Chapter 80

***Levi.***

***January 5th, 19 years earlier***

My sixteenth birthday was two days ago. I happily celebrated it with mum and Albert.

We had a large cake, which mum baked. She was able to manage her late mum's recipe by heart. I guess some things never leave.

Currently I was waiting for the Black Pea guy at the bus stop.

I called him earlier and he asked me to wait here. The guy was testing my fucking patience, especially in this snow. The ice was punishing tonight, as I sat, waiting. My hands were freezing, even inside the leather gloves; birthday gifts from mum.

When Albert came around, he informed me that his father intended he enrolled for the navy next year, when he turned 17 on January 15th. I was shocked by the news, at the same time happy. Albert would make a great officer. But I couldn't ignore the displeasure he radiated as he broke the news. It was like his will to live had drained from him.

Sadly, he never shared his pain, so I was unable to reach him. My only hope was he'd make good with this opportunity. At least he still had a father to make responsible decisions for him. Mine was gone and left us in penury.

A red convertible pulled up in front of me, and I turned to its blinding light. Someone blared its horn and I sauntered towards it.

"Hey, Waited long?" It was the Black Pea guy. I frowned.

I didn't like this fellow. But at the moment, I needed him. The dashboard light from the car and a street lamp, showed some light on their faces. There were two of them.

Seeing he waited my response, I said a curt no.

"Jump in. Rowan doesn't like to wait." Black Pea revealed. I inhaled a steady breath, offhandedly jumping into the car.

As we drove, Black Pea introduced his companion as Freddy Scissors.

"You have unusual names." I remarked, snidely. I was sure those weren't their names. Sure the car wasn't theirs. It was an expensive and latest model.

The Black Pea guy talked too much. He gave an annoying chuckle and replied.

"You'll too. With Rowan, there is nothing you can do. You wouldn't want dem po po finding your social security now, would you." He chuckled annoyingly again. I reined in my temper. Choosing to watch the night as Freddy whatever drove.

I used the chance of their private conversation to think.

I wasn't an idiot. I was aware this fuck heads didn't own this car. From their talk, they were thieves, in a gang. Though the scale of their mischief, was indiscernible. Yet I could smell them.

I already succumbed to this path. No one knew about my decision. Because I was far gone. I was resolved to give mum the best at all costs.

I silently recalled my reoccurring nightmare of last night. It started the night we buried dad. At first I had attributed it to the repressed anguish. But that was weeks ago and yet they lingered. Me in a dumpster, surrounded by rotten flesh. Then my faceless rescuer.

I was exhausted and allowed my eyes close for a minute, as the convertible drove. Anxiously anticipating the intended destination. I had no idea where we were headed nor who these guys were. But I had to be a good son and heir.

In a few minutes, we arrived a popular red light district on Roosevelt Avenue, Queens. I had never been here.

We parked on the streets lined with hookers and I tried to pretend I didn't see them. *God I had gone low.*

I followed the other two inside a dimly lit building. Loud music, deafening my ears. Barely hearing a thing. Dragged all the way upstairs.

Men and women had sex publicly in the bar and pool tables. Apparently I had died and entered hell the day dad fucked us.

Climbing a set of stairs, the air of the place filled with stale cigarettes, alcohol and sex, we entered a less busy floor of the building. The door was opened for us after a knock.

Inside, we were greeted by soft amber lighting, the man at the door and three women being fucked by a large man. Well, one was being fucked. The other two just had his fingers and mouth in their pussies.

I froze, not knowing whether to turn back the way I came or just look away.

The others didn't seem to mind as Freddy scissors called.

"Rowan! The kid we told you about!"

I turned a sharp infuriated gaze to the Freddy guy. *Kid?* We were all around the same age.

"Am not a kid." I spat, bitterly. They turned to me and Freddy closed the distance between us, lunging for me. My neck on choke hold.

"You think you better than the rest of us, huh, pretty boy. Ama make you bleed that pretty face, until you look like us." He sneered, pressing my throat. Tears stinging my eyes.

"Leave him be, Freddy. He's one of you now!" I heard a voice say, stilling us both.

Freddy sneered, before he roughly, shoved me away. I regained my composure and straightened myself. Coughing and gasping. My throat sore.

The man who had been fucking those women earlier, strolled towards me, his body reeking of sex and saliva. I flinched inwardly.

"These gentlemen, your team mates don't know about aristocrats like us. These guys are street urchins that never tasted gold." The man smugly quipped. He extended a handshake to me, and I looked at that hand, which had pleasured those women, earlier. I ignored the hand and he smiled darkly.

"I like you already. These other fuck heads were too quick to lick my arse." The man swept a gaze at the others. "But in you, I see a prince."

I silently watched the man, my breath coming out more even now.

"Am Rowan. Welcome home, Ruthford."