Chapter 64: Chapter 64

ANGELIC...

"I can't believe Angelic Donneli invited me to the Bronx," Skyla said mockingly.

Coming from someone who has dedicated her life to making herself worthy of her father's love, going to great lengths to be impeccable, it's really a surprise that she gets my call asking her to bring me here. . I would come alone, but I didn't have a car, and it would probably take me a long time before I managed to steal one from the Donneli mansion. Including, it makes me think about how fast I need to gain independence.

We are outside the old factory. I look through the window, slightly misted by the cold. The construction is not old, but the fire has compromised the beauty and safety of the building. The walls are stained black and some parts have crumbled. I think of the NGO that my mother left me, dedicated to the reconstruction of buildings like this and to the housing of people in need. My next step will be to do this job in the Bronx.

I look at Skyla, realizing I haven't told her much about why we're here.

- That night, I found Bruce here.

- Bruce Campbell? - she frowns.

- Yeah. I had so many doubts, and today Vicenzo called me. He practically demanded that I even walk away from Elliot - saying it out loud sounds even worse. Until yesterday Vicenzo was a friend, and today he decided to embody his father and buy into the idea that women are dogs for men of power - I came here last night and i discovered that Bruce Campbell didn't exist. His real last name is... - I keep going.

- LeBlanc - Complete Skyla.

My eyes widen and my mouth opens slightly. She knows. My head does not process the complete information. So she pretended she didn't know him?

- Do you know.

- Yes I know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, it wasn't up to me.

Skyla faces forward, not looking at anything in particular. She grew up alone, with a narcissistic mother and an absent father. Skyla doesn't know how to behave when she needs to talk seriously.

- What else do you know? - I press.

- You know I like... well, feeling something - she smiles awkwardly - I was in high school when I met a guy. Not important, because he died months later - although this information surprises me, it continues - Anyway. I met him, I fell in love with his universe and I ended up discovering the Bronx. People with lots of money and little character love this place because they can do whatever they want without being punished. Yolanda, the boss of everything, said I could stay if I paid off the crooked cops on her payroll. Skyla takes a deep breath. Of course, she hadn't planned to tell me. A month ago, I didn't even know a place like the Bronx existed. None of this would make sense to me - It was just money, and you know my dad doesn't mind sending me big bucks as long as he doesn't have to see my face . I accepted, because I loved coming here and pretending to be a little hoodlum.

- I had no idea.

- Your world is so different from all that, Ange. I wouldn't even know how to explain what a modified car is. You're so... church and studies.

I look at the factory again through the glass. All of this, in fact, was outside of my reality. It amazes me that this is part of Skyla's life, however, knowing what her life is like, I don't judge her. Some people need to run away from reality to be able to endure it.

- Not anymore, apparently - I said - You know LeBlanc, then?

- Nope. I saw him here once and heard Yolanda say his name. It was right after I saw him at your house.

- You know... - I start, but she doesn't interrupt me.

- Nope. That's all I know. People here avoid it, and I did the same. I'm not stupid.

The more I hear, the faster my heart beats. To think that Bruce Campbell never existed, and that person in my house was a lie, someone other people would rather keep their distance from, well, that's annoying.

- It's not that unusual. My dad visited every hole in New York when he wanted public support. And from what Vicenzo said, LeBlanc wants to spread out around town – I'm mumbling, because I don't really want to believe that LeBlanc is a criminal, or anything like that. I need another explanation.

- I do not know. If he wanted to expand, why would he use another name?

- So no one knows he's there, until he's already mastered everything.

- Is that what Vicenzo is afraid of? To lose the popularity of a guy who has just arrived? - Skyla smiled - Or is he afraid of losing his girlfriend to a guy who just arrived?

- He never had a girlfriend - I reply.

Certainly, the Seas are counting on me to join the family in a very short time. And after our conversation, I think Vicenzo thinks so too. Maybe I even believed it at some point. But now I know I don't care about the consequences, I'm sick of meeting other people's expectations.

- Do not worry. I'm going to find out why Mares is so worried - says Skyla, still looking ahead, more determined now.

- As?

- It does not matter. You know my means justify the end - she looks at me and gestures out of the car - Now go do what you came to do.

I take a deep breath, feeling less brave now than when I decided to come. I open the door and get out of the car before abandoning everything. When I'm outside, I feel the cold of the night hitting me and I tighten my body. I don't even know why I'm here. To protect my father? To protect me? Just because I'm curious about LeBlanc?

I walk to the steel gate of the old factory. Everything around is dark and empty, which makes me even more nervous. I raise my hand to knock on the door and stop. If these people are afraid of him, why am I not afraid of him? Why am I here? This all seems stupid to me now.

I look at Skyla's Porsche. The closed windows do not allow me to see her, but I know that she is watching me. Sigh. I'm already there anyway. I slam the door repeatedly, making a thud in the quiet streets. In almost the same minute, I hear the person on the other end move their chains.

The door begins to rise, and soon after the same man as last time appears. He still scares me, with all his size and his tattoos. He frowns when he sees me, like he's had enough of pestering me.

- Hello... - my voice is extremely low - hello - I say more firmly.

- Can I help you?

He places both hands on the door, which is open above his head. The man looks at the car behind me, and I can almost tell he recognizes it.

- I'm looking for LeBlanc. I can see it? - My voice still sounds scared, but I try not to sound like I want to run away from here.

- Are you his daughter? - he asks, already out of patience.

I'm about to say no, in the most disgusting way possible. However, I'm sure he won't let me in if I'm not important to LeBlanc. Not that women are highly valued here.

- Yes - I nod positively.

- Between.

He makes room for me at the door to pass. I swallow hard. I didn't think it would be easy, much less that he would order me in. Upon entering, I realize that my legs are weak. Fear, anxiety, apprehension.

I enter the space that used to be the factory, but is now a makeshift workshop. There is a car of an unknown model, because I don't know anything about cars, with the hood open, and a tool kit on the right. To the left is a spiral staircase leading upstairs. I think this building has four floors.

- You can go upstairs - the man says, and his deep voice makes me shiver with fear. I look at the stairs, then at him, and decide to obey.

I grab the railing and start climbing the stairs. He's not following me, which isn't bad. As I ascend, I hear voices coming from above, and the possibility that LeBlanc isn't alone begins to terrify me. I didn't come here to confront him and ask him to stop lying. I came because I'm curious, stupid and desperate to know the truth.

I get to the second floor and see a sign labeled "Financial Sector" on the wall. The iron plate could not be burned in the fire, but the walls and furniture could. I walk, slowly and on tiptoe, down the hallway to the room where the voices are coming from. I notice that the door is open, despite the fact that there are no lights on. All of the factory doors were made of steel, so they are virtually intact. I walk over and peek through the door.

It is a spacious environment, which before the tragedy should have been the office. All furniture is partially burned, but not completely. There is a table at the end of the room, with two chairs at the far end. A library on the right and a leather sofa on the left. The room is so full of dust that it would be impossible to determine the actual color of the floor.

Inside the room, three men have their backs to me, all positioned in a circle. I would like to approach to see what they are doing, but I admit that I don't have the courage.

- I won't play with her anymore, man. I swear to god! - a male voice shouts, sounding almost familiar.

At this moment, one of the men steps aside, opening a breach in the circle so that I can see better. There is a man on the ground, kneeling, his face bloody. I can't identify him from his face, but when I see the spiky red hair, I know it's Max.

My heart is beating three times faster. Oh my God!

- Oh, you swear? - says another man, and this time the voice sounds even more familiar.

The White.

I search the room for him and find him standing next to Max, wiping his hands with a linen handkerchief. I hold my breath so as not to risk being discovered. As incredible as it may seem, what I feel is not fear. I am not afraid of him. I have anger, apprehension, mistrust. Not afraid.

- Yeah! I swear! Please, I'm begging you - says Max, now his voice breaks.

When Max tries to get his hands up on the ground, LeBlanc pushes him down with the toe of his shoe. Shortly after, he leans in, knowing that Max won't be up anytime soon.

- You will stay alive. Don't worry - he whispers - But this is a forbidden zone. If I hear you've talked to her again or asked her to spread her lovely legs for you, we're in trouble.

Cold sweats bathe my back. So this is about me? About what happened that night?

LeBlanc throws the bloodstained handkerchief to one of the standing men, who takes it without complaint. None of them do anything to help Max, and that makes me sad. No one in this building, including me, has the nerve to intervene.

- I won't, man. I swear I won't! - Max is whining.

I think this conversation is coming to an end, and they'll be leaving the room soon, so I step forward. With the same subtlety as I had arrived, I begin to walk away. I tiptoe up the stairs, look back and, making sure they haven't seen me, go down the stairs.

On the first floor, I don't see the brute who is probably some sort of lookout. I take advantage of the perfect moment to escape, and the gate still open, and run outside, cross the street and join the car parked on the other side. I get into Skyla's Porsche, and she looks at me with wide eyes.

- What happened? - She puts her hand on her chest.

- Let's get out of here.

- Angelique, what did you see?

- I'll explain on the way - I look at the factory, feeling that I won't feel at peace until I'm home, safe - Can we go, please?

- Of course - she said, already starting the car.

Hood's fame, everybody know my name when I pass by But don't nobody shout it like you I had visions with you.