The Kingpin

•11•

Rafael

Upon returning home, Rafael went straight up to his office and plopped down in the chair. The wheels underneath moved him backwards but he was unfazed. He had no idea that the girl was answering to a pimp. The man, Daveed, had called her "A." For the last few weeks, Rafa had been itching in anticipation at what her name could be and that one letter got him a tiny step closer.

Aside from this though, he had no idea why she had taken up for the man. He was obviously hurting her or was about to before he walked in. She had looked grateful but then at the last second, had taken Daveed's side. Why?

  A glass of bourbon sat within arms reach and he took it, swirling the liquid around in the glass before taking it to his lips. He downed the whole glass in one go and put it back on the table. Why had she taken his side? Had he threatened her?

  Questions like this rattled around his mind all night and fueled the binge he then brought upon himself. With some time, his body slumped forward and he rested his head on his arms. Rafa's eyelids grew heavy and repeatedly closed until he finally gave in to sleep.

                                       ••••

  A quick knock on the door to his office startled Rafael out of his sleep enough for him to mumble, "Come in."

  Emmanuel, standing outside the door, was convinced this was a trick. No one was allowed in his office. "Are you sure, Casal?" He asked now, still wary.

"Yes, just hurry up," The man slurred. He might've still been a bit drunk.

Emmi opens the door cautiously and steps into the room before closing it behind himself. "I have the information you wanted."

  This seems to shake him up just enough. Rafael sits up and props his face on his fist to listen to what he had sent Emmanuel to find out.

  "Okay, so. The Daveed guy is her pimp and has been for about two years. She's his bottom bitch from what everyone else has said. He's pretty dangerous company but keeps a handle on it for the girls."

  Rafa scoffs, "Didn't seem like that when I showed up. He was gonna hit her. Did you get the girl's name? He kept calling her 'A.'"

  "Amelia."

  At hearing her name for the first time, he had to force himself to remain in control of his facial expressions but the small smile that tugged at his lips was determined.

  "Very good," He manages to get out.

  "I talked to one of the girls who used to work with her for Daveed. Apparently, they have a relationship or some shit."

  "So that's why she took his side." He says to himself now, more than to Emmi.

  He nods and as if for the first time, realizes that his boss looked a mess. Emmi pulled his lip between his teeth and chose his next words carefully.

  "Hey, uhm, Rafa? Are you alright?"

  Rafael shot daggers at him almost instantly, causing the other man to back down.

  "There's a new shipment coming in tonight but I have Danny and Yadiel helping me with it so you can focus on," He coughs a bit uncomfortably, "Other things."

  The man nods curtly before glancing toward the door to dismiss Emmi.

  "Thank you." Rafa whispers to no one in particular once his right hand is gone.

                                       ••••

Amelia
 
  She finds herself underneath the steady stream of hot water in Daveed's shower. He had told her to clean up immediately and seemed repulsed by her interaction with Rafael. So, Amelia uses his soap and washes off her entire body. Daveed always kept her shampoo and body wash on deck but had run out of her soap since her last visit. She quickly washes her hair before turning the water off and wrapping up in a towel.