Beaten and Bruised

Chapter 1 Maddox Jones

     Money, power, and envy are a few of my favorite things. Everyone thinks the villains are point blank bad, but I think think they are just misunderstood. Us bad guys live by a certain code, and if that code can't be followed...you lose. Take me for example, I am Maddox Jones. I have lived by a code since I was fifteen. Every rule I followed has gotten me to where I am now. I run the city of Los Angeles. Every one answers to me. If I had broken that code, I would have been dead by now. 
         "You think you can just steal from me?" I say calmly walking around the scum that's tied up in front of me. 
"Please, Maddox. I swear I didn't take your money. I wouldn't do you like that boss!" he pleads with me. I can't help but laugh. Does he really think I care? 
"You're a rat Ben. You're useless to me now." I turn away from him and signal my men to take care of the problem. I dust off my suit before I get into the black SUV waiting for me. I hear the gun shot as I sit back and think about my next move. 
     I never thought I would end up being this kind of person, but years of child abuse will do that to you. If it wasn't for my alcoholic father, I wouldn't be numb to the violence around me. I created my own chaos, and I started to like it after awhile. I promised myself I would be untouchable one day, and now look at me.  
   "What does my schedule look like today, Logan?" I ask my right hand man sitting next to me. Logan was just like me. He valued the code as much as I did. 
"Nothing so far. There is some news about the west side that you aren't going to like though" he says back to me. I didn't need to know what was about to come out of his mouth, I knew exactly who and what he was talking about.
"Let me guess. Elijah Kane?" I spit out. Elijah had always tried fighting me for my city. He was the lower level kingpin. He knew I ran the city, and he wanted everything I had. 
"Yes. He's trying to form some kind of underground meeting. Our mole informed me last night" Logan says. 
"If he makes two steps, we need to be five steps ahead. Understood?" I question Logan, but he knows it's more of a demand. 
    My black SUV pulls up to my penthouse building, and I can't wait to get this suit off. Logan walks by my side as we make our way for the elevator. We reach the top floor and that is where Logan and I part. I give him a nod as he gets back on the elevator. He just lived a few floors down. I didn't need protection, but Logan was like family. He had been in the game just as long as me. I'd take a bullet for him, and I actually have. He is always the first target for my enemies. 
       I walk into my bedroom and hit the button on my remote that opens the shades. My bedroom was made up of glass windows. I liked having the view of Los Angeles at night. It brought light into my black comforter, and walls. I always liked the modern look that black gave. I throw my phone on my dresser and walk to the bathroom. I was sore from beating low grade criminals. The bottom feeders as I would refer to them. 
     I let the hot water run over my body. It was like I could feel all of the violence wash off of me and down the drain. A fresh start for tomorrow. I knew I was the bad guy, but I liked it. I sat in the shower and thought about what tomorrow would bring. I had to think of what I was going to do about Elijah. He would do anything to knock me off of my throne, but I will never fall without a fight. 
      I get out of the shower and throw my grey sweats on. I hear my phone vibrating on my bedside table. I pick it up and see a number I had tried to forget. As a mafia leader, you have to use people quite often. The girl calling me, I used a few months ago. She was beautiful and had the perfect body, but she was nothing more than that. I didn't really care for blondes anyway. She annoyed me more than anything, and I only kept her around for my own selfish pleasures. But hey, that's how things work nowadays. I don't need a love interest to complicate things for me. 
    "Speak." I say into the phone. 
"Hey, Maddox. I just wanted to see if you wanted to go get a drink or something" she says with her mousy little voice. That is what annoyed me most. 
"Not tonight, Grace. I have more important things to do." I growl. 
"Oh, well maybe I can come over to your place?" she asks. 
"No, Grace" I say to her before hanging up. 
     Grace was nothing I wanted in a women. I needed someone to who could be just as ruthless as I was. Someone who could get on my level. I didn't need someone who would let their feelings get in the way of my business. Who am I kidding, I couldn't find anyone like that. I'm pretty much describing myself. It just goes to show I don't need a woman. I'm good on my own. 
     I lay down and try to get some sleep. I have nothing scheduled for tomorrow, but I know I have some things to take care of. I lay there with my eyes closed thinking about who I would have been if I had chosen a different path. Could I have been good, or was this what I was suppose to be good at. The mind is an evil thing sometimes. I could think about being good all night, but I was content with who I was. I had everything a man could wish for. 
         The morning came quick, and I sat up to the alarm going off in my ear. I could smell coffee brewing already. Logan had a key to the penthouse, and he was the only one had a key. I throw a shirt on, and splash my face with some cold water before I walk into the kitchen. I glide through the hallway and follow the aroma of coffee. 
"About time you woke up" Logan says handing me a cup. 
"You talk to much in the morning" I say back to him. I wan't a morning person. 
"What's on the agenda today, boss?" he asks knowing I have something in store. 
"We are going to the range. I wanna work on some shooting tactics with the new recruits. I wanna know they can handle whatever comes at them. They need to be ready." I say to him as I drink the contents of my cup in a matter of seconds. 
"I'll call them and have them there by ten" Logan says putting the phone to his ear and walking towards the balcony to make his phone call. 
      I get a little morning work out in before I shower and throw on a new suit. Even on the range you have to look your best. People need to know whose in charge. I fix my cuff links and walk back to the kitchen. Logan had better be ready, he knows I don't like waiting. 
"Let's go." I wave my hand at Logan who opens the door.  
   We get back into the black SUV and make our way for the range. I never let fear get to me because I was the most feared, but I always knew I had to watch my back going places in the day time. Everybody who hated me wanted my head on a silver platter. We finally pull into the empty lot and I had Logan the briefcase that was under the seat. 
"Let's show these guys how it's done" I smile at Logan. My smiles were always far and few between. 
"I'm down" he laughs back.
       We walk into the dark building and I look for Jimmy. He owns the range. I have know him since I was a kid. He taught me everything I know. When my Father was done beating me black and blue, I would run here. Jimmy was like a Father to me. The haunting memories I had running into this place, fueled me. I shot better when I remembered all the bad things I had been through. 
"Maddox Jones!" I hear from across the room. I look over to see Jimmy raising his arms to come in for a hug. Let it be known, this was the only person I would let hug me. 
"Hey, old man." I say back to him.
"What do you know?" he asks as I pull away from his arms. 
"I need some set ups today. These guys here need some practice. I'd like them to use some targets, and then shoot some steal" I say to him. I can't demand him to do anything because I know better with Jimmy. He doesn't put up with much of my nonsense. He had that right. 
"You got it" Jimmy walks around his desk area and picks up the phone. I hear him tell his workers to get range seven and eight ready. He always held those open for me only. He knew I was a trouble maker, but he never judged me for that. He also knew I put my money towards good causes. I am a villain, but I still have standards. 
       "I want those three guys on seven, and the other three on eight. You take seven" I tell Logan pointing to the men he had selected to join. They had no idea what they were in for, but they passed Logans ridiculous tests. 
"Let's go" Logan yells at his three men. 
     I motion for mine to follow me to range eight. Everything was set up just how I liked it. I pull out the Glock and load it. 
"You need to know that timing is everything. I don't need a bullet in my head because you don't know how to handle things properly" I say turning towards the targets and hitting the middle on each one. I turn back around and I see the shock laid across their faces. 
"Any questions?" I ask holding the gun out towards them. All three men are speechless. 
"I'll go first" I hear come from the kid. He couldn't have been older than eighteen. I'm only  in my twenties, but when you rule the world like I do,  you can refer to anyone the way you want. 
   He takes the gun and loads the clip in a matter of seconds. Impressive. He ready's his stance and lowers his shoulders. The sound rings through the range and he hits every target right on point. He drops the clip out and places the second one in and begins to shoot a second round. Once again he hits the same place. 
"What's your name and where did you learn accuracy like that?" I ask the kid. He had to have been trained somewhere. 
"Dex, and I taught myself, sir" he says back to me with a scared face. 
"Pass it to the next person" I order him. 
      I watch the next two guys and they are nothing compared to Dex. I walk over to range seven and motion for Logan. He walks over to the shadows where I'm standing. 
"Where did you find the kid?" I ask him. I needed to know where he came from. He was good, but I can't just trust anyone. Logan always had my best interest, but I still look into things.
"He was working for some drug dealer on the south side. I heard about him from one of our connections over there. They said he was a good shot" he explains. 
"Center shot, both clips" I say looking at Logan. I don't think he knew just how good the kid was. 
"You serious?" he asks. 
"He's got the job, but I want every piece of information you can find on him. I don't want this to come back on us. I wanna know where he lives, his relatives, everything" I say to Logan as he nods his head. 
"You got it. I'll call the IT guy" he says back with assurance. I know he wouldn't let me down. 
"Alright, keep an eye out. I need to go talk to Jimmy" I say to Logan as I walk up the steps to Jimmy's office. 
         All of my memories from my past creep through my brain as I walk up these steps. I remember wincing in pain from broken ribs. I basically crawled up these steps looking for someone. That was the first time I had ever seen Jimmy. I was searching for some kind of miracle to save me. I remember seeing the deep purple walls and grabbing at the wooden hand rail. That was the day I told myself I would never be weak again. 
      "Anything new for me, Jimmy?" I ask the man that I've looked up to for so long. 
"Nothing much. I have some questions for you Maddox" he says to me patting he chair next to him. I know I'm about to get a heart to heart from him.
"Lay it on me" I smile back to him. 
"When are you going to settle down? I'm worried about you son" he says and I see the worry in his eyes. He shouldn't be worried, I take care of myself. 
"I'm fine, Jimmy. I do well on my own. You know that" I say. 
"Money and power is not everything you need in the world. Are you truly happy?" he asks me and I put my head down. No one has really ever asked me that. I never felt the need to answer that question, of course I'm happy. 
"I am happy. I have everything I need in life" I try to convince him. I don't know why I feel the need to convince, but maybe I was lying to myself. 
"What about a good woman? You don't have that..." Jimmy trails off. He knows when he crosses a line. 
"I don't need a woman. I run this show by myself, a woman would just complicate that" I say standing up from my chair. One thing Jimmy knew how to do was get under my skin. I knew he wanted what was best for me, but it wasn't up to him. 
"I don't want find out your dead on the five o clock news, Maddox!" he shouts at me. I sense the pain behind his words. I was like a son to him. He never had kids, and I was the closest thing to a son he had. 
"Nothing is going to happen to me, Jimmy" I say trying to calm him down. 
"Fine, but promise you will find a nice girl before I die. I'm getting old" he says to me as if he's joking, but serious all in the same moment.
"I promise. Now I gotta get out of here, I have some errands to run" I give the old man a hug and make my way back down those haunting stairs. 
      I watch the other guys shoot, and decide which ones I'm going to keep. Only three of them were worth keeping. I watch as Logan tells them the rules that apply. They all nod their heads as the listen to what is expected of them. I make the rules, they follow the rules. It's simple. 
"Your first mission is to find Jack Bennington. The people in the street call him JB. He works for Elijah Kane, and I need to know what he knows. Bring him to me alive. If any of you have a problem with that let me know, Logan here would be happy to take any of your complaints" I say with sarcasm. Surely they get the point. They all nod and walk out of the front doors. 
"JB first?" Logan asks. It's not like him to question my authority. 
"Yeah, is that a problem?" I say. 
"No, sir. I just thought you wanted to start from the bottom.." he says trying to hide the fact he just undermined me. 
"I'm trying something new. We start at the top of command and make our way to the bottom. Elijah will be last, and I want to be the one to see him stop breathing" I say as I make my way out of the doors and to the SUV. 
          The ride home was quiet. I know Logan was thinking I was crazy, but I knew what I was doing. I wouldn't be at the top if I didn't.
"Say it, Logan. What are you thinking?" I ask while looking at my phone. 
"You know I will always have your best interest, but why are you doing this?" he asks. 
"He won't expect it this way. He wants my city and that can't happen. I told you we always need to be five steps ahead. If we start with his top dealer, he won't suspect it was me" I try to explain to him. 
"Okay, I trust you" he says back trying to buy what I'm telling him. 
"Stop at this coffee shop up here" I tell the driver as we pass a small coffee shop at the edge of town. 
         Logan and I jump out and I can smell the coffee from outside of the small building. When I walk in I'm met by a girl. Her hair is falling from her bun as she cleans the tables.She looks up at me and I see her emerald green eyes. Another girl I knew I could have, but I just wanted coffee today. 
   "Large black coffee, two sugars and a splash of cream" I say as I throw the money on the counter before she makes her way there. 
"Um, I'm sorry sir, but that was rude" she says back. Who does she think she is talking to? 
"Sorry. Please?" I say rolling my eyes. The girl grabs a large coffee cup and places the sugar packet and cream next to it. She places the money in the register and doesn't hand back the change. 
"Can I please get a latte?" Logan asks the girl politely. That is where him and I were so different. I was use to people doing what I wanted. 
"Sure" the girl smiles sarcastically my way as if she is trying to say something. 
        I watch the girl as she carefully crafts Logan's latte. When she finishes, she turns around and hands Logan his latte. 
"That will be $3.50" she says in his direction. I pull out my wallet and place a hundred in her tip jar before I turn around and head for the door.
"I don't want your money" she says and I turn around. I feel the grin coming across my face, and I know I've hit a nerve with her. 
"Just thought your attitude might need it" I say. I see her cheeks flushing red with anger.
"My attitude doesn't need anything. You are the one who came in here demanding things. I don't work like that" she says. 
"If you knew who I was you wouldn't talk to me that way. Take the money and watch who your talking to" I say as I walk out of the door.