Chapter 4

Antonio

I see the look of envy in the people’s eyes whenever I pass, the way they look at the clothes I am wearing, and the car I ride in. The envy in their eyes I know all too well, I used to be like them and wished I was like those people who had everything in life, those who dressed well, rode in luxury cars, ate nice food every day. At least the way I saw them back then they looked like they had everything in life but I couldn’t be more wrong.

These people had their own demons that they deal with every day and then put on a mask for the world outside when they go out. Same with me, they envy me thinking that I have it all figured out but they couldn’t be more wrong. The clothes I am wearing are my mask that is covering the years of dirt accumulated from the street. The suits, the car, and even the money they wished they had are not mine.

I didn’t work hard for it as they do theirs; I stole it and if they knew how my life is, they would realize that they have more than I ever did. The drive back to the Lux is silent. I can see the curiosity and questions in my driver’s eyes. He wants to know why I picked a homeless man and now taking him with me to the hotel. He wants to know what he is to me but he won’t ask; I know because I was never friendly with him.

We won’t be talking here because I don’t trust him, not one bit, I don’t know him and he doesn’t know me. Besides, there is a lot at stake, my life. “Stop at the back entrance,” I tell him when we get close to Lux, he nods and does as instructed. When we get to the entrance, he stops and we are quick to get out of the car before he even goes out to open for me like he usually does. DJ and I hurry to the elevator and press the twenty-fourth floor.

The ride feels like forever before the elevator stops and pings our arrival. I poke my head out and look at both sides before we hurry down the corridor to the penthouse door. I opened it then we quickly go in and I close it behind us. “Bathroom?” DJ asks and I point him in the bathroom's direction. I know how he feels, he wants to get rid of the years of dirty from the streets so that he can feel somewhat normal, I felt that way too.

I took out some of my clothes for him and place them on the couch then sit on the other couch. I take the tv remote and channel hop then finally stop on the news channel. There is a lot of death reported downtown, the Russian is getting desperate because he never hairs his dirty laundry in public like this. DJ finally comes out just when the knock on the door sounded, it was room service; I ordered him food.

He stops in his tracks and looks at me with questioning eyes. “It’s room service, I ordered you food,” I tell him and he nods. I open the door then take the trolley, tip the guy then closed the door taking the food to him. “Tell me everything.” He asks as he digs into his food, I narrate the events of that night to him and he listens attentively nodding here and there. When I finish he is also finished with his food.

“When you disappeared, I thought you are dead in some ditch somewhere.” He sighs then runs his hand on his hair. “I even looked for you, then the news on the streets broke out about someone stealing from the Russian and I thought of you judging by how ambitious you can be. But I scratched that thought thinking that you can't be that stupid, turns out you are that stupid.” He says, and I hung my head low. This is the only person who can make me feel stupid and can make me feel good about myself at the same time.

“But it’s done now so, let's see it.” He tells me and I get up then go to the room. I took down the painting that is hiding the safe behind it then took out the case and walk back with it then placed it on the coffee table in front of him. He opens it then runs his hand on his hair again, his nervous I can tell. “That’s a lot, it doesn’t look like you spent much.” He says looking at the stacks of money in the case. “Well, it was a lot,” I tell him and he nods.

“There are also some documents that were in there, do you mind looking at them?” I asked him and he nods. I went back to the safe and took out the documents then gave them to him. He scans through the documents then his eyes popped. “What it is, what do they say?” I asked him but the more he goes through each document, the bigger his eyes got and I am worried. “These are contracts, deals between the Russian and the Yakuza, the Italians and the Nigerians.”

He tells me, and my insides froze. The Russian is surely going to give me the most painful death ever for this, but the DJ stands up and starts pacing. He has beads of sweat on his forehead and that seems to worry me more than the fact that I just discovered that I stole important documents from the Russian. “Tell me.” That is all I say, he stops pacing and looks at me. “It’s bad, it's terrible.” He says then starts pacing again.

I must admit, I have never seen DJ so spooked, whatever he just read is very serious and will put both our lives in danger. “What is?” I asked him, I don’t know if I want to hear it though. “The Russian is not only just in partnership with the other organizations but he is the second in command of the Russian Bratva.” I felt coldness spread from the pit of my stomach going up, that can only mean one thing. Am dead.

“That means, we have less than twelve hours to sort out the money, the Russian lost the case over a week ago and had been looking for it ever since. We both know that he has not found it so that means he will, no, he has called for reinforcement, his brotherhood, the Bratva, and it's only a matter of hours before they get here.” He tells me and I know he is right. By this time tomorrow, J City will crawl with Russians turning the streets upside down to find this case.

If J City is worried about the bodies that surface downtown every day then they have another thing coming, the enemy that is coming is not the kind that fears the law. Am afraid that I have doomed many people by stealing that case. “I understand, what do you need?” we have little time now, we have to sort out the money before the Bratva gets here, the money is not what they want but the contracts. “I need a laptop, a cell phone, and the guy that used to be my banker before all went to hell.” He tells me.

By going to hell he means before his wife took everything and he had a breakdown then ended up on the streets. “I can get you the laptop and cell phone as for your banker, am sure you can get hold of him when you have the cell phone,” I tell him. “Write what you need down and I will send my driver to get them.” He doesn’t answer but takes a pen and writes what he needs then hands the piece of paper to him.

I called my driver to come up then gave him the paper and money then ask him to hurry. “Your driver better be quick because every minute counts.” He tells me and I nod. But then he laughs out loud, and I looked at him. “What is so funny?” I asked but he wouldn’t stop laughing, which kind of annoyed me. “You see how I said you were stupid?” he asks trying to control his laughter. “Yes, and?” I asked. “Well, you are not so stupid after all. The Russian has not found you yet because no one would steal from him then hide right under his nose.” He laughs again like he has heard the most hilarious joke ever.

“We may have enough time after all even with the Bratva here.” He tells me, “Well, I thought my coming here was making it easy for him to find me, also I came here because this place has always been my dream, my heaven, and a place I never thought I would get into. When I got the money I couldn’t think of anywhere else I would rather stay than here.” I tell him, this place always looked untouchable to the likes of me.

I used to stand across the streets and admire the building wishing that I could come inside and see it even if it was just once. “Well, I don’t care what your reasons are but they have bought us the time we need to sort out the money and come up with a plan for when they find us.” I like how he says to us, DJ is loyal to those close to him and I think that is the reason his wife took advantage of him. He would die with me and for me.

Right now we wait for the Russian brotherhood to arrive and watch as they turn J City upside down looking for me while I watch from right under their roof. Now more than ever I will do anything to survive, they can bring it on and I will wait. Not that I have the resources to go against them but I have what they need and I will use it to save my life.