Chapter 116

***Levi.***

***July, 16 years earlier***

I stared mindlessly at the men around the table. Tonight, my eyes took in these brutes. Men who I suspected had killed Tina, weeks ago. But I had no evidence.

A girl like me, who had found herself on the wrong side of the world.

A rich kid, who had resulted to whoring for a living.

We met one night at a club down Queens. My eyes clouded in smoke, she had come around seeking a patron for the night. Beautiful. Her eyes twinkling under the techno lights. She grabbed a seat. We talked. Shared a few drinks and we went to my room in a motel nearby.

I was 19 now. I had proceeded to rent and furnish an apartment in SoHo for Mum and I. Always returned to the apartment on weekends to be with mum.

When it was time to have sex, I didn't. Not like she wasn't attractive or anything. But I heard her story and by the time she offered me sex, I wanted to be her knight. She was 17 and had already done so much. I couldn't add to her pile.

We slept in that night, and she had been shocked. Wondered how I saw her and didn't see her. I had only kissed her head, promising to be her protector.

But I failed. She was dead now. Raped and burned by acid. And it was one of these animals that had done that. Her pimp, Rhino, I was sure had a hand in her death.

"What are you thinking about. Stop staring at them like you want to eat them. Tina is dead." Rowan warned. I looked at him.

We were in the basement of a casino in Queens, having a meeting with all the top dark lords.

There was a hit on one of the kingpins and they needed to discuss it. I was Rowan's right hand man now and we attended almost every meeting together.

I was staring at men, who she had always complained about. Men who had abused her. And I was certain that most of them had been involved in her death.

Turning away from Rowan, I focused on the discussions.

Rowan had stopped me from further investigations and I had hated him for it, ever since.

I was renowned now as Rowan's stealthiest assassin. Killing without a trace. And I was paid heavily by Rowan for it. The men assigned me and five others to go on the mission; assassinating the kingpin.

A popular crime boss, who had accumulated more enemies than necessary.

He had become a threat to the others. Double crossing, causing wars. It was like he was creating a new set of rules. Dragging the cops on us.

Walking to the car, I heard voices around a corner of the casino and slowed.

Inching closer, I eavesdropped and saw Rowan heatedly discussing with a man who used to be one of Tina's abusive patrons. The man had his face averted, but I was certain.

"I don't care what has to be done. I saw the way that boy glared at me. It was like he knew something about that girl's death." The man spat. I frowned, listening.

"They were close. I told you all that night not to have fallen for Rhino's sick game. So don't blame the kid"

"Don't sound self-righteous, Rowan. You fucked her as well. The only thing was you left as soon as we began bathing her in acid." The man tersely cut in.

I froze.

"And worse, you enjoyed her the most, because you were first. The rest of us had her by the time she was soiled by you."

I tried to move. But my limbs were rooted to the concrete.

"Still. Don't blame the kid. Let him ease his grief on his own terms," Rowan said.

There was silence. Blood rushed in my ears.

"I want that kid dead. He's going to pose trouble for us. And I don't want that. I've got too much to lose in the society." The man turned slowly and I saw his face clearly.

Montague. Chairman of the medical board in St Doves Hospital, New York. A prestigious man, who preached of core social values and preservation of life in the society. Underground, he was the scum of the earth. Executing dealings that broke his bank accounts overseas.

I had known of his constant abuse of his whores and Tina had always come to me with those bruises. But confirming that he was part of the gang that

murdered Tina, was entirely a different matter.

I turned my eyes to Rowan, who backed me. His posture stiffened. I had been with him long enough now to know when he was displeased.

"I like that kid, Montague. I want him as my successor. I'd only send him a warning shot. Nothing more. What you all did to that girl was despicable. And not because of the kid's sensibilities. But because she was human as well."

I wanted to soften my ire at Rowan's confession. But I blocked him out. Focusing on the truth.

"You have done worse. What changed?"

"My mother was gang raped, killed before my eyes. And getting to know this kid, I see a boy who braced death like I did, to stand out among low lives. To survive. I wouldn't hurt him for any of you." Rowan announced, ruefully.

His words surprised the other man.

I was shocked to hear this side of Rowan. Almost rethinking my current hate. Perhaps he was pushed to these actions, just to properly identify with these men. Perhaps because he had no choice, like me. His need to rise above the slum that called him. Still it gave no justification for a man such as himself, who had watched his mother's suffering, to cause a girl the same.

I suddenly saw Tina's unrecognizable body flash before my eyes and I erased all regard for Rowan.