Smirking, "You know me so well. So, what do you have for me today?"
Rubbing my hands together, I was excited to see the beauty he'd been hunting for me. Pops was the connoisseur of rare items and could find almost anything. He'd been hunting for a specific thing for me over the past couple of months now, and he'd sent word that he might've found what I was looking for. Excitement raced through me at the prospect of finally having my hands on this treasure.
"Ah, yes. I think I've finally located it. Come, come, I have it on that fancy contraption Atticus bought me."
His aversion to computers made me laugh and yet take comfort that some things never changed. Walking into the cramped space at the back of the barbershop, I scooted around boxes of shampoo and shaving cream. Pops sat down at the rickety desk made from old plywood, and he turned on the shiny new computer. Squinting, Pops pulled his glasses up from around the chain on his neck before clicking on a few things.
Despite his complaining, Pops appeared to be able to navigate the thing, and I wondered if it was all a show at times, a way to present the image to the world that he wanted. He might be inching toward seventy, but there was no doubt he was sharp as ever. What better way to fool your enemies into thinking you were inept than to pretend to hate something? I guess the mafia facade never faded. The thought left me feeling exhausted, but perhaps after doing something for so long, it felt comfortable?
"Ah, here it is. Fender Telecaster. I found a shop in California that has one for sale, $18,900. Is this the one you've been looking for?"
My breath hitched as I took in the magnificent guitar. It was just as I imagined it, a true classic, the 1968 Fender Telecaster. I'd become obsessed with the Telecaster after stumbling across an alt-rock band when I was a teen and subsequently idolizing Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead ever since. Something about the song "Creep" was beautifully harrowing and spoke to my inner demons.
"That's the one alright," I whispered, awe thick in my voice.
"Do you want them to ship it to you or here?"
"I'll take care of it. Just send me the link. Thanks, old man. My childhood dreams are coming true!" I joked.
"Ha, the only dream you had as a little boy was being the biggest badass to protect those close to you, and I think you've succeeded there, Saxon."
His voice had a warm quality to it that I wasn't used to hearing from him. Pops was right, in a sense. I had wanted to be the biggest badass only because I knew I wanted to be valuable for Mas. We'd bonded in our brotherhood, and I couldn't picture my life without him even at the age of nine. He was two years younger than me, but he'd always felt like my big brother in a way, and I wanted to make him proud.
"So, how is the rest of the business? Having any trouble with Delgado?"
"I see them peeking around. But they know better than to mess with me. They're getting braver, though. I fear they'll attempt something soon. You're preparing for it, right?"
His question made me bristle a little, and I had to remind myself he wasn't criticizing me but only offering advice.
"You know Mas, he's always three moves ahead."
Pops looked at me wearily, and I knew he recalled the night six months ago too. The night everything changed, and I saw the real face of evil. The lock on my mind vault blasted open before I was able to shut it down this time.
Screams ricocheted off the walls as the guards and I rushed through the dilapidated building trying to locate our missing princess. She'd been taken a few days prior, and we'd been looking for her ever since. I’d never forget the fear I felt when Atticus rushed into my room, stating Immy and her mother were gone. His face was ashen, and it was one of the only times I’d ever seen him scared. The guards were exhausted, but none of us wanted to stop until they were back with us, me the most. Immy was a little sister to me.
Dayton hadn't been seen either, and Atticus was suspiciously quiet on the topic. I chalked it up to shock and fear for his sister and moved on, too focused on the task at hand. The guards and I couldn’t determine if this was a big play to take out the family by killing the don and kidnapping his wife and daughter, or something else. But with no ransom, the extent of the damage was undetermined, and we were all on edge until we knew the score. Screams rang out again, sounding all around me, and I took off in the direction I'd heard them.
It was Immy. This time, I was sure.
Busting down the door, it smacked against the wall with a bang and started to ricochet back to me. Stopping it with my fist, I glared down the fucktard over Immy who hadn't even noticed as he—
Blinking, I took in the cup of water Pops was pressing into my hand, grounding me back in reality with the coolness of the cup. He smiled at me with his all-knowing eyes, and I just nodded. He knew. Pops hadn't been at the warehouse that night, retired from that part of the family, but he hadn't made it through this life and not seen horrors.
"Thanks."
"It wasn't your fault, Saxon. You can't take on the sins of the father, or you'll never be cleaned."
Pops' words hung in the air, and I wanted to believe him… I just couldn't yet because it had been my fault, just like it had been with Jaz.
"Hmph. Yeah, well, I better get going. I'll go and collect the dues from Robbie upfront."
"Saxon, be…" he paused, gathering his words, finally settling on, "safe."
I had a feeling he wanted to say something else but had known I wouldn't hear it at the moment. I couldn't hear anything other than the anger pumping through my veins that Delgado would pay and regret the day he decided to mess with my family.
Walking out, I stopped by and grabbed the envelope from Robbie and exchanged a different one. Constantly moving money to make it clean was a never-ending job, and only a few were actually in the know of the full-scale operation. Things had to be shifted when Dayton had betrayed the family, and only three of us knew the full scale now. Mas, me, and Seth Mascro, the only uncle Mas trusted at the moment.
Heading back out into the cold, the excitement I'd felt at finding the guitar had dissipated with the flashback. Immy's screams would forever be permanently etched in my mind, along with the cries she tried to hide at night. Each one decimated my heart until soon, there would be nothing left.
I accepted my punishment for failing her and would only be forgiven when I'd avenged it. She was owed that much, and with every breath I had, I would see to it that she was free of this nightmare, no matter the cost.
I'd failed once before in my life with Jaz. I couldn't leave it as it was with Immy. I wouldn't survive another failure.
I was the night now, and the quiet was my weapon. I weaved my way through the streets, casting shadows as I went, hiding the sins of my past. When you had nothing left to lose, there was no risk. I'd gone all in, and I was ready to collect. That asshole would never see me coming.