Reclaiming the Streets

Ch. 1

Luci's POV
I pulled up to my warehouse outside the city in my all black Audi. When I got out, one of the guards informed me that Monticello was here to see me. I walked through the warehouse making sure everyone was doing their job and stuff was in order. I asked Gavin, a lil dude who reported everything to me, about today's numbers. He told me some corner boy named Rodney tried to steal from me. I didn't need any details, they knew I didn't tolerate three things: lying, unloyalty, and stealing. "He's in the pit, boss lady."

"Good. Once I finish business with Monti, I'll see Rodney."

I walked upstairs to my office, finding Monti already seated.

"Sorry for the wait, Monti. Now, tell me something good." I shook the 50 something private investigators hand, before taking a seat in my office chair.

"It's taken care of Ms. Muerte. We've located Mr. Jones and he is indeed alive and well. He had a name change, now goes by Joseph Thompson, and owns a few thriving businesses in the Los Angeles area. Everything we could find on him is in this file." He slid the file towards me.

I crossed my arms and smiled. "Thank you detective, you always come through for me. How's the family by the way?" I reached into the top drawer of my desk and pulled out a manilla folder with a few bands inside, handing it over to him.

"Oh, everyone is doing well. Thank you for your business it's always a pleasure." He raised to leave and I pressed a button on office phone and buzzed the guard to escort him down.

I grabbed my machete and pulled my hair into a high ponytail, before I left my office. After locking each deadbolt back into place I descended down the east stairwell, towards the basement, aka "the pit." 

After the guard let me through, I scanned the dimly lit room. 

I looked at the young dude who was chained to the wall, with duck tape over his mouth. He didn't look a day over 15, with his brown and red locs hanging over his face. I walked over to him and yanked his long hair so he could face me directly looking into my eyes, "Why?"

"Because I thought I could get it all back before you noticed..I just...I just needed the money for.."

I hated excuses. And I hated whining even more. Before he could finish mumbling I slowly grazed my machete across his left cheek, careful of not actually break the skin. 

"Wait, please I'm so sorry, I can make up for it, I'll work for free, please help me I'm just 15, I don't know any better!" He cried.

"Awwww, is that supposed to make me feel pity on you? You know what being a part of this life equates to soooo, nope I feel no sympathy. Just one question, are you right handed or left?"

"Right." He looked confused until Gavin duck taped his mouth again, and then he started panicking screaming and squirming. His muffled cries were starting to annoy me. I took my machete out of his wrapper, moving my hands alongside its sharp edge. Before the blink of an eye, I sliced his his left hand off and watched as blood profusely gushed out. His eyes were closed shut and a vein bigger than the Empire State Building started bulging from his forehead. All that could be heard were his muffled screams echoing throughout the pit. I rolled my eyes and yanked off the duck tape. He should be thankful since I at least spared his dominant hand!

"SHUT UP!" I yelled. As he continued wailing like a child, I wiped off my weapon and headed up the stairs no longer interested in hearing his cries. "Throw him back on the streets and send a clean up crew down here."

I made my way back to my office and began rolling one. The bittersweet taste of the wrapper made me even more eager to light it.

* I take a deep inhale*

My eyes rolled to the back of my head as a satisfying sensation began to take over after a few moments of smoking; I slightly smiled.

*Phone vibrates*

My dimly lit screen showed a text from Aqua. Smiling to myself, I texted him back and finished the blunt before leaving my office.

--
Later that evening...
--

I woke up to the sound of gentle snoring as my eyes started refocusing to my surrounding. The streetlights poured into the dimly lit bedroom, running lines around the room. I sat up to stretch and the snoring giant stirred as I moved out of the bed.

Turning my back to the bed, I grabbed my watch off the dresser to check the time. Shit. It was 3:04am. I overslept.