what they were looking at. Like taking candy from a baby.”

“They were babies! And you framed me for their murders!” I screamed at the both of them. “You killed Douglas then? When one made the final blow? Killing your own father in cold blood…”

Chad stepped up to me and got in my face. “I wish I had taken him out but the asshole had other plans…”