From the Start

Chapter 8

Gael's

"You have to explain to me what you knew about all of these." I placed the photographs individually on the table. I chose those photos that shrieked graphic content. The woman across the table suddenly turned her head on the side. Her eyes were almost bawling out from her eye sockets. An obvious sign that she was terrified for her life. I'm currently in a meeting with one of my clients and she's currently on a witness protection program. There are at least five to eight police officers outside her unit, 24/7.

Clara Sanchez is a 28-year-old woman who knows and has a connection to a known Puerto Rican illegal drug cartel here in New York City and she sacrificed herself to be a whistle-blower in a controversial human trafficking and drug trade case that I'm going to handle. This is the fifth time that I'm going to be a part of one of the biggest criminal cases here in The Big Apple. Ever since I finished my 1-year internship and won almost all of the cases where I became an associate to Charles and Amery Law Firm, most of the huge and controversial cases were given to me.

I took a deep breath and I lean forward, both of my hands were together on the table. "I know you're afraid, but I'm here to help you and I wouldn't let anyone hurt you," I said to her and she slowly looked at me, tears streaming down her face.

I hit the play button on my phone as she started to explain to me how she ended up in a discreet foundation that was run by an illegal drug cartel.

She paused in the middle of her story, "Those children, I needed to save them." She suddenly reached for my hand. "Por favor, senor. Those children need our help," She said in her Spanish accent. I took a deep breath and held her hand, "We will help them, okay? Te prometo que."

I bid farewell to Clara and left careful instructions with the police officers who were assigned to watch over her for that day. I immediately texted one of my close friends, who happens to be a doctor in psychology and I needed his help to talk to Clara without traumatizing her by telling her story.

As I was fixing my seatbelt, I received a text from a friend.

Andrew (SGR):
Hey, Pyre Jenkins is here. She said you know her and she insists on having an appointment tonight and she has a plus one.

My forehead creased from the text that I read and I quickly replied,

Me:
I'll be there in a few. Save me a booth. Thanks.

Huh. What's up with her? I never knew Pyre would be interested in coming into Smokin' Gun Range. Although, I invited her before and she wasn't able to come because her dickhead boyfriend didn't let her. It only took 10 minutes to drive down and arrive in Smokin' Gun Range.

The staff knew me very well and they didn't even bother to ask me any questions and led me straight to Andrew's office. I knocked on the door and it quickly opened as if he was expecting me to come straight to his office.

"I'm glad you came. They're in the Garden glass range now. You want me to come with you?" Andrew said and asked directly. I adjusted my eyeglasses slowly and quickly responded, "No need. What does her companion look like?"

"Oh, Pyre's plus one? I think that one is her friend. A tall woman looks like from the East Coast and looks like a model." I could feel the heat rise from my ears up to my cheeks, and I swallowed hard as I listened attentively to Andrew as he described Pyre's friend. My brows slightly furrowed, I told him I would stay at Pyre's booth for now and asked him to give me my usual equipment. Andrew nodded immediately and promptly had his staff assist me with my usual firearm at Smokin' Gun Range.

The Garden Glass Range booth has been my usual, especially when I want to be alone here in SGR. I met Andrew through a friend and as a person who served as the head of the family, my twin and I were trained to know how to use a gun as well as how to use it properly. Especially because our parents made a few enemies in their careers and I knew how delicate our lives were when they passed away "allegedly and accidentally,". Our lives were in danger, if it weren't for our Uncle Franklin, we wouldn't be able to survive. I brushed off all the thoughts that I had about our parents.