AllFreeNovel
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I didn’t necessarily choose this life. I don’t think anyone ever does, but nonetheless, I’m in it. I’m one of the last Cruzes there is. My father was one, and his father before him, but they didn’t leave much of a legacy behind. All of my uncles and brothers have been killed living this life. Slinging drugs, fucking with the mafia. I took the lowlife Morenos in thinking I could train them to be what I needed, but those junkies were useless. With all of them gone now, all I have is myself and my closest allies. So, when the Hale boy made me an offer, I couldn’t refuse.
“You sure about this?” Miguel asks.
He’s my newest recruit. Someone I feel I can really mold to take my place when the time comes, but that time won’t come for a while. Getting Emil out of the picture kills two birds with one stone. Emil will be gone, and so will the Hales. They’ll pack up and go, leaving me to my own devices with almost all of Northridge Heights.
“I’m sure. One thing about those Hales, they keep their word.”
He tilts his head. “Didn’t they lie and set up Emil’s guy? Doesn’t seem very trustworthy to me.”
“Oh child,” I sigh. “In this world, you have to pick and choose your battles. I have things in place if they try anything, but they want Emil gone just as much as I want him and them gone. Helping them is a small price to pay for the future.”
He shrugs and hands me my phone. “If you say so.”
He’ll learn one day.
I punch in the number for my connection at the jail and bring the phone to my ear. After a few rings, shuffling fills the line before he says hello. “Mike.” I do my best to sound cheerful even though CO’s are nothing more than wannabe cops. “I have a favor to ask.”
He goes silent for a beat, then releases a heavy breath into the receiver. “What is it?”
“First, is this a secure line?”
“It is.” I can hear the nod he gives in his voice as it dips.
“I need you to send a gift to a friend of mine.”
“Do you have his inmate number? And what do you want to send to him?”
I list off the number. “Full care package.”
“Full? Are you sure? That will cost you, Seb.”
I roll my eyes at his pathetic excuses of trying to be friendly by shortening my name to a nickname that doesn’t even sound good. “Tell me what you want, Mike. I’ll send it first thing in the morning so you can handle the care package.”
“Five racks, plus double my normal purchase.”
“Fine. I expect to have word my package was delivered by tomorrow evening, got it?”
“Yeah, yeah.” I hang up before he can speak anymore. The sound of his voice alone annoys me.
“Miguel!” I yell. He rushes back into the room. “Desi is handled. Now, let’s go see my friend.”
We pull up to Angel’s front. It’s an old restaurant in the worst part of town, but it’s a good place to push his money through. He doesn’t do anything other than sell info which is always needed by someone.
I step out of the car as Miguel follows and walk across the dirt pathway all the way into the restaurant. Cracked linoleum covers the floors as tables sit with dust maybe an inch thick. Empty salt and pepper shakers adorn their tops along with bullshit menus.
“Can I help you?” a woman asks, exiting the back where the kitchen sits.
I bow to her and remove my hat. “I need to see Angel. I’m an old friend.”
“What kind of old friend?”
I chuckle. I already know she’s asking if I’m someone who needs info or someone who wants to kill him in the most roundabout way possible. “I need some information about someone in the states.”
“Ah.” She nods and hurries away, letting the kitchen doors slam behind her as she goes.
“Is he really a friend?” Miguel asks.
I flash him a quick smile as Angel walks out, then whisper under my breath. “You’ll learn soon that no one in this world is your friend. Someone will always want something from you, you just have to choose who will make it worth your while.”
