Page 14 of Aussie
Aussie nodded, his gaze lingering on the television as the segment switched to weather. His mind, however, stayed on the unsettling news. If the police were right, something big—and dangerous—was brewing in their city.
He leaned back in his chair, the weight of the day settling on his shoulders. Between the crime wave and thoughts of Ava, his mind wasn’t going to quiet down anytime soon.
CHAPTER FIVE
Ezekiel Moore stood in front of the large bay windows overlooking the large industrial yard below. This location was one of the many warehouses he owned.
Behind him, the sounds of shuffling feet and muffled voices faded into silence as the room, full of young men no older than eighteen, waited for him to speak. His reflection in the window was sharp and commanding. His salt-and-pepper hair was slicked back, and his gray suit was tailored to perfection, making him look more like a CEO than the dangerous crime leader he was.
The furniture warehouse beneath them was thriving, at least on the surface. Customers came in and bought their overpriced sofas and dining sets, never suspecting that just above their heads was where the real business was happening. Drugs, guns, and broken souls passed through Ezekiel’s hands. He controlled it all with a smile and the threat of unimaginable pain.
“Look around,” Ezekiel said, his voice smooth but edged with authority. “You see how few of you are left? I’m not blind, boys. I know our numbers are dwindling. We’ve lost people to jail, to other towns, even to the grave. That isn’t good for business. And I don’t like bad business.”
He turned from the window, his cold, dark eyes scanning the group of teenagers before him. They shifted uncomfortably in their seats, but none dared meet his gaze except two. Barrett and Chase. His top recruits. They both sat with a confidence that came from knowing they had Ezekiel’s respect.
Barrett, with his boyish face and lanky frame, could easily pass for a high school student. He had sharp blue eyes thatmissed nothing and a quiet, calculating nature that made him especially dangerous. Chase, a bit broader and darker-skinned, had a grin that put people at ease, but beneath it lay the heart of a killer. He’d done Ezekiel’s dirty work more than once, and the older man trusted him implicitly.
“We need more bodies,” Ezekiel continued, stepping closer to the center of the room, his leather shoes echoing in the quiet space. More soldiers. More of others like yourselves to be able to continue doing the job we’re doing. You all know what’s coming. We have some big deals on the horizon and lots of products to move. We have people depending on us. However, to accomplish our goal of being the main supplier in the area, we need more manpower. So, my question to this group is, where are we going to find it?”
He raised an eyebrow, waiting for someone to answer. One of the younger boys shifted nervously in his seat. “The schools?”
“Exactly,” Ezekiel said with a grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “Schools are crawling with kids looking for a way to escape. Whether it’s boredom, stress, or just their shitty little lives at home, they want something. They want to feel a part of something. And we can give it to them. Drugs, power, money. Whatever it takes to make them ours.”
He turned his attention to Barrett and Chase. “I’m putting you two in charge of recruitment. I want new blood. I was given a few names for you to look into. One is at the high school where you found Johnny. You know how to reel them in. Make them feel like they belong. And if they resist. Well, you know what to do.” His smile widened, this time with genuine menace. “Don’t disappoint me, boys. You get this right, and I’ll reward you both handsomely.”
Barrett and Chase exchanged a look—both of them understanding the weight of the task before them, but neither flinching. They had earned Ezekiel’s trust and knew how todeliver. They were loyal, almost to a fault, and both had no problem spilling blood if it meant staying in Ezekiel’s good graces. Hell, just a few hours earlier, Chase and one of the younger kids robbed a convenience store a few blocks over. It was a shame that the cashier got hurt, but they should’ve just listened and not tried to play the hero.
One of the other boys in the back raised his hand hesitantly, drawing Ezekiel’s attention. “What happened to the two who got caught last week trying to sell guns at that parking lot near the mall?”
Ezekiel’s face darkened, but his voice remained calm. “Those two? They’re handling things the way I taught them. They’ll keep their mouths shut, and my people will have them out in a few days. The police have no idea what resources I have in my back pocket. So, don’t worry about them. Focus on what I’m asking you to do.”
He leaned forward, placing his hands on the back of a chair and fixing the entire group with a cold stare. “Let me make myself clear. I expect results. And soon.”
The boys nodded quickly, sinking back into their seats as Ezekiel straightened up and began walking toward the door. Just as he reached it, the door swung open, and Diamond sauntered in.
She was everything her name suggested—glittering, valuable, and untouchable except by the man who owned her. Her long, silver hair flowed down her back, and her short, pink, tight dress left very little to the imagination. Her heels clicked against the floor as she walked straight to Ezekiel, ignoring the eyes of the others in the room. She was used to it. They all knew better than to touch or even look at what was his.
“Ezekiel,” she purred, her voice low as she reached him, sliding her hand up his chest.
He smirked, his fingers closing around her wrist as he pulled her closer. “Boys,” he said without looking back, “the meeting’s over. Get to work.”
The teens scrambled out of the room, and within seconds, Ezekiel and Diamond were alone. He led her up the narrow, hidden staircase to the third floor—the floor that no one else was allowed to enter without his permission. It was his private space. A place to escape if things ever went south.
Tonight, he needed an outlet to take his frustrations out, and he knew that Diamond would do anything asked of her.
As they reached his bedroom, Ezekiel shoved the door open and pulled Diamond inside. She laughed softly, the sound dripping with anticipation. He didn’t bother with pleasantries, pushing her against the wall, his hand gripping her chin tightly as he tilted her face up to meet his gaze.
“You know why you’re here,” he whispered, his voice low and commanding.
Diamond nodded, her breath catching as he leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear. “Do what I want, and you’ll get rewarded.”
Her response was a soft, obedient, “Yes, Ezekiel.”
And with that, he led her to the bed, closing the door to the world outside, locking it away with all the dark promises he was about to fulfill.
CHAPTER SIX
Ava sighed as she leaned back in her chair, her eyes drifting to the courtroom clock. It was nearing four in the afternoon, and there was no end in sight with the case she was working on.
