“Is this why you’re having me look at another disease infested strip club?” I ask.
“Well, we do want to look legitimate,” he snickers at my discomfort.
He knows my… distaste for the dirty, fluid-filled, sour smelling, unwashed attendees of these type of operations. I know he finds perverse pleasure in sending me into them for appraisals.
“There are many other establishments we could be investing in. I think there are even a couple of banks we could scoop up through one of our off-shore companies.”
“How many are you thinking?” he asks as he looks over to me with interest.
I knew that would get his attention away from Meredith. I could just tell he wanted to get back into it with what’s happening.
“Three. The two remaining West Liberties and the last of the Provident Banks of Garden City. This would be an excellent way to head into a more legitimate direction for Adam.”
“Indeed, it would. What would be the term of ownership before we could sell them to him?”
“I’d give it fifteen years. We would, of course, be able to tap into new markets in that time. With the local unions being much more trusting of us than a banker group from another city.”
“Simon, I do believe you have given Adam his twenty-first birthday gift,” he smiles at me and I can see his joy.
Adam is one of Lucifer’s greatest lights. The others are Evelyn and David. There is no distinction between adopted or not. In the eyes of the government, and Lucifer, they are his by blood. I would commend Lucifer for his devotion, if children weren’t so repulsive.
“So, I believe I can skip the unnecessary…”
“Simon, we can’t be viewed as living the life of the virtuous.” He shakes his head. “It’s not good for our image. Also, we need to keep all toeholds away from any incoming Russian presence. We may be at a lull, but I can feel… that this complacency will not last.”
“Agreed. Whether I want to admit such out loud at this moment, it’s odd that they are keeping their drunken selves so quiet.”
“We’re here, boss,” Peter says from up front.
“So we are,” Lucifer says looking out the window. “Let’s finish this up. Lily has plans for me to look over for the gathering at the end of the month.”
“Speaking of that…” I say.
“You will be in attendance.”
“Matthew, have I ever told you how fitting your moniker can be sometimes?” I say with a grimace.
Laughing loudly as he slides out of the door, he sounds to me like the real Lucifer when he says, “A few times.”
Eugene is struggling mightily as we finally have the concrete mortar set around the cement blocks his feet have been stuck in.
“Eugene, I’ve been known to be a forgiving man in my past, but I feel that has been taken far too much for granted as of late,” Lucifer says as he holds a pistol to the head of the quivering, overweight banker. “So, while I would have considered just putting you out of your misery, I’ve decided to be very strict with those that betray my trust.”
He pushes the fat man into the water with one firm hand and we all stand on the edge of the dock, watching as the man quickly sinks down to the bottom.
Bubbles float up as the freezing cold water rushes into the soon-to-be dead man’s lungs.
We don’t see his last moments deep down in the dark water, but I can feel those fears slightly rushing into my own mind as I think on Lucifer’s words.
2
Meredith
Peeling my eyes open, I glance towards the clock on my nightstand. It reads six o’clock. Shit. I’ve slept most of the day away…
Sitting up, I stretch my arms over my head to get my blood flowing and arch my back.
I feel a little guilty about sleeping in so late, but then again, it’s not like I have anything to accomplish. No, being held prisoner in this little townhouse, I’m trapped in this kind of hellish limbo. I have nothing to do. I have no purpose.
I just exist.
Sliding out of bed, I pad my way into the bathroom, flip on the light and freeze. Struck by the sight my own reflection.
My hair is so light now, I almost don’t recognize myself.
Gone is the dark color I’ve embraced for so long. The color that has set me apart from him, my wicked stepbrother.
I bleached my hair before I went to sleep, and the new blonde color makes me look like I could easily fit in with Matthew’s perfect little golden family now.
How a monster like him can have and even care about a family still eludes me. It’s completely unnatural and goes against everything I know about him.
I curl my lip in disdain and turn away from the mirror, hating the way I look. Hating the loss of that last distinction that set me apart.