Chapter 225

That was the night I discovered that my grandfather was in fact more of a “creative entrepreneur” himself.

During that meeting I’d learn about the history of the “Westside Thorns.” Its roots stretch all the way back to the late 1700s during the various events leading the the American Revolution. An armed militia of elite families based in Westside Manhattan began patrolling the streets to keep the people safe from British officers who often abused the rules of hospitality.

“We keep our people safe, we always have,” he explained. “During the civil war and before, we helped enslaved Americans find and keep their freedom, many taking places among our ranks, and later as the streets grew tougher, we used our might to protect our people from human trafficking, drugs, and other dangers.”

He also explained how their recruitment process worked. Many of their leaders have come from the original elite families, including the Grants. “I was recruited the other way–I was rescued from a forced i