Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Chapter 38

ASH

Shut this down, Ash, Guilang is trouble.

Words Lobos threw at me while he let me punch the living shit out of him a week ago.

He should already know. . .

I like trouble. I devour trouble. I enjoy chasing trouble until it can no longer haunt me.

All this started with me wanting top-quality drugs. Drugs I still haven't gotten yet because talks between me and Guilang's goons went sour. Well, since I started this whole shit, it's only fitting for me to end it, yeah?

In the process of looking for Guilang, I found two illegal prostitution joints right here on the East-side of LA. I tipped off the police and they swooped in immediately and had it shut down. Underage kids - male and female -were found. Mostly Asian. They were taken back to their country and integrated into the social service system. I heard some who were kidnapped were rejoined with their families.

I despise people who prey on the weaker sex - children, and females. I despise it even more when they utilize them for their gains.

E.g: Guilang.

There's still no news about where he's hiding, plus it's been two weeks since I've taken Jia. I sigh as I put my feet on my desk and prop my hands behind my head. Tiredness seeps into my bones. I just feel like closing my eyes and sleeping.

Unfortunately, I can't.

I have businesses to run and an axe to grind.

With a resigned sigh, I remove my feet from my desk and pitch forward. My eyes connect with the binder on my desk and I frown when I see strange writings below my large scrawl. I focus on the set of words directly below where I circled codex.

I lean closer to better take in the words and mouth them. "Manuscript, certificate, scroll, volume, collection, script."

My heart begins to thud in its cage as excitement rips through me. They're synonyms of codex.

Why hadn't I thought about that before?

"I'm a fucking idiot." My face is splitting wide in a grin.

Of course, the assassin wouldn't have just told me where Guilang was, which was why he spoke in code making it such that he wasn't selling his boss out.

And this writing. . .

I squint at it trying to decipher who could have written it. Even though Night eyes, Moro, Lobos, Capo, Rip, and Koldis, stay on the ground floor, they don't ever come to the top floor unless I call for them. It's not fear, it's the respect they accord me. Hilda wouldn't dare cross her boundaries either. That leaves just one person who would dare.

Hazel eyes.

I'm practically bursting at the seams with how wide I'm smiling now. She's the only one with the acumen as well as the guts, that can do this. She probably thought it was a word game. Lucky she didn't continue prying, 'cause if she had turned the pages, she won't have liked what she saw.

I pick up my phone and call Moro. "Now, listen up. You and Koldis go in search of the following names I'll text to your phone now. It'll probably be a sign that's hidden, so you've got to be very vigilant."

I cut the call and text him all the names Hazels eyes wrote in the binder, then I stand and stretch. I'm supposed to be at the mine today, but I've also got to make a stop at Parched for the night. I need to see how Leonard fits into his new role as overhead manager. Bigger role, bigger challenges. Let's see if he's got what it takes.

My phone vibrates in my pocket and I bring it out to see a text from Tanya.

Thanks for the money you sent, boss. I'm ever so damn grateful, but two hundred thousand grand is too generous an amount, seeing as you said you'd only pay me a hundred grand. I'm not complaining though.

I'm about to shoot her a reply when my phone beeps twice and her name flashes across the screen.

"If I had known money would get you this excited to speak to me, I would have sent it long before," I say with a chuckle.

"Hi, boss, thanks a lot for the money and also for trusting me as well. God bless you real good."

My fingers tighten around my phone. Her gratefulness, I can understand, but God's blessings? I don't think I deserve them. There's too much blood on my hands. I mumble something as a reply but she doesn't seem to notice my awkward reply.

"Boss, I know we had a deal about you not going near Alicia, but I take it back."

There's something she's not saying.

In the short time I've known Tanya, I've studied her. She's stubborn and resolute so for her going back on the words she said, something's definitely up.

"Why?" I practically growl into the phone. But I already know why. She must have found out about Goldilocks.

"Because. . . well, because-"

"I understand, and the situation has been taken care of. You don't need to worry." I say tersely.

"Really?" Her voice has gone an octave higher. She sounds doubtful.

Hold up!

Does she doubt my capabilities of protecting Alicia and handling Goldilocks?

"Are you doubting me?" My voice is dangerously low.

"No, no, boss. Of course, not! I trust you with my sister's life, and mine as well."

Her words loosen the tightness around my chest and the anger that had been building evaporates completely.

"Good! Now, go back to doing your job, and for the love of Alicia - be safe."

"Will do, boss." She's back to her cheery self as I cut the call.

I press a button on the intercom. "Hilda! Please tell Walter to bring the jeep out."

Time to pay someone a visit.

*

As I walk into the basement, I see his huddled form on the floor. Even when I come to a stop in front of him, he doesn't move. He's curled onto his side like a kitten deep in sleep, a light snore emanating from his slightly open lips. I flick my fingers and Koldis moves from behind me and douses him with a bucket of water. He comes immediately awake, gasping and spluttering.