The Devil's Candy

Chapter 16

It took almost an hour to get to their headquarters. The whole time I was freaking out and my legs were shaking. I kept asking myself: Do I really want to be a baiter? Would that mean experiencing more shootings? What would my parents think?

We arrive at Island's Diner and the guys lead the way inside. The place is not what I would expect to be a gang's headquarters. The hostess greets us when we walk in.

"Dom! Eli! Welcome back!" she gladly welcomes.

"Sheila," Dom says.

"She forgot to mention our names," Noah chimes over to Olly.

Sounds like these guys are regulars to this place enough they consider it as their home base. I look around and it looks like a normal diner with patrons eating and socializing with other waitresses serving.

Dom whispers to Sheila and points to the back near the kitchen. He starts heading that way and ushers us to follow behind him where the chef greets us.

"Boys!" he shouts as he flips burgers on the grill, "y'all just in time for dinner orders. Want something?"

"A few burger combos will do," Eli responds back.

"Coming right up. Enzo should be downstairs waiting already."

The back of the diner was the most unexpected part, as it leads down a stairwell into a updated, hipster-like man cave with tons of colors, graffiti, a pool table, a large tv with game consoles, and another mini kitchen that is fully stocked. It's like the Batcave was hidden underneath a diner.

Eli and Olly run to the kitchen to search for a snack while Noah heads down a hallway. Jinnie and I just stand by the steps unsure what to do and still amazed by how this is all under a diner. Dom steps in front of us.

"Welcome to the bureau. It's one of our many safehouses around town," he explains.

"You guys operate out of a diner?" Jinnie asks.

"It's not exactly out of it. The chef you met was a part of The Liberated at one point before buying this spot. To support the next generation of members he built a safehouse for us in case we need a place to lie low."

"That's really clever," I chime in and Dom looks at me as Noah returns from down the hall with another guy. He comes to us and shakes our hands with kindred spirits.

"My name's Enzo. Make yourselves at home. I've heard from Dom and Noah already what you've done with the Vipers. That's some pretty impressive stuff."

Enzo had confidence radiating off his demeanor. He's taller than Dom and he's at least 6'5. His muscles constricting against his black t-shirt and his salt-pepper hair gave him an old man vibe, but he doesn't look a day over 35 the least.

Jinnie and I both sit down on the couches as Oliver and Elijah play pool. Noah is at the controls, playing a video game while Dom is with us as Enzo speaks.

"So, Amelia, I was told it was you who talked Dominic into doing this test run." He raised an eyebrow amused at the information.

"Y-yes." I cough to clear my throat. "But I didn't expect it to end up the way it did if I am being honest."

"I thought you guys told them everything?" Enzo asked.

"I told them about the gang. I didn't think it was important to mention at the time how rough we can get," Noah shouted from the couch not taking his eyes off the screen.

"A warning would've been nice." Jinnie muttered.

"Well now that you know, are you still interested in being a baiter? 'Cause I don't think we will find someone else that can do what you two did tonight." Enzo chuckled.

"Sir, might I ask how this all started?" I ask him, "Like this whole...organization."

Enzo is intrigued at my curiosity as he pats on Dom's shoulder, "You picked a special one." He turns to look at me. I blush at the comment.

"You can drop the sir for one. Second, you can say gang," he tells me, "Now, as far as how The Liberated got started is a long one I'll save for another day, but I can tell you how I joined and how these boys here got recruited."

I leaned up from the couch to tune into Enzo's tale as he explains how he's the leader of this branch and the organization is led all over in different states. Enzo was enlisted around the time when he was Dom's age by ironically the Chef of the diner. 

Soon after, over the years, the guys joined because they were outcasts of society who joined something that felt liberating to them, hence the name. He points at each of them saying they all have their individual stories that go more in depth that they'll share in time.

"But, I'm obviously not the head of this whole operation, I have a message for you two from our founder. Actions spread fast around here. Nothing stays quiet."

He pulls out his phone and plays a recorded message from the head boss of the Liberated.

"Congratulations ladies, I am impressed at the work you have accomplished tonight."

It's hard to tell by the voice since it's all distorted if it's male or female but what they're saying is clear. "With that being said, I personally wanted to greet you as our new members for I;m sure you are aware the dangers that come with being a part of making a difference. But, understand the honor and pride that follows when you help take people like Jackson down. You two will do great things, not just for us but yourselves. Welcome to The Liberated" At this point the rest of the guys had joined us by the couch listening in on the message.

"Well ladies, what do you say?" Enzo leans back arms crossed. The guys look at us waiting for a response.

I look at Jinnie who looks back at me, both of us already knowing what we decided. 

Did anyone get Charlie's Angels vibes from the head boss?

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