Page 9 of Property of Raider
“That’s what happens when the man at the top and in control allows all these things to flourish for his benefit,” Blitz deadpans.
“What’s the plan?How do we gain control of our territory?”Terro looks around at everyone.“They're like goddamn roaches.As fast as we exterminate one, another pops up.”
He isn’t wrong.We’ve taken care of more pimps, illegal brothels, and just dirty assholes in the last year that I don’t know how we haven’t caught the attention of prying eyes.Rubbing my chin, I let my brain run away with what this could mean and how we do away with all the fucking trash.
“Since this is my first meeting, let me ask what exactly we’ve been doing to deal with the assholes at hand?”Anvil speaks up, not looking scared but being appropriately cautious.
Terro, Hermes, Rhino, and Mercy start breaking down what has happened.I watch Anvil process what they tell him.He doesn’t interrupt the flow of information.He takes it all in and processes it.They get done with the rundown of everything, and Hermes has turned his screen to allow Anvil to look at plans and locations.After about a solid thirty minutes, everyone stops talking, and Anvil leans back in his chair with a pensive look on his face.
“Two questions.Hermes, can you send me everything you have on the sex trafficking ring we’re after?I mean everything—back to when it all fucking started.Second, do we have any of Relic's information on what he was fucking involved in?”
Hermes’s fingers don’t even stop mid-stroke.“I’ll have all to you in the hour.”
Placing my elbows on the table, “We’ve searched everything.His office, his house, and even the house that he was using for this fucking trafficking ring.There was nothing we saw.”
Anvil levels his cold eyes on me.“Although I appreciate that you all looked through things for answers, you were—and still are—emotionally fucked over the situation.Well, as emotional as some of you can be.Meaning there are things that you could have missed.Let me dig into the shit and see what I can come up with.”
“I don’t see an issue with it.A fresh set of eyes is not a bad thing considering we’ve been banging our heads against the wall for fucking months and still have little to nothing.”Terro shrugs, gaining a head nod from everyone around us.
“Have at it.Hermes can show you where to find everything.”I tell him.
“Alright, next on the agenda is a conversation I had with Giaco and the Kardoni family,” I start into the retelling of what he said.
That’s how the rest of church goes.Our talking over routes and upcoming deliveries.When we finally dismiss from church, I’m feeling claustrophobic in a place that was once my home.Now my cut and patches feel like a weight that I don’t know I am strong enough to stand under.
As I throw my leg over my bike, the sun comes from behind a cloud, and that’s all the sign I need.I start my bike and pull out of the club chasing the feeling of being able to breathe and no one’s eyes on me.
Chapter Three
Anastasia
We’ve been in town for two weeks, and in that time things have been a whirlwind of stuff.I was able to get Rusher enrolled for the start of school.We were able to meet with the baseball coaches and team to get a time set up for him to try out and work with the team.Auntie Lynn has had a couple of appointments over the last few days, and they were all shocked by how much improvement she has made since I came to stay with her.Taking my sister’s threat seriously, I do not go anywhere that isn’t directly related to Rusher or Auntie Lynn.
All groceries, food, and home improvement items are ordered for pickup if I cannot have them delivered straight to Auntie Lynn’s house.Thankfully, as long as Auntie Lynn has her gardening and Rusher has access to the internet and baseball, it all works well for us.Shea hasn’t been anywhere near the house, so I’m starting to breathe a little easier every day.What keeps me on my toes is the constant stream of men on motorcycles who seem to come and check in on Auntie Lynn.At least three times a week, there is a man in a leather vest coming to check on Auntie.
Thankfully, they always seem to come when Rusher is at practice or doing something with his new friends.I can’t imagine what I would do if he were to take an interest in motorcycles.With this constant stream of men being here, the thought of getting a part-time job so I have something to do with my time once Rusher is in school takes hold.I decided that tonight at dinner I would talk to both of them about it.I make Auntie Lynn’s favorite meal of our nontraditional version of Shepherd’s Pie.
Everyone is seated, and Rusher is talking a mile a minute about baseball practice and how much he loves his new team.Auntie Lynn is smiling and nodding along while eating, with a knowing look in her eyes.When Rusher takes a breath, I take that as my moment to cut in.
“How would you feel if I got a part-time job?”I blurt out.
A sly smile spreads across Auntie Lynn’s face.“Oh, honey, that would be great.With Rusher back in school and me seeming to get better every day.It would be perfect.”
“Auntie Lynn, the entire reason I came back was because Shea said you were nearly on your deathbed.Now it seems by some miracle that is not the case,” I state thoughtfully.
Auntie Lynn looks bashful.“You heard the doctor.Everything has been getting better every day since you got here.That tells me I needed you to come.Something wasn’t right with your sister here.Now she’s gone, and I’m feeling better and better every day.”
Still not one hundred percent sure that she is telling me the truth, I just nod.“As well as that may be, you seem to have the help you need.Construction will start soon, and with Rusher in school, it will free up some time for me to work and make a little bit of money to help with things.”
Rusher looks thoughtful for a long moment before looking worried.“What about my games and stuff at school?”
A knot forms in my chest because no matter how hard I try, the hurt of his father and mother both not wanting him has left a hole I’ll never be able to fill.I look over at Auntie Lynn, and she gives me a sad, knowing look.It’s then that I truly understand everything she did, and tried to do, for my sister and me when we were kids.Our parents were around, yes, they would get clean or stop gambling every so often to show they were doing right by us to the state.That would last for the required six months and then they would go right back off the rails.Auntie Lynn would step in during those times of insanity and do what she could.
She gives me a slight nod, and I look back to Rusher.“Rusher, you listen to what I’m telling you.I will always be there.I would have to be dead or kidnapped not to be there for you.Do you understand me?Nothing, and I mean nothing, will keep me from supporting and cheering for you, or loving you.Absolutely fucking nothing.”
He doesn’t look up at me, just continues moving his dinner around on his plate.
“Rusher,” I snap at him to get his attention.His head snaps up, and our eyes collide.“I did not pace the floors on the nights you would scream the house down, wear your spit up and vomit because your tummy was sensitive, or get up at three am to make sure you had all your equipment together and be on the road for baseball tournaments to just turn my back on you now.I will be so loud at every event that you won’t notice the ones who decided not to be there.”
